Mandalas

AREA SETUP

Print a variety of posters and use them to decorate the walls of your daycare. (Open thematic poster-Mandalas)

Display mandalas on your walls. Add pictures of the children in your group in action. Photograph them as they arrive in the morning and let children take pictures of their friends throughout the day. Print the pictures and use them to create a special circular montage that can be added to your mandalas.

Hang a paper banner on a wall and ask children to cut pictures of people out of different catalogues and use them to represent people-filled mandalas.

NEW! Educa-theme-Mandalas

(Open educa-theme-Mandalas) Print and laminate the different elements representing the theme. Use them to present the theme to your group (and their parents) while decorating your daycare.

NEW! Educa-decorate-Mandalas

(Open educa-decorate-Mandalas) Print, laminate, and cut out the illustrations. Use them to decorate your walls and set the mood for the theme.

NEW! Garland-Mandalas

(Open models-Mandalas) Print and let children decorate the items. Cut them out and hang them on a ribbon or string to create a garland.

SPECIAL TOOL

This tool was created in response to a special request we received. (Open banner-Word of the week) Print and display.

CIRCLE TIME

NEW! Poni discovers and presents-Mandalas

(Open Poni discovers and presents-Mandalas) Print and laminate the pictures. Use a Poni puppet (or another puppet children are familiar with) to present the pictures to your group.

NEW! Flipogram-Mandalas

(Open picture game-Mandalas) Print and laminate the pictures in the format you prefer. Use a hole-punch to make a hole in the upper right and left corner of each picture. Stack the pictures and insert a ring through each set of holes. The flipogram is easy to manipulate. Simply show children how they can lift a picture and flip it under the stack. Name each item with your group. Use the flipogram to encourage children to talk during circle time and to ask them questions about the theme.

PICTURE GAME

NEW! The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group. Use them to decorate the daycare or a specific thematic corner. (Open picture game-Mandalas) Print, laminate, and store in a “Ziploc” bag or in your thematic bins.

NEW! Memory game-Mandalas

(Open picture game-Mandalas) Print the pictures twice and use them for a memory game.

ACTIVITY SHEETS AND WRITING ACTIVITIES

NEW! Activity sheets are provided for each theme. Print and follow instructions. (Open activity sheets-Mandalas)

Ways to use activity sheets

Stick two markers or crayons end to end. Have children complete the first part of an activity sheet using one color before inching their fingers towards the other end to use the other color to complete it.

Different positions

Display activity sheets on walls, stick them on the floor, or secure them under tables. Children will have to vary their position to complete them.

NEW! Writing activities-M like mandalas

(Open writing activities-M like mandalas) Print for each child or laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

NEW! Educa-nuudles-Mandalas

(Open educa-nuudles-Mandalas) Print for each child. Have children color the sheet and use Magic Nuudles to give it a three-dimensional look. Variation: You don’t have Magic Nuudles? Have children fill the spaces designed for Magic Nuudles with bingo markers or stickers. To order Magic Nuudles.

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

NEW! The flashcards may be used during circle time to spark a conversation with the group or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards-Mandalas) (Open giant word flashcards-Mandalas) mandala, color, art, decorative, circle, motif, culture, colourful sand, creative, spiritual, zen, shape

NEW! Let’s chat

(Open word flashcards-Mandalas) (Open giant word flashcards-Mandalas) Print and laminate the word flashcards. Have each child pick a word and present it to the group (ex. culture). Ask them questions to see what they know about the theme.

NEW! Reinvented scrabble

(Open word flashcards-Mandalas) (Open giant word flashcards-Mandalas) Print many copies of the word flashcards and encourage children to use scrabble tiles to write the words. Manipulating the small tiles represents a great fine motor skill exercise. At the same time, children will notice which letters make up the different words.

NEW! Word clothesline

(Open word flashcards-Mandalas) (Open giant word flashcards-Mandalas) Print two copies of several word flashcards. Hang one copy of each word on an indoor clothesline with colourful clothespins. Arrange the copies in a pile on a table. Let children take turns picking a word and finding the matching word on the clothesline. When they find a match, they can place the flashcard on top of the one that was already hanging on the clothesline. Help younger children manipulate the clothespins if necessary.

NEW! Word race

(Open word flashcards-Mandalas) (Open giant word flashcards-Mandalas) Print several word flashcards and hide them throughout your daycare or yard. Divide your group into two teams. When you give them the signal, children must search for the flashcards for a pre-determined period, for example three minutes. When the time is up, children must be able to “read” their flashcards to earn a point for their team. If they are unable to find the correct word, the other team can earn the point if they succeed.

NEW! Associating words and pictures

(Open word flashcards-Mandalas) (Open giant word flashcards-Mandalas) Print, laminate, and display the word flashcards on a wall close to your circle time area or on a large piece of cardboard you can move within your daycare. Children take turns identifying the words you name.

ROUTINES AND TRANSITIONS

Mandalas in my routines

Explore mandalas during a relaxing period of the day. Play calm music and turn the lights down. Have children sit on their naptime mattress. Hand each child a small bin containing printed mandalas, crayons, and a sturdy clipboard they can use to hold the mandala they prefer in place as they color it.

NEW! My mandala path

(Open transition games-Mandalas) Print the items and secure them on the floor to create a path within your daycare. The path can lead to areas children visit daily such as the bathroom, the cloakroom, etc. If you prefer, you may use the shapes to delimit various areas.

NEW! This is my spot

(Open transition games-Mandalas) Print two copies of each picture. Use adhesive paper to stick one copy of each picture on the table. Set the other copies in an opaque bag. Children take turns picking a picture out of the bag to determine where they will sit at the table throughout the day. If you wish, you may also use the fabric pieces to determine naptime spots or children’s place in the task train.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

Mandala-covered floor

Cut several different shapes out of colourful construction paper, the same size as your floor tiles (you must have enough to cover a large area). Have children use the shapes to cover the tiles. Each shape must touch another one, at the very least corner to corner. Use adhesive tape to hold the shapes in place. Use the mandala-covered floor for a game of musical mandalas or to create an interactive story.

Mandala creators

Cut several triangles, squares, and circles out of heavy cardboard or Fun Foam. Invite children to use the shapes to create mandalas. They will enjoy designing unique mandalas. Provide large shapes so children can create giant mandalas on the floor.

Building block mandalas

Provide a variety of blocks in your construction area and encourage children to use them to represent three-dimensional mandalas that are bursting with color.

Mandala race

On the floor, arrange colourful pieces of construction paper that you have cut into different shapes to represent a mandala. When you give the signal, children will have two minutes to collect objects of a specific color and set them on the paper of the corresponding color, on your mandala.

NEW! Associating mandalas and colors

(Open games-Mandalas) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Provide colourful gift bags (one color per bag). Hide tiny mandala pieces throughout your daycare. Invite children to collect as many pieces they can find that are the same color as their bag. To increase the level of difficulty for this activity, use bags with two colors.

NEW! Where are the mandalas hiding?

(Open games-Mandalas) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Hide the pieces throughout your yard and invite children to search for them. Every time they find a piece, they must run to drop it in the basket you set at one end of the yard. The game continues until all the pieces have been found.

MUSICAL AND RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES

NEW! Musical mandalas

(Open picture game-Mandalas) Print and laminate the pictures. Use adhesive paper to stick them on the floor within your daycare. To the sound of music, children move around the room. When the music stops, they must quickly find a picture to stand on. Variation: If you wish, you may remove a picture at the end of each round to raise the level of difficulty. Children will have to find a way to stand on the remaining pictures together.

Rhythmic mandala

Use chalk to draw a mandala in your yard. Simply overlap a few colourful circles. Use a drum to determine various rhythms with your group and associate each one to a different color. For example, when you tap the drum twice, you may decide children should stand inside the blue circle and if you tap it once, they must stand inside the pink circle, etc.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

A mandala on my foot

Provide body paint children can use to paint a colourful mandala on their foot. When they are done, organize a mandala foot parade and march around the yard barefoot. At the end of the activity, fill a large bin with water and let children have fun washing the paint away.

A mandala in the sandbox

Create a sandy mandala by exploring various textures and shapes with your group. Draw a circle in the centre of your sandbox (so children can walk around it) and divide it into several smaller circles. Children can take turns drawing a motif (vertical or horizontal lines, waves, dots, etc.) inside the circles.

Chalk mandalas

If you have cement or asphalt in an area of your yard, provide sidewalk chalk children can use to draw unique mandalas. They will enjoy creating giant and miniature mandalas.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

NEW! Reusable mandalas

(Open mandala drawings) Print and laminate each mandala. Set them in a bin with dry-erase markers. During periods of quiet play, let children color the mandalas. At the end of the activity, have them erase their work before they put the mandalas back in the bin.

NEW! Color by number-Mandalas

(Open color by number-Mandalas) Print for each child. Encourage them to color the mandala per the color code.

Our collective mandala

You will need a roll of white paper. Unroll the paper on the floor. Use a black marker to draw all kinds of lines in every direction. Invite children to lie on their stomach to color their giant mandala.

NEW! Positive reinforcement

(Open positive reinforcement mandala) Print for each child. Pick a specific challenge or task for each child. Let children color one mandala section every time they successfully complete their challenge or task.

Mandala tracing

For this activity, you will need round plastic lids and Popsicle sticks. Trace the lids, overlapping the circles. Use the Popsicle sticks to represent straight lines. Have children color any white spaces.

Oversized mandala

You will need large pieces of white poster board and hula hoops. Use the hula hoops to trace large circles on the poster board. Use a marker to draw a variety of shapes as well as horizontal and vertical lines. If you wish, you could even trace the contour of various toys or objects available within your daycare to create a personalized mandala. Let children decorate their mandala as they wish.

NEW! Educ-differences-Mandalas

(Open educ-differences-Mandalas) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must identify the indicated number of differences and circle them with a dry-erase marker.

NEW! Educ-intruder-Mandalas

(Open educ-intruder-Mandalas) Print and laminate. Children must find the six intruders in the scene.

NEW! Educa-symmetry-Mandalas

(Open educa-symmetry-Mandalas) Print. Children must color the picture on the bottom to make it look exactly like the picture on the top.

NEW! Educ-math-Mandalas

(Open educ-math-Mandalas) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must count the items in each rectangle and circle the correct number.

EARLY SCIENCE/EXPLORATION/MANIPULATION

Colourful mandalas

You will need different colors of cellophane paper. Overlap the circles and press them against a window, at children’s level. The cellophane paper will stick to the window like magic. Children will enjoy observing the colors.

Mandalas and tongs

Gather several different types of tongs as well as a variety of mandala pieces. Invite children to use the tongs to pick up the pieces and set them in a container. They will have fun while developing their fine motor skills.

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

A mandala in my plate

At snack time, cut different types of fruit. Give each child a plate and have them arrange the fruit on their plate to represent a mandala. When they are done, encourage them to eat their creation.

A cookie mandala

Prepare sugar cookie dough with your group and provide round cookie cutters. Use the cookie cutters to cut circles out of the dough and bake the cookies. Give each child two or three cookies to decorate. Once all the cookies have been decorated, arrange them on a round cookie sheet, leaving no room between the cookies. Admire your cookie mandala before digging in.

A glass mosaic for dessert

Prepare four Jell-O recipes, pouring the preparation in large containers so it is about 1 cm thick. Once the Jell-O is set, use cookie cutters to cut circles. For dessert, set four Jell-O circles (one of each color) on a plate for each child to represent mandalas. Serve the mandalas with cookies and milk.

ARTS & CRAFTS

NEW! A shape-filled mandala

(Open shapes-Mandalas) Print. Give each child a circle. Have them cut the shapes they prefer and arrange them on their circle to create a mandala. Let them color their mandala as they wish when they are done.

NEW! Crumpled paper mandala

(Open crumpled mandala) Give each child a circle. Provide pieces of heavy paper or tissue paper. Let children tear the paper, crumple the pieces, and glue them in place to create a colourful mandala. Print on heavy paper.

NEW! Colourful sand mandalas

(Open colourful sand mandalas) Print on heavy paper. Fill each mandala section with white glue. Children delicately fill each section with a different color of sand. Explain how, in many countries, mandalas are made of sand.

A paper strip mandala

For each child, cut a large circle out of cardboard or construction paper. Cut several strips of construction paper (different colors) and let children stick them on their circle, in every direction. When they are done, cut off any ends that are sticking out beyond their circle. Color any empty spaces that remain between the strips of paper.

Black and white mandalas

Provide black paper with white crayons or paint. Trace circles, lines, and shapes on the paper to create black and white mandalas.

A nature mandala

Collect a variety of items available in nature (flowers, branches, rocks, sand, etc.) with your group. Have them stick the items inside a circle to create a giant mandala. Photograph your mandala and display the picture to help children recall your activity.

Sticky mandalas

We all know children love stickers. Purchase several sticker books at local big-box and dollar stores. Hang large pieces of cardboard on a wall and let children use the stickers to create colourful mandalas.

Mod Podge mandalas

Cut several shapes and a large circle out of different colors of tissue paper. Using Mod Podge or diluted white glue, let children stick the pieces of paper on a clear document protector. Let dry and display their mandalas in a window.

NEW! Models-Mandalas

(Open models-Mandalas) Print the models and use them for your crafts and activities throughout the theme.

Creative mandalas

Collect scraps of paper and cardboard that children can tear. Encourage them to use the pieces of paper to create a mandala-filled mural.

NEW! COLORING PAGES THEME

(Open coloring pages theme-Mandalas) Print for each child.

NEW! SONGS & RHYMES

(Open songs & rhymes-Mandalas)

By: Patricia Morrison - Sung to: Ring around the rosie

Walk around the mandala

Walk around the mandala

Quietly, slowly, gently

Whisper, whisper

We all calm down

Have fun!

The educatall team