Name Period Date

Name___________________________Period____________Date____________________

A.V.I.D. THE MANDALA PROJECT, ESSAY, and PRESENTATION Worth: 250 points

A mandala is a wondrous and meaningful design made in the form of a circle to represent the harmony and wholeness of life or the wholeness of a person. Over the past 2, 000 years, mandalas have become a tool for displaying individual and cultural uniqueness. To make a mandala, a person begins by thinking of symbols that represent him or her. These symbols might include a dove to represent peace, a heart to represent love, or an open hand to represent friendship. The symbols a person chooses are then carefully drawn in the mandala.

The shape of a mandala is a circle because a circle is the most simple and universal shape found in the world. It is the form of the eye, the sun, and a snowflake. Also, since there is always a center to a circle, as you look at a mandala, it exercises your mind and draws you into the center of yourself or the topic.
DIRECTIONS:

1). On a poster board or construction paper, create your own mandala that represents YOU. Your mandala should be colorful, creative, and include at least 5 symbols (drawn, photos, computer images). On an index card, write a brief explanation.

(diagram with explanation)

• 
  WORTH: 50 points
  
• 
  DUE: Friday, October 21, 2011
  

2). Using your mandala as the basis for your writing, create an autobiographical essay that reveals 3 significant aspects of your life. Your essay should describe at least 3 of the symbols you’ve chosen for your mandala, what the symbols mean, and why they are significant representations of your life. You should also help your reader to understand how all these symbols come together to demonstrate unity or wholeness, how they hold together to communicate the “essence” of who you are.

• 
  ROUGH DRAFT – WORTH 50 points DUE: Thursday, October 20, 2011
  
• 
  FINAL DRAFT – WORTH 100 points DUE: Thursday, October 27, 2011
  

3). Write and present a two-minute speech explaining your mandala project and essay’s content.

• 
  WORTH: 50 points
  
• 
  DUE: Monday, October 31, 2011
  

SYMBOLS IN MY LIFE

	Unique Symbols (word)	Symbols (picture)	Meaning in your life
1
2
3
4
5

ROUGH DRAFT OF MANDALA


Name_______________________________Period__________Date__________________
Mandala Rubric

DUE: Friday, October 21, 2011

Requirements	Self-Evaluation	Teacher’s Evaluation
1). Created a circular mandala using Poster board or Construction paper	_______/5 points	_______/5 points
2). Included at least 5 unique symbols about you in your mandala (drawn, photos, computer images)	____/25 points	____/25 points
3). END PRODUCT final mandala is neat and creative final mandala is colorful symbols come together to demonstrate unity or wholeness time and effort is evident	____/20 points	____/20 points
	Total points you feel you earned ______/50 points Letter Grade	Total points earned _____/50 points Letter Grade

Mandala Presentation Rubric

DUE: Monday, October 31, 2011

1). ORAL PRESENTATION Re- introduced yourself to the class Explained significance of mandala and essay’s content Made eye contact Spoke clearly (volume and speed) At least 2 minutes in length

____/50 points

_____/50 points

Letter Grade________

Name_______________________________Period__________Date__________________

Mandala Autobiography Rubric

Rough Draft – 50 points DUE: Thursday, October 20, 2011

Final Draft - 100 points DUE: Thursday, October 27, 2011

Requirements		Self-Evaluation	Teacher’s Evaluation
1). Heading	First and Last Name AVID Class period Date Single Spaced	____/5 points	____/5 points
2). Title Title:__________________	Creative Centered Capitalization	___/10 points	____/10 points
3). Introduction Paragraph # of sentences______	Indented Begins with a “hook” (a question, quote, story) Mentions at least 3 symbols At least 5 to 7 sentences in length	____/15 points	____/15 points
4). Body Paragraph #1 TOPIC: ______________ # of sentences______	Indented Contains quality topic sentence Explains why symbol is important in life Gave examples of symbol in life At least 5 to 7 sentences in length	____/10 points	____/10 points
5). Body Paragraph #2 TOPIC: ______________ # of sentences______	Indented Contains a topic sentence Explained why symbol is important in life Gave examples of symbol in life At least 5 to 7 sentences in length	____/10 points	____/10 points
6). Body Paragraph #3 TOPIC: ______________ # of sentences______	Indented Contains a topic sentence Explained why symbol is important in life Gave examples of symbol in life At least 5 to 7 sentences in length	____/10 points	____/10 points
7). Conclusion Paragraph # of sentences______	Indented Wraps up/summarizes essays Mentions three symbols Explained message behind symbols At least 5 to 7 sentences in length	____/15 points	____/15 points
8). End Product Rough Draft Revisions are evident on rough draft __________/50	Contains varied sentence structure Contains correct spelling and grammar Essay uses strong sensory details to bring symbols to life Essay is organized/contains wholeness to essay Transitions unify ideas Typed 12 point font Double spaced 1 inch margins	____/25 points	____/25 points

1). Explain one positive aspect of your essay.

Points you feel you earned ____/100 points Letter Grade

Total points Earned ____/100 points Letter Grade

2). Explain one way you could have improved your essay.