Mandalas and Repetitive Design

Active learning transforms passive observation of West African textiles into hands-on decoding. Students move beyond looking at symbols by researching, discussing, and creating their own motifs, which strengthens their understanding of how art communicates cultural values.

• Year 8
• Art and Design
• 3 activities
• 30 min–60 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze the visual elements and cultural significance of mandalas from at least two different traditions.
2. Compare the use of repetition and rhythm in mandalas and other circular patterns across cultures.
3. Design a personal mandala incorporating symbolic elements that represent individual experiences or values.
4. Explain how the structure of repetitive patterns can contribute to a meditative or calming effect.

Gallery Walk

⏱ 30 min·Pairs

Gallery Walk: Reading the Cloth

The teacher displays various Adinkra symbols around the room with their associated proverbs hidden under flaps. Students move in pairs to guess the meaning based on the visual shape before revealing the answer.

Prepare & details

Analyze how repetitive patterns can induce a meditative or calming effect.

Facilitation Tip: During the Gallery Walk, position students as detectives by giving each pair a focus question about a specific symbol’s cultural meaning before they move to the next image.

Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter

Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Modern Proverb

In small groups, students identify a 'modern proverb' or a value important to their school community (e.g., 'kindness is strength'). They then work together to design a simplified, geometric symbol that captures that idea.

Prepare & details

Compare the cultural contexts and meanings of mandalas from different traditions.

Facilitation Tip: For the Collaborative Investigation, assign each group a different modern proverb to translate visually, ensuring varied examples are shared with the class.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Stations Rotation

⏱ 60 min·Small Groups

Stations Rotation: Motif Development

Students rotate through stations: one for sketching symbols, one for carving them into lino or foam blocks, and one for testing the 'repeat' of the symbol on long strips of paper.

Prepare & details

Design a personal mandala that incorporates symbolic elements relevant to your own life.

Facilitation Tip: Set a 5-minute timer for each station in Motif Development to keep students focused on testing small variations in shape and spacing before finalizing their designs.

Setup: Tables/desks arranged in 4-6 distinct stations around room

Materials: Station instruction cards, Different materials per station, Rotation timer

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Teachers should frame this topic as both a visual and philosophical exercise, emphasizing the layers of meaning in each symbol. Avoid presenting the designs as purely decorative; instead, guide students to see them as complex shorthand for cultural ideas. Research on visual literacy shows that students grasp symbolism faster when they actively create and explain their own interpretations rather than just memorizing meanings.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students confidently explaining the meanings behind Adinkra symbols and using repetition deliberately in their own designs. They should be able to connect their personal motifs to broader cultural ideas and justify their choices with clear reasoning.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Gallery Walk, watch for students who dismiss symbols as 'just decorations' without investigating their cultural significance.

What to Teach Instead

Direct students to the provided proverb sheets next to each image, and ask them to read at least one example aloud before moving on.

Common Misconception

During Collaborative Investigation, students may assume symbols are arbitrary or unrelated to real-life values.

What to Teach Instead

Have groups present their symbol’s proverb alongside a personal example of how the value applies to modern life, such as family, school, or community.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

After Gallery Walk, ask students to choose one symbol and explain its meaning to a partner, using evidence from the images and proverb sheets they reviewed.

Quick Check

During Motif Development, circulate with a checklist to note which students can explain the purpose of repetition in their designs before they move to the final draft.

Peer Assessment

After Collaborative Investigation, have students swap modern proverb translations with another group and guess the original Adinkra symbol before revealing the answer.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge early finishers to research and incorporate a second Adinkra symbol into their mandala, explaining how the two interact in meaning.
• Scaffolding for struggling students: Provide pre-printed motif templates with dotted lines for tracing, and ask them to focus on one symbol before adding repetition.
• Deeper exploration: Invite students to research how Adinkra symbols are used in modern Ghanaian culture, such as on textiles, pottery, or social media, and present their findings to the class.

Key Vocabulary

Mandala	A circular geometric pattern, often spiritual or ritualistic in nature, used in Hinduism and Buddhism. It represents the universe and a place of meditation.
Repetition	The act of repeating a design element, motif, or pattern multiple times within a composition. This creates rhythm and visual unity.
Symmetry	A balanced arrangement of elements where one side mirrors the other. Radial symmetry, common in mandalas, is balanced around a central point.
Motif	A distinctive and recurring element, subject, or design used in a pattern or artwork. Motifs can carry symbolic meaning.
Rhythm	The visual repetition of elements, creating a sense of movement or flow in an artwork. In mandalas, rhythm is often achieved through repeating shapes and colors.