When I was in high school, I took a summer 3D art course at my local community college. One of the projects we did was making mandalas out of food using ingredients to a recipe. I really enjoyed this project and I think it would be a fun lesson to teach students.
Students can create a mandala using ingredients of a recipe, or as an alternative, students can use school supplies, cosmetics, or other non-perishable materials.
Vocabulary: Radial Balance, Symmetry
Photography/Sculpture Homework Assignment: Think about a food you eat. It can be as simple as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or more complex, like vegetable soup or a rice bowl. Gather the ingredients you use to make your favorite meal and arrange them in a mandala shape. Think about layering the ingredients, using cookie cutters to create interesting shapes, and how to arrange the materials on a plate. When you’re finished, document your creation by taking pictures in a well-lit setting or by a window (natural light is best). Write down the recipe that goes with your creation – it does not have to be complex or precise, just write down the ingredients/materials you used and the food that it can make.
Annika Marthinuss 