Turning Tiny Petals Into Magnificent Mandalas

In this week's art lesson, Reception students explored the beauty and meaning of mandalas before creating their own stunning petal mandala suncatchers. To begin, we investigated where mandalas come from and what they look like. This helped students understand the patterns, symmetry, and calming designs that make mandalas so special.

Next, students were given time to prepare their resources by stripping the leaves and petals from bunches of flowers and to practise arranging petals, leaves, and grass into patterns on a flat surface. They experimented with different shapes and designs, using the examples from the shared presentation for inspiration.

Once ready, each learner received a paper plate frame and a circle of sticky-back plastic. With guidance, they attached the plastic to the frame, sticky side facing up. Students then carefully placed their natural materials onto the sticky surface, thinking about the patterns they had practised—remembering that once placed, they could not be moved.

When the design was complete, a second layer of sticky-back plastic sealed the mandala. Finally, students added a hole and attached a pipe cleaner so that their beautiful suncatchers could be displayed and admired.

Jenna said, “My mandala is like an open flower and I remembered to start in the middle and work outwards.”