Nature Mandala

Environmental Arts Workshop with Clevelands Preparatory School, Bolton

Creating a Nature Mandala – a whole school activity

Georgina Valentine worked with children from Year 1 (6 yr olds) through to Year 6 (11 yr olds) to explore their relationship with nature and create a piece of artwork reflecting the journey through the seasons.

Mandalas exist in the art and architecture of many cultures and civilisations, from Tibetan sand sculptures, Persian architecture to the rose windows of European cathedrals. A mandala is essentially a circular image symbolising wholeness, unity and the part that each tiny fragment plays in making up the whole. Cleveland school nature mandala was created giving each child in the school the opportunity to explore their relationship with nature, and the journey of the seasons from winter (seeds in the centre of the design) through spring (fresh green leaves), summer (flowers and fruits) and finally autumn (leaves).

Children explored their own personal relationship with nature through meditation, by listening to nature sounds music and using their imagination to go on ‘an inner journey’ into their own ‘magic forest’ where they breathed fresh air, listened to birdsong, noticed the beautiful colours of nature, tiptoed through the trees and found their own personal leaf or flower. As they left the magic forest of their mind they discovered that they could be a ‘friend of nature’ by appreciating what they see and hear around them. Children commented that they felt peaceful, calm and happy during the meditation experience.

They were then invited to paint their own leaf or flower, whilst listening to music, and were encouraged to paint the feelings they had experienced into their artwork. Even young children were naturally absorbed and focussed whilst doing this activity. Regardless of ability, each artwork was appreciated for its uniqueness and incorporated into the whole.

All the hand painted leaves, flowers, seeds etc. and nature statements were finally assembled into the whole school mandala (a 6 ft colourful wall hanging). When completed, children enjoyed looking for their own contribution, a celebration of their own part in the shared life of the school.

Finally, each child designed their own personal small scale mandala, taking inspiration from the sea, land, weather patterns and the cosmos.

Staff from the school commented on the quiet and happy atmosphere during the creative activities; ‘this is how it should be’, and how the ideas explored tied in with many aspects of the curriculum, as well as encouraging children to value themselves and their own unique relationship with nature and the world around them.