How to Make Your Own Mandala Coloring Page

I teach in a Makerspace in Oakland, CA for grades K-5. Lately, we've been making our own Mandala coloring pages, and it's extremely easy and satisfying. It's also fun for students to make these coloring pages for each other. Eventually, I want to turn a collection of student-made coloring pages into a school coloring book and sell it as a fundraiser for our school. I've done this project with 2nd and 3rd graders, but it could easily work with older and younger students, too.

Compass, pencil, ruler, ultra-fine Sharpie (or some other fine black marker). Colorful markers to color in designs.

Using your compass, draw 3 or 4 concentric circles. If you don't have a compass, you can try tracing around objects (start with the largest object first; this helps you center your circles). You might also want to add lines across the diameter of the circle, as guidelines. I didn't do this with my students, but it might be helpful for some people. I've included pdfs of these templates. For the student samples I've posted here, I just gave the 2nd graders one solid circle, with a dot in the middle and had them create their own concentric circles. It was an opportunity to explain to them that "concentric circles share the same center."

Next, add details to your circles in pencil. You can add any kind of line, shape or texture. I've included a pdf of a handout that I've given students with several examples. The only requirement is to continue the pattern around the circle. I model for the students making a mandala with no pattern, just and ask them what seems wrong to them. Then I ask them how to correct my work. I do a few examples on the board for them, using a variety of different details, just to give them a sense of how endless their options can be.

Using your ultra-fine Sharpie, or another fine black marker, trace over your pattern and erase any extra pencil marks. That's it! You have your coloring page!

Here are a few more samples from my 2nd-grade class. I love how each one is so unique. It's hard to believe that something so simple could be so engaging, satisfying and result in such a beautiful image. I hope you enjoy making mandalas with your students as much as I do.

Note: Because the instructions are so simple if you make copies of the "Detail ideas" page and the template, this can also work very well as a plan for a substitue.