Nature mandalas
Nature mandalas
Use natural materials to make a mandala pattern
Materials Required
- Natural materials: leaves, flowers, sticks, rocks, pebbles
- Any other nature materials found on the ground
- Large clear space on the ground
Paper, textas/pencils/crayons
Play experience profile
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Age:
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Min Playtime30 - 45 Minutes
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Skills
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Energy LevelIndependent Play
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Messiness Rating
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EYLF Outcomes
Play Experience Preparation
Go for a walk in the backyard or environment and collect all interesting things of different shapes and colours to use.Experience Steps
- Clear a space on the ground.
- Sort the items you have collected.
- Choose a central object (e.g. rock) and place in the middle.
- Place the items in a symmetrical pattern rotating around the centre - you place one item and have your child position an item so it is symmetrical.
- Have your child represent the pattern by drawing it.
- Take a photo of your symmetrical mandala pattern.
What to talk about, or questions to ask during the experience
- Shapes
- Colours
- Natural materials
- Patterns
- Sorting
- Compare diffierence and similarities of the materials
- Symmetry/symmetrical
Build on this...
- For younger children/babies use fruit to make patterns and eat the mandala together afterwards.
- Research symmetry in nature and human-made examples in the environment.
WHO guidelines for physical activity and sedentary behaviour
Provide evidence-based public health recommendations for children, adolescents and adults on physical activity.
Learn more
Provide evidence-based public health recommendations for children, adolescents and adults on physical activity. Learn more
A walk to collect materials encourages movement and time in nature.
EYLF Outcomes
The Early Years Learning Framework has been designed for use by early childhood educators working in partnership with families, children’s first and most influential educators.
View PDF
The Early Years Learning Framework has been designed for use by early childhood educators working in partnership with families, children’s first and most influential educators. View PDF
- Children become socially responsible and show respect for the environment
- Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflexivity
- Children begin to understand how symbols and pattern systems work
EYLF Principle
Principle 5: Ongoing learning and reflective practice. Critical reflection involves closely examining all aspects of events and experiences from different perspectives.
EYLF Practice
Practice: Learning through play. Play can expand children’s thinking and enhance their desire to know and to learn. In these ways play can promote positive dispositions towards learning. Children’s immersion in their play illustrates how play enables them to simply enjoy being.
https://youtu.be/ikzxGxw2HVs Make a mandala along with Emily at the Discovery Space, Early Start, University of Wollongong
https://www.earlystartdiscoveryspace.edu.au/discovery-at-home/?_sf_s=do%20it%20at%20home Get some more wonderful ideas from the educators at the Discovery Space, Early Start, University of Wollongong
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