Art & Craft Projects

Lord Hanumaan

2011-04-02T15:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a coloring sheet that our young children use to practice their likhita japa with. Have them fill in Lord Hanumaan with राम (rāma).

Materials
• Coloring page (see below)
• Markers or pens in different colors

Click on the image below and print

Make sure to adjust your brightness and printing size, if necessary.

Vedic OM

2011-03-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

This is a great tracing sheet for learning how to make a Vedic OM!
(courtesy of Roy Goodwin, "Return to the Center.")

Click on the image to print.

Make sure to adjust your printing size and brightness, if necessary.

Click on the animation to see the stroke sequence.

Rangoli/Mandala

2011-03-08T06:04:00.000-08:00

Some of our kindergarten friends have been asking for more rangoli mandala patterns to practice their likhita japa with ... so here is another one. Have fun!!

Materials
Crayons/Markers (colors)
Print out (see below)

Click on image and print.

Make sure to adjust your printing size and brightness, if necessary

Lord Shiva Lingam Mandala

2011-02-26T05:20:00.000-08:00

This is a coloring page for children to perform their likhita japa with. The younger children will probably fare better by coloring the picture with crayons and then writing on the outside border. The older children might want to try coloring the entire Shiva Lingam with likhita japa − ऊँ नमः शिवाय (om namaḥ śivāya)

This project was created to accompany the Kindergarten's Tracing Sheet ऊँ नमः शिवाय (click here to view.)

Materials
Markers/Crayons (black and red)
Writing pens
Mandala Page (see below)

Click on the image and print

Make sure to adjust your brightness and page settings on your printer, if necessary.

ऊँ नमः शिवाय Tracing Sheet

2011-02-26T05:11:00.000-08:00

This is a tracing sheet to help children practice writing ऊँ नमः शिवाय (om namaḥ śivāya).
This project was created for the likhita japa segment of the Kindergarten Class.

Click on image to print.

Make sure to adjust color and size on your printer, if necessary.

Click on the video to see writing

strokes for ऊँ नमः शिवाय

Connect the Dots: Duck

2011-02-12T11:32:00.000-08:00

This is an activity page to help children practice their numbers 1-20 in Sanskrit. When they are finished connecting the dots and coloring the page, have them write कादम्बः below the drawing.

This was designed to accompany a story for the Kindergarten Class's lesson: "O is for Obedience."

कादम्बः

kādambaḥ

(duck)

Click the image below and then print.

Make sure to adjust your printing size, if necessary

Connect the Dots: Cow

2011-02-05T08:40:00.000-08:00

This is an activity page to help children practice their numbers 1-20 in Sanskrit. When they are finished connecting the dots and coloring the page, have them write the object's name in Sanskrit. This was designed to accompany the all-time favorite story "Punyakoti" for the Kindergarten class.

धेनु

dhenu

cow

Click on the image below and print.

Make sure to adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Heart and Flower Likhita Japa

2011-01-26T09:14:00.000-08:00

This project was designed for the kindergarten class – "K is for Kindness" and "L is for Love." The painting was done in class and the children's assignment was to take the mandala home and fill in one petal a day with likhita japa, finishing on the last day with the border. We explained to them that because love and kindness helps all things become beautiful, grow and flourish, this daily discipline will produce a most beautiful person ... filled with love and kindness (just like this painting!)

Materials
Watercolor paper
Water soluble colored pencils
Paintbrush
Small bowl of water
Heart and Mandala Template (see below)
Fine point writing pens (black or colors)

Directions
1. Copy the Heart and Mandala Template onto card stock paper. Cut out.

2. Using a water soluble pencil, trace the mandala onto your piece of watercolor paper.

3. Then using the same colored pencil, trace the hearts into a flower shape (inside the mandala) onto the watercolor paper.

4. Once the design is in place, have the child color the entire mandala with the water soluble pencils. It is good to emphasize that you should not apply too much color. The pressure should be light and consistent.

5. After coloring, it's time to bring out the brush! Dip the brush in water. Give it a shake or two to remove the excess water. And then begin painting over your design. Be prepared for lots of "ooohs and aahhhs" — it's a lot of fun to watch the colored pencils turn into paint!!

Click on the template page below and print.

Be sure and adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Mandala colored with pencils

Water brushed on to the colors.

Likhita japa added to the painting

Likhita Japa Painting

2011-01-22T13:04:00.000-08:00

This project was created for our Kindergarten Class "J is for Japa. This is a very simple technique. All you need is:

Materials
• Watercolor paper
• Water soluble colored pencils (These can be found in most craft/art stores)
• Paint Brush
• Water
• Black writing pens (or color pens for more complicated patterning)

Directions
1. With a bowl (or circle template) trace your mandala circle in the center of your paper. Then with the watercolor pencils lightly color in your areas. (We like to use no more than 3 or 4 colors.)

2. After you are satisfied with the coloring, take your brush (dipped in water) and paint over your drawing. It's like magic — the colored pencils turn into watercolor!! The younger kids really love this part.

3. Once your painting is completely dry, you can begin your likhita japa. Have them work from the outside of the circle inwards — finishing with a beautiful, silent OM.

Here are a couple of samples we share with the children to emphasize

the importance of neat and steady handwriting.

Deepa: Connect the Dots

2011-01-21T16:53:00.000-08:00

This is an activity page to help children practice their numbers 1-20 in Sanskrit. When they are finished connecting the dots and coloring the page, have them write the object's name in Sanskrit.

दीपः

deepaḥ

lamp

Click on the image below and print.

Make sure to adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Elephant: Connect the Dots

2011-01-21T14:52:00.000-08:00

This is an activity page to help children practice their Sanskrit numbers 1-20. When they are finished connecting the dots and coloring the page, have them write गजः (gajah, elephant) in Sanskrit.

Click on the image below and print.

Make sure to adjust your printing size, if necessary.

गजः

gajaḥ

elephant

Numbers 11-20 (Sanskrit)

2011-01-17T08:39:00.000-08:00

Coloring/activity pages to help children learn numbers 11-20 in Sanskrit. Please note that these numbers are in the neuter gender.
Click here to download pages.

Frog Drawing

2011-01-12T09:39:00.000-08:00

Print the page below and draw a frog. We like to use these activity sheets in our Kindergarten class during the "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel Free to copy the sample below, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayons

मण्डूकः

maṇḍūkaḥ

frog

Click on the image and print.

Make sure to adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Bird Drawing

2011-01-12T09:34:00.000-08:00

Print the page below and draw a bird. We like to use these activity sheets in our Kindergarten class during the "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample below, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayon

खगः

khagaḥ

bird

Click on the image and print.

Make sure to adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Owl Drawing

2011-01-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

Print the page below and draw an owl. We like to use these activity sheets in our Kindergarten class during the "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample below, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black Marker/crayon

उलूकः

ulūkaḥ

owl

Click on the image and print.

Make sure to adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Dog Drawing

2011-01-12T09:25:00.000-08:00

Print the page below and draw a dog. We like to use these activity sheets in our Kindergarten class during the "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample below or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayons

शुनकः

śunakaḥ

dog

Click on the image and print.

Make sure to adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Turtle Drawing

2011-01-12T08:59:00.000-08:00

Print the page below and draw a turtle. We like to use these activity sheets in our Kindergarten class during the "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample below, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayons

कूर्मः

kūrmaḥ

turtle

Click on the image and then print.

Make sure you adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Bee Drawing

2011-01-12T08:54:00.000-08:00

Print the page below and draw a bee. We like to use these activity sheets in our Kindergarten class during the "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample below, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayons

मधुमाक्षिका

madhumākshikā

bee

Click on the image and then print.

Make sure you adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Rabbit Drawing

2011-01-12T08:47:00.000-08:00

Print the page below and draw a rabbit. We like to use these activity sheets in our Kindergarten class during the "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample below, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayons

शशकः

śaśakaḥ

rabbit

Click on image below and print.

Make sure you adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Spider Drawing

2011-01-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

Print the page below and draw a spider. We like to use these activity sheets in our Kindergarten class during the "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample below, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayons

तन्तुनाभः

tantunābhaḥ

spider

Click on image below and print.

Make sure to adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Cat Drawing

2011-01-08T16:08:00.000-08:00

Print the page below and draw a cat. We like to use these activity sheets in our Kindergarten class during the "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample below, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayons

बिडालः

biḍālaḥ

cat

Click on the image below and print.

Make sure you adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Elephant Drawing

2011-01-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

Print the page below and draw a picture of an elephant. We like to use these activity pages in our Kindergarten "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample we have given, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayon

गजः

gajaḥ

elephant

Click on the image below and print.
Be sure and adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Fish Drawing

2011-01-08T14:24:00.000-08:00

Print the page below and draw a picture of a fish. We like to use this activity sheet in our Kindergarten "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample we have given, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print out (see below)
Black marker/crayon

मत्स्यः

matsyaḥ

fish

Click on the image below and print.
Be sure to adjust printing size, if necessary.

Lion Drawing

2011-01-08T14:18:00.000-08:00

Print the page below and draw a picture of a lion. We like to use this activity page in our Kindergarten "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample we have given, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print Out (see below)
Black marker/crayon

सिंहः

simhaḥ

lion

Click on the image below and print.
Be sure and adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Mouse Drawing

2011-01-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

Print the page below and draw a picture of a mouse. We like to use these activity pages in our Kindergarten "Sanskrit Fun Segment." Feel free to copy the sample we have given, or better yet, create your own image!

Materials
Print Out (see below)
Black marker/crayon

मूषकः

mūṣakaḥ

mouse

Click on the image below and print.
Be sure to adjust your printing size, if necessary.

Lord Raama's Lotus Feet

2010-12-04T16:24:00.000-08:00

Here is a very simple outline of Lord Raama's feet for the children to do their creative likhita japa with. All you need are a few colored writing pens and a copy of the image below. Have fun!

Click on the image and then print.

Peacock Feather Drawing

2010-11-20T04:50:00.000-08:00

The peacock feather is a fun image to do creative likhita japa with — the lines are extremely easy to follow. A good writing strategy is to start at the base of a line and work upwards. Make sure to finish one full line of the feather before moving on to the next.

Because older children are able to write smaller (and have greater focus), they might want to try a full mantra such as ऊँ श्री कृष्ण शरणं मम (om shree krishna sharanam mama). Younger children will probably fare better with filling the picture with ऊँ, aum or OM and using colors. What is important for us to remember is that the objective with these art exercises is that the child experiences joy while chanting the Lord's name — how "well or proper" they do it is secondary :-)

Happy Likhita Japa!!!

Materials:
• Good writing pens

Black artist pens, with different sized nibs, create beautiful tones. An excellent pen to look for is Prisma Color. You can find them at any quality craft or art store. A complete set comes in sizes .005, 01, 03, 05 and 08 — which is a perfect range of line widths. Other good pens are Micron (by Sakura) and Staedtler Triplus Fine liner.

Click on the image and print. If you want lighter lines, adjust your printer contrast setting.

Lotus Mandala

2010-08-31T10:59:00.000-07:00

This Lotus Mandala was designed for creative likhita japa. With the first image, the child can write their mantra tracing the lines and then color it in with crayons — or better yet, design and color it with likhita japa! (The second image was drawn with ऊँ and OM.)

For a finishing touch — don't forget to add sequins and gems for decorations.

This lotus is abstract enough that it can also be used as a Sun.

Another idea for an art project, is to print this on card stock paper. Once the lotus is completely decorated and colored in, cut around the circle and glue onto a greeting card. Make sure you reduce the image to your desired size before printing.

Tip: If you want the outlines to be extremely faded, just adjust the lightness on your printer and then print.

Shiva Lingam (OM namah Shivaaya)

2010-08-31T04:29:00.000-07:00

These pages were designed for creative likhita japa. With the first image, the child can write their mantra tracing the lines and then color it in with crayons — or better yet, color with likhita japa! (The second image was drawn with ऊँ नमः शिवाय OM namah Shivaaya.)

As the finishing touch — don't forget to add sequins and gems.

Another idea for an art project, is to print this on card stock paper. Once the Shiva Lingam is completely decorated and colored in, cut around the circle and glue onto a greeting card. Make sure you reduce the image to your desired size before printing.

Tip: If you want the outlines to be extremely faded, just adjust the lightness on your printer and then print.

To print either of the pages below, click on the image and then print.

Ganesha Mandala

2010-08-30T12:58:00.000-07:00

This page was designed for creative likhita japa. With the first image, the child can write their mantra tracing the lines and then color it in with crayons — or better yet, color with likhita japa! (The second image was drawn with ऊँ गं गणपतये नमो नमः OM gam gaNapataye namo namaH.)

For a finishing touch — don't forget to add sequins and gems for decorations.

Another idea for an art project, is to print this on card stock paper. Once Lord Ganesha is completely decorated and colored in, cut around the circle and glue onto a greeting card. Make sure you reduce the image to your desired size before printing.

Tip: If you want the outlines to be extremely faded, just adjust the lightness on your printer and then print.

To print the page below, click on the image and then print.

Likhita Japa Mandala (2)

2010-08-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

Have fun!!

For some pattern ideas go to the label "Lihita Japa" (on the right side of this page.)

To print the mandala outline below, click on the image and then print.

Likhita Japa Mandala 1

2010-08-30T11:08:00.000-07:00

This is an outline for making a creative likhita japa mandala. The child can write around the mandala or make abstract designs inside the boundary — whatever they choose! Color pens are more fun and promote creativity with younger children, so we recommend having at least 4 or 5 different colors available.

Have fun!!

For some pattern ideas go to the label "Lihita Japa" (on the right side of this page.)

To print the mandala outline click on the image and then print.

Rangoli (Drawn in OM)

2010-08-30T10:12:00.000-07:00

The Rangoli pattern was created with likhita japa (ऊँ and OM). This page is for children to practice their creative likhita japa with. If the child is going to write in colors, it is suggested that they have at least 4 colors to start with. For black and white likhita japa, we suggest having different sized Black pen widths available to create tones.

Another idea for an art project, is to print this on card stock paper. Once the Rangoli is completely decorated and colored in, cut around the pattern and glue onto a greeting card. Make sure you reduce the image to your desired size before printing.

Materials
• Writing pens in different colors (or black) and sizes. (005, 01, 03 and 05 are recommended sizes to begin with. Most of these pens can be found in a good quality stationary or art store. We use Prisma Color, Staedler and Sakura brands.)

The colored image below was done with Prisma Color pens (size 005).

For ideas on different pattern techniques, visit the label "Likhita Japa" (on the right side of this page.)

To print the page below: Click on the image and print.

Diya (Drawn in OM)

2010-08-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

This diya coloring page was created by OM likhita japa. This is a perfect page for young ones to practice their creative likhita japa with. They can color and decorate this page by writing ऊँ in many different colors and sizes — or they can just plain color.

Another idea for an art project, is to print this on card stock paper. Once the diya is completely decorated and colored in, cut around the circle and glue onto a greeting card. Make sure you reduce the image to your desired size before printing.

Materials:

Colored writing pens in different nib widths. (Ultra Fine, Fine, and regular are good sizes to begin with.)

To Print the page below. Click on the image and print.

Shiva Lingam Mandala (Likhita Japa)

2010-06-11T05:53:00.000-07:00

This mandala is dedicated to Guruji
Summer Camp 2010

Click on the image to view enlarged.

This mandala was created with likhita japa of "ऊँ नमः शिवाय" (OM namah Shivaaya.) Lightly trace the inner and outer circles with a pencil and bowl (or circle templates) . Once you are satisfied with the proportions, begin the likhita japa session with your writing pens. All pencil lines should be gently erased after the ink has thoroughly dried. The Shiva Lingam was painted (with gouache) in the center as a point of reflection after the japa session was completed.

Materials
• Good quality writing pens with different nib sizes
• Good quality Bristol paper (smooth vellum surface)
• Pencil
• Graphic eraser
• Gouache paints
• Paint brushes
• Gold metallic calligraphy pen/ink

OM Likhita Japa

2010-06-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged

This likhita japa was created from doodling patterns (see previous posting in May archive.) The entire mandala was designed with variations on OM.

Materials Needed:
• A smooth surface paper
• Pens of different sizes
• Bowls (or compass) for tracing circle outline
• Pencil
• Quality graphic eraser

Lightly sketch the outline design with a pencil — your details will emerge from the japa. Do not sketch the writing in ... that should be performed in ink when you begin your session. Gently erase all pencil lines only when you are completely finished with the likhita.

Experiment with color, too!

Peacock Feather Likhita Japa

2010-05-20T04:11:00.000-07:00

This likhita japa is dedicated to Swamiji
Summer Camp 2010

Click on the image to view enlarged.

The feather outline was lightly sketched in pencil before the japa began. With the outline in place, one can completely focus on writing the mantra without getting distracted by composition or placement. When the likhita japa session is completely finished (and the ink is dry), then the pencil lines can be gently erased.

For summer camp 2010 we will be encouraging the older children to perform likhita japa with their color and composition studies.

Paisley Flowers in Likhita Japa

2010-05-17T16:42:00.000-07:00

This likhita japa is dedicated to Guruji.
Summer Camp 2010

Click on image to view enlarged.

These flowers were created solely from OM. The picture outline was lightly sketched in pencil before the japa began. With the outline in place, one can completely focus on writing the mantra without getting distracted by composition or placement. When the likhita japa session is completely finished (and the ink is dry), then the pencil lines can be gently erased.

For summer camp 2010 we will be encouraging the older children to perform likhita japa with their color and composition studies.

Likhita Japa Drawing (Lord Ganesha)

2010-05-04T10:59:00.000-07:00

This drawing is dedicated to Guruji
Summer Camp 2010

Click on the image to view enlarged.

Here is a sample of a Likhita Japa Drawing. A very light pencil sketch was done outlining Lord Ganesha before the likhita japa session began. The outline was put in only to help guide the japa, so that focus would not be lost. Once the likhita was completely finished (and the ink was dry) the pencil lines were erased with a graphic eraser.

Materials
• bristol drawing paper
• black pens in different widths
• a pencil
• a good graphic eraser.

Some suggestions of images for the older children to try:

• a Shivalingam
• a diya
• a lotus flower
• a Rangoli pattern

Likhita Japa Doodling

2010-05-04T10:52:00.000-07:00

Summer Camp 2010
Click on the image to view enlarged

Doodling is an all-time favorite calming activity — especially for older school children. Why not encourage them to doodle while doing likhita japa?

Here are two sample pages of "japa doodle drawing." The only materials necessary for doodling is a smooth piece of drawing paper, pencil, graphic eraser and a black pen in 3 different widths — thick, fine and super/extra fine. Tell the child to let their pen go where the japa takes them!

Likhita Japa Doodle Drawing

2010-05-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

Summer Camp 2010
Click on the image to view enlarged.

These drawings are nothing more than big doodles. Once the older children are comfortable with the idea of writing in different directions you can guide them towards a larger doodle.

Directions
1. Take a bowl and lightly trace it (with a pencil) in the center of the page.
2. Have the child then take their pencil and divide up the circle, creating shapes. They can even extend the shape outside the circle.
3. Begin drawing with ink!

Materials
• smooth surface drawing paper (bristol is an excellent choice)
• pencil
• a good graphic eraser
• black pens in different widths (thick, medium, fine and extra fine)

When the drawing is complete and the ink is dry, then the child can carefully erase the pencil lines. Please encourage the child to not draw any details with the pencil — they should only make light outlines of general areas. The detail work should be done with the likhita japa.

Likhita Japa

2010-04-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

Summer Camp 2010

Here are some samples of likhita japa that have been written in color ink. It is recommended that the children begin with simple shapes and just a few colors (no more than three.) All shapes and colors should be decided upon before likhita japa begins — they don't want to be making decisions while writing.

It is also important to tell the children that there are no mistakes in likhita japa. They are to forget all the rules they learned about writing on a straight line (or coloring inside the lines) — this is the child's personal journal and they should be free to explore this process any way they choose. If they decide to write in one corner of the page, leaving the rest of the page blank — that is perfectly fine! These pages are not being exhibited at a National Art Gallery, so please don't judge their work. The goal is to encourage the child to connect with their mantra and enjoy the process — it makes no difference whether they write in a linear mode or just plain doodle.

The erasers are to be put away before the writing session begins. No one should be allowed to touch an eraser during likhita japa. All pencil markings can be removed after the japa session has ended.

Here's a good first exercise: Try using color as a way to refocus the mind by having the children begin writing with one color. Tell them that once their mind begins to wander, they should put down their pen and pick up another color. Continue writing and repeat this process until the japa session is finished. When they are done, have the children spend a few minutes reflecting on their writing —making sure to count how many times their thoughts left the page. It's fun to try and do this regularly until everyone ends up with only one color. An agreed amount of time for the japa session should be decided on — you can set a timer to let everyone know when the session is over. As the child's ability to focus strengthens, increase the time.

Materials Needed
• Regular color writing pens. (Fine and medium points are good.)
• Sketchbook or drawing paper with a smooth surface.
• A pencil and good eraser

Directions
1. If the child wants to do circular likhita japa, trace a bowl onto the center of the page. (He/she can also lightly sketch out any other geometric shapes to write into. Make sure, however, that the shapes are basic outlines — there should be no details drawn with the pencil.)

2. Have the child work from the outside of a shape (or the page) to the center.

To view any of the photographs enlarged, just click on the picture.

Summer Camp 2010 – Week 1
Photographs are copyrighted. 2010

Color Study

2010-04-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

Summer Camp 2010

This is a very simple lesson in creating a color wheel using the three primaries: red, blue and yellow. Check out the following sites for some great information on the basics of primary, secondary, tertiary, complimentary and analogous colors:

Arty Factory (click here to view)
Middle School Color Theory Projects (click here to view)
Lesson Plans Page (click here to view)

To make an easy, no mess, color wheel you will need:

• Red, Blue and Yellow water-soluble color pencils (We used Caran'dache supracolor — carmine red, sapphire blue and yellow to make the samples shown.)
• a small dish of water
• a paintbrush
• water color paper

Orange = Equal portions of Red and Yellow

Purple = Equal portions of Red and Blue

Green = Equal portions of Blue and Yellow

Black (for our purposes) = Equal portions of Red, Blue and Yellow

Helpful Hints:

• To create a consistent paint blending we laid down the lighter color first, with the darker on top.

• After all the colors have been drawn with the pencil, lightly brush water onto the circles. Like magic you will see a watercolor painting emerge.

• After completing a color wheel, have the children try sketching out a grid of squares. Then with their three pencils, create paintings incorporating all the color combinations they learned with their wheel. (Try some with only secondary colors, some with one primary and 2 secondary, 2 complimentaries, etc. There are many variations on this theme — let them have some fun exploring!)

• If you want the children to understand tints and shades of colors, you can give them a White pencil to mix with. (Tints are the hues (colors) with white added. Shades are the hues with black added.

Abstract Coloring Page

2010-03-09T16:11:00.000-08:00

A Color by Number page in Sanskrit. This is designed to help children learn and identify numbers and color words.

This page is copyrighted and provided for personal or class use only.
Click on the image below and print.

Abstract Coloring Page

2010-03-08T15:42:00.000-08:00

A Color by Number page in Sanskrit — designed to help children learn and identify numbers and color words.

This work is copyrighted and provided for personal or class use only.
Click on the image below and print.

Abstract Coloring Page

2010-03-05T11:09:00.000-08:00

A Color by Number page in Sanskrit.

This work is copyrighted and provided for personal or class use only.
(Click on the image and print.)

Abstract Coloring Page

2010-03-05T11:08:00.000-08:00

A color by number page in Sanskrit.

This work is copyrighted and provided for personal or class use only.

(Click on the image and print.)

Abstract Coloring Page

2010-03-04T15:54:00.000-08:00

This is a color by number page in Sanskrit.

This work is copyrighted and provided for personal or class use only.
(Click on image and print.)

Flower Coloring Page

2010-03-03T19:56:00.000-08:00

A Color By Number page in Sanskrit.

This work is copyrighted and provided for personal or class use only.
(Click on the image and print.)

Flower 2 Coloring Page

2010-03-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

This is a Color by Number Page in Sanskrit. It is designed to help young children learn and identify numbers and color words.

This page is copyrighted and provided for personal or class use only.

Click on the image below and print.

Diya Coloring Page

2010-03-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

This is a coloring by number page in Sanskrit.

This work is copyrighted and provided for personal or class use only.
(Click on the image and print.)

Tulips Coloring Page

2010-03-03T08:30:00.000-08:00

A color by number page in Sanskrit.

This work is copyrighted and provided for personal or class use only.
(Click on image and print.)

Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji

2010-02-26T04:40:00.000-08:00

Coloring page of Gurudev.
Click on the image and print.

Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda

2010-02-25T14:47:00.000-08:00

Coloring page of Guruji.
Click on the image and print.

Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji

2010-02-24T10:23:00.000-08:00

A coloring page of Gurudev.
Click on the image and print.

Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji

2010-02-24T10:22:00.000-08:00

A coloring page of Gurudev.
Click on the image and print.

Pujya Guruji Coloring Page

2010-02-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

Click on the picture and print.

Chinmaya OM Coloring Page

2010-02-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

Click on picture and print. (Enlarge to 160% if you want to fill the page.)

Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji

2010-02-24T09:50:00.000-08:00

Click on the picture and print.

Pujya Gurudev Coloring Page

2010-02-24T09:48:00.000-08:00

Click on the line art and print.

Swami Tapovan Maharaj Coloring Page

2010-02-24T09:46:00.000-08:00

Click on the line art picture and print.

Pujya Gurudev Coloring Page

2010-02-24T09:35:00.000-08:00

Click on the line art picture and print.

Numbers 1-10

2010-02-24T09:32:00.000-08:00

Coloring/Activity sheets for children to learn numbers 1-10 in Sanskrit. Please note that these numbers are in the Neuter Gender.
Click here for number pages

OM Tracing Card

2010-02-24T09:30:00.000-08:00

This OM is meant to be laminated (8.5 x 11) so that the children can practice writing their strokes correctly. We like to use Crayola Washable Markers on the lamination sheet, so that it can be easily washed off for the next writing session. Dry Erase Markers also work well -- you just need a bit more elbow grease to get the sheet clean. Having the children color the OM can also be a nice way for them to quieten their minds and meditate on God.

श्री राम Tracing Sheet

2010-02-24T08:09:00.000-08:00

We use this in class for the children to practice Japa Writing.

To Print: Click on the image below to view full-size. Print.

Lotus Flower

2010-02-10T10:56:00.000-08:00

This project is dedicated to Gurudev

For balavihar classroom or personal use only
©jmg 2010

This flower is created with watercolor paper, which is quite easy to find — art stores, craft stores, and even stationary stores carry many different varieties. Watercolor paper is a fabulous medium to work with! It's possible to make very lovely and durable sculptures with just one sheet, some water, and careful maniupation.

Materials

• Watercolor paper

• Paint brush

• Water

• Color (water colors, water soluable art pencils, tempera paints, etc.)

• Decorating items, — glitter glue, acrylic gems, sequins, and/or lace

Directions
1. Print out the template below 3 times. One is printed at 100%, one at 90% and one at 80%. You may scale them to any size you desire, just make sure all three are reduced/enlarged at the same percentage.

2. Cut out the 3 templates.

3. Trace them onto the watercolor paper.

4. Cut out the 3 shapes.

5. Color or paint each tier.

6. With the largest shape, take some water (using either a paintbrush or your fingers) and lightly cover each side. Take each leaf and roll it gently inwards until you get the desired effect.

7. Follow step 6 with the other two lotus tiers.

8. Decorate with gems or glitter.

9. Let dry.

10. Once all the pieces are dry, glue the three pieces together with a small dab of glue on the bottom of each tier.

Click on the template image below and print.

Lord Ganesha Pop-Up Card

2010-01-08T14:48:00.000-08:00

This project is dedicated to Gurudev
©jmg 2008 For personal use only
Summer Camp 2009, 2010

Click on picture to view enlarged.

This card is not difficult to make at all – don't be discouraged by the number of assembly steps listed below. Balavihar summer camp students (of all ages) made oodles of these. Adult supervision, however, is needed for cutting with an exacto knife.

Materials

• 1 Cream color greeting card (and envelope) 5 x 7*

• 1 Cream colored card (for pop-up structure) 4 1/4 x 5 1/2*

• Light color cardstock (for printing template image below)

• Gold foil

• Glue stick

• Scissors

• Exacto knife (adult supervision)

• Rhinestones, sequins, etc. (for decorating Lord Ganesha's crown)

• Gold gel pen
• Markers or colored pencils

* Fold a piece of sturdy cardstock for the card. Cut size to measurements listed above.

Directions

1. Print the image (below) onto a light colored cardstock.

2. Cut out the head, ears and pop-up template.

3. Fold the ears and head on the lines where indicated (dotted lines.)

4. With the 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card stock (in the folded position) , place the pop-up template on top. Make sure to carefully line the template onto the fold of the card.)

5. Trace the solid lines onto the folded cardstock. These lines determine the crown and head of Lord Ganesha.

6. With a pair of scissors, cut on the solid lines. Do not cut on the dotted lines.

7. Once you have made your cuts, fold the two shapes on the dotted lines. The top shape is the crown, and the bottom shape is Lord Ganesha's head.

Open the card and push the shapes in. Click here to see how it is done with a traditional pop-up card.

8. With the exacto knife (and adult supervision) you will be making 3 slices into the folded cardstock:

a) The first two will be vertical cuts on either side of Ganesha's head — these cuts are where the ears will be placed. Make sure that your cuts will be long enough to insert each ear into.

b) The next cut will be horizontal, positioned about 1/5 to 1/4 down from the top of his face. This cut is where the trunk goes.

9. Once you have your cuts made, insert the ears and the trunk. Make sure to securely glue each flap on the back side of the card.

10. The trunk will create a natural fold when you close the card for the first time. Once the trunk has been folded, you can glue the tip of the trunk to the inside paper where it touches when the card is in the closed position.

11. Now you are ready to glue the inside folded card (4 1/4 x 5 1/2) to the outside card (5 x 7). Position the pop-up card inside the larger folded card, making sure that it is centered nicely. Open one side of the outer card and glue the inner card. Make sure to not glue the cut out areas, otherwise your card will not pop-up. Gently lay the outer card down on the inner card and rub thoroughly with your hands. Turn the card over and do the same to the other side. Click here to see pictures of gluing the folded papers together.

12. Decorate your Lord Ganesha — and then make another!

Solid lines represent cutting lines.

Dotted lines represent fold lines.

Click for full-page view. Print on cream colored cardstock

Heart Pop-Up Card

2010-01-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

This project was used to accompany "L is for Love" in our Kindergarten class. Pop-Up cards are always a big hit ...

Materials
2 Greeting Cards — 1 larger and 1 smaller in size.*
Glue Stick
Scissors
Markers, Crayons, and/or stickers for decorations

*If you prefer to cut your own cards to size, make sure you use a card-stock weight paper. The larger card should have a margin of 1/4 to 1/2 inch on all 3 sides. This will make it easier for the children to glue the inner card (pop-up structure) to the outer card.

Directions
1. On the fold of the smaller card, draw two lines that resemble 1/2 the side of a heart. See Picture A for example.

Picture A

2. With scissors, cut on the two lines.
3. Fold the heart down. (This will the pop-up easier to work with.) See Picture B for example.

Picture B

4. Open the card and pop the heart up. See Picture C.

Picture C

5. Decorate the heart with crayons, stickers, etc.
6. Center the pop-up card inside the larger card.
7. Working with one side of the card only, glue the entire surface of the smaller card — making sure to not glue the cut out region. See Picture D for example.

Picture D

8. Lay the outer card down gently and smooth with your hand.
9. Turn the card over and repeat steps 7 and 8.

Origami Lotus Diya

2009-12-24T11:29:00.000-08:00

©jmg 2008

Click on image to view enlarged.

This project is perfect for kids of all ages.

Materials

Gold foil wrapping paper (or origami paper)

Chocolate kisses

double sided tape

Click here for video directions on YouTube

We prefer cutting our own origami paper from rolls of foil wrapping paper. 6 x 6 makes a nice sized lotus. (However, don't make them smaller that 5 x 5 -- or the paper will be too hard to fold.) Once your flower is made, take a small piece of double sided tape and stick in onto the bottom of a chocolate kiss. Place the chocolate in the center of the lotus. These make lovely little Diwali gifts.

Krishna Paper Bag Puppet

2009-12-23T11:32:00.000-08:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

Let the children create their own puppet of Lord Krishna using just a few materials.

Materials

Blue lunch bag

Blue construction paper

Black construction paper

Scraps of decorative paper (in different colors)

Sequins, lace, etc.

Feathers

2 Wiggly eyes

Glue stick

Markers

Scissors

Directions

Each child gets a blue paper bag -- and the rest is left up to them. Put different materials on the table and let them choose how they want to create their own Lord Krishna (or Lord Rama.)

Japa Mala

2009-12-14T10:21:00.000-08:00

This mala was designed for the kindergarten Balavihar class. Our lesson was "J is for Japa."

Materials
• 27 beads of your choice
• 1 meru bead — a little larger than the japa beads. (The center hole must be able to fit 2 pieces of yarn.)
• One piece of yarn (six stranded crochet cotton is good)
• Elmer's Glue

Directions
1. Dip one end of your cotton thread into the Elmer's glue. Roll the glued end between your fingers until it starts to form a hardended tip. Do the same to the other end. (see photo A below)
2. With one end of the cotton thread all 27 beads. (see photo B below)
3. Take both ends of the cotton and insert them through the meru bead. (see photo C below)
4. Make a big knot at the botton of your meru bead. You might have to knot a few times to make sure that the the knot is bigger than the hole of your bead.
5. Trim the cotton ends to a desired length.
6. You can make a simple tassle by untwisting both ends of the cotton.

* If you want to make a japa mala consisting of 108 beads, the technique is the same. To make an authentic mala a knot must be tied between each bead. (see photo D below)

Photo A

Photo B

Photo C

Photo D

Spinning Top

2009-10-28T09:00:00.002-07:00

Make your very own spinning top which spins like a dream! This project was created for the kindergarten's Alphabet Safari. Our subject was "E is for Enthusiasm."

Materials

• White poster board
• Green poster board

• Crayons or markers

• Drinking Straw

• 1 bead (that fits snuggly into the straw)

• Tape

• Pencil
• Glue Stick

• Scissors

• Awl or sharp pencil

Directions

1. Print out diagram below. Cut out the circle and the rim. (These will be your templates.)

2. Trace templates onto poster board.

3. Cut out the circle and the rim which you traced onto poster board.

4. Decorate and color the circle with crayons or markers.

5. Glue the rim onto the base circle.

6. Cut the straw to about 3 1/2 – 4 inches in length.

7. Put the bead into one end of the straw. It should fit snuggly and have about 1/2 of it showing outside the straw. (This is the part that makes it spin nicely.)

8. With an awl or a pencil, pierce a hole into the center of the disc. Make the opening no larger than the diameter of the straw.

9. Put the straw through the hole.

10. It's a good idea to tape the straw on the backside of the disc to hold it in place. (This helps to give the top more balance and momentum.)

11. Spin!!!

Click on the image below to view template full-screen. Print.

Hanumaan Puppet

2009-10-25T18:12:00.000-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Brown paper bag

1 Sheet light colored cardstock (for printing templates)

Brown construction paper (for head)

Light brown construction paper (for mouth)

Dark Brown construction paper (for hair and tail)

Small piece of black construction paper (for end of tail)

Gold Foil*(for गदा, gadaa)

Black Marker

2 Googly eyes

Gold sequins

*If using gold foil for the gadaa, glue the foil onto a piece of sturdy cardstock first. This will provide nice stability. After gluing it onto cardstock, trace the template and cut out.

Directions for assembly

Click on image for full-page view.

Print the template below onto light colored cardstock.

1. Cut out template pieces and trace them onto corresponding colored construction paper. Cut out.

2. Glue mouth onto head. Draw mouth and nose.

3. Glue head onto bag.

4. Glue hair onto head. Decorate with sequins

5. Glue eyes. Draw eyebrows.

6. Glue tail onto bag.

7. Glue the gadaa.

Keychain

2009-10-01T13:11:00.000-07:00

This keychain was made for "D is for Daddy." It is extremely easy to make. Everyone has fun stringing beads — even the youngest child!

Materials

• 1 split ring or key ring

• 1 piece of hemp, plastic lacing thread (or any strong bead stringing material)

• Beads (your choice)

Directions

1. Tie the stringing thread onto the split ring.

2. Have the child string the beads in the order they choose.

3. Tie a solid knot once the stringing is complete. Make sure that the knot is bigger that the bead's hole!

Scratch Art

2009-10-01T13:10:00.001-07:00

For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.
Click on picture to view enlarged.

This is a very fun project to do, especially with the younger kids — everyone loves scratch art! To make your own scratch art sheets you will need the following:

Materials

• Black Tempera Paint

• A few drops of dish detergent

• Picture of God or Goddess (Glossy photos work best)

• Q-tip (or paper towel*)

• Paintbrush

• Paint dish

* If the children are really ambitious "scratchers" then a paper towel might work better than a Q-tip. Too much pressure with the Q-tip can remove parts of the image.

Directions

1. Pour some tempera paint into your dish.

2. Add a few drops of dish detergent and mix well.

3. With your paintbrush, paint some broad and even strokes onto a glossy photograph. Cover completely.

4. Let Dry.

5. Take a Q-tip and let the children rub the photograph until the mystery picture is completely revealed.

Notes

If you want to make scratch art paper for the children to draw pictures with. You will need the following:

Materials

• Good card stock paper

• Wax crayons (colors and black*)

• Toothpick or wooden skewer
* can also use black tempera paint as outlined above.

Directions

1. Color the entire sheet of paper. (It's best if you use lots of bright colors.)

2. Once your sheet is completely colored, take a black crayon and cover the entire paper. It is important that no color shows. You also may have to rub a little harder with the black crayon to make an even, solid coating.

3. Take a toothpick and draw your picture. Have fun with the colors that emerge!

We Belong to One Family

2009-10-01T13:09:00.000-07:00

For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.
Click on picture to view enlarged.

This project was created to accompany a Kindergarten lesson. With the template below, the children can make a wall hanging, mobile or a chain of paper dolls.

Materials

• Card Stock to print template on. (Cream is a good color.)

• 3 Colors of card stock for children skin tone. We used Cream, Light brown and dark brown.

• 3 Colors of card stock for the children's hair. (You only need very small pieces of scrap paper.)

• 1 Piece of blue card stock (for earth)

• 1 Piece of green card stock for continents

• Variety of decorative paper scraps (for children's clothes)

• Scissors

• Glue Stick

• Hole Punch

• Piece of ribbon or string

• Markers or crayons (optional)

Directions for Children

1. Print Template 1 on a sheet of cream colored card stock. Cut out all the pieces for your template.

2. Trace your template pieces on the skin toned paper. These will be the children. Cut out.

3. Trace the clothes templates on decorative paper. Cut out.

4. Trace the hair onto paper color of your choice. Cut out.

5. Glue the clothes onto the children.

6. Glue the hair onto the children.

To Make the Earth

You may 1) color the earth with crayons or 2) cut out the continents and the earth out of colored card stock. If you choose to color, please print out template #1. Otherwise, print template #2 if you choose to cut colored card stock. These pieces will be your templates to trace with.

Once you have made your children and your earth, then you are ready to complete this project. Take the child you want in the center and glue the back of his/her head. Place this child onto the world. Do the same with the other two children. Punch a hole at the top of the planet and put a ribbon in.

Template #1

Template #2

Peacock (Graphed)

2009-10-01T06:22:00.000-07:00

This graph can be used for cross stitching, beading, paper mosaics, plastic canvas, etc. — basically any project that requires graphing! We used this design for bead looming and cross stitching in our summer camp art class.

For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.
Click on picture to view enlarged.

Diyas (Graphed)

2009-10-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

This graph was designed for peyote stitch bead weaving.

For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.
Click on picture to view enlarged.

OM (Graphed)

2009-10-01T06:09:00.000-07:00

For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.
Click on picture to view enlarged.

This OM poster was made with images of Pujya Gurudev Chinmayanandaji, Pujya Guruji and Swami Shantanandaji. The background was created from black and white xeroxes, while the foreground was done from the same xeroxing — only on orange paper stock. Each image is 1" square. This OM was the first one made from the graph, hence the slight differences in the letter stroke. We have since made some graph corrections for the more recent beaded projects above. Click on the picture to view enlarged.

Lord Ganesha (Graphed)

2009-10-01T06:02:00.001-07:00

For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.
Click on picture to view enlarged.

Shiva Lingam (Graphed)

2009-10-01T06:02:00.000-07:00

For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.
Click on picture to view enlarged.

Hari OM Graph

2009-10-01T05:56:00.000-07:00

For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.
Click on picture to view enlarged.

Cow Puppet

2009-09-20T19:01:00.000-07:00

© 2009 This project is dedicated to Gurudev.
For use in Balavihar classrooms (or personal use) only.
Click on picture to view enlarged.

This a fun project for the young kids to do with the all-time favorite tale, "Punyakoti." After cutting all the pieces out, assembling the puppet is very easy – just refer to the picture above.

Materials

• Brown paper bag (lunch size is good)

• Tan cardstock

• Small piece of black cardstock

• Brown cardstock

• Small piece of pink cardstock

• Glue stick

• 2 Wiggly eyes

• Scissors

• Black marker

Directions

1. Print image below. (Click on image for enlarged view.) Cut out pieces to use for template.

2. Trace the shapes onto corresponding cardstock color.

3. Cut all the pieces out.

4. Glue onto paper bag. (Refer to picture above for placement.)

5. Draw the nostrils on with black marker.

6. Glue the wiggly eyes.

7. Glue the tail on the back side of bag.

Have fun retelling the story with your puppet!!

Diya Cards

2009-09-20T18:56:00.001-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

• Blank greeting card and envelope

• Variety of decorative paper scraps (wrapping paper, magazines, scrapbooking – anything with color/texture)

• Gold and red foil (wrapping paper is good)

• Scissors

• Glue Stick

• Sequins or rhinestones (for decorating diya)

1. Print diagram on good card stock paper and cut out. (These are now your template pieces.)
2. Trace the templates onto decorative papers.
3. Cut out decorative pieces.*
4. Glue pieces onto a greeting card.
5. Decorate your diya with sequins or arcylic gems.

*Gold foil works beautifully for the flame – it reflects the light. Cut out a smaller flame in red foil to place inside the gold flame.

We like to use this project for Diwali.

Click on drawing to get a full page view. Print.

Monkey Puppet

2009-09-20T18:55:00.001-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

This is fun to make with "The Monkey and the Crocodile."

Materials

Small brown paper bag

1 Piece of light colored cardstock (for printing template below)

1 Piece of light brown or tan cardstock paper (for face and inner ears)

1 Piece of darker brown cardstock paper (for head, ears and tail)

1 Small piece of red cardstock paper (for heart)

Black marker

2 Googly eyes

Scissors

Glue stick

1. Print image onto light colored cardstock for template. Cut out.

2. Trace templates onto brown cardstocks. Cut out.

3. Glue pieces onto paper bag

4. Add googly eyes.

5. Draw nose and mouth.

Click on drawing to get a full page view. Print.

Peacock

2009-09-20T18:54:00.000-07:00

This project is inspired from "The Kids Multicultural Art Book"
by Alexandra M. Terzian

Materials

Card Stock in blue, green and orange.

Scraps of different colored decorative papers

Scissors

Scotch Tape

Glue Stick

Stapler

Sequins (or rhinestone) for decorations, or glitter glue.

2 googly eyes

1. Print page onto cardstock. Cut out the pieces for your template.

2. Fold colored cardstock paper lengthwise. Where indicated, place the template along the fold. Trace all the pieces and cut out.

3. From the colorful scraps, cut out circles in different sizes. These will be used to glue onto the big circle. (To add a touch of glitter, incorporate some sequins or rhinestones.)

4. Cut a small slit (at a 45 degree angle) in the head of the body, on the fold. (This is where the beak will go.) Place the beak into the cut slit and secure on the back of the head with a small piece of tape.

5. Tape the orange crown on the back of the head with a small piece of tape.

6. Staple the bottom of the peacock's body to the bottom of large circle.

Click on drawing to get a full page view. Print.

Thirsty Black Crow

2009-09-20T18:51:00.001-07:00

This is an art project to go along with "The Thirsty Crow" Panchatantra.

Materials

Light colored piece of cardstock

Black Poster Board

Small piece of orange construction paper (or gold foil)

2 paper fasteners (brads)

straw

2 googly eyes

stapler

scissors

Directions

1. Print the image onto a light colored piece of cardstock. Cut all the pieces out. These are to be used as your templates.

2. Fold a piece of black poster board in half. Place the body template on the paper (with the top of the head at the fold). Trace and cut out. You should have two complete bodies joined at the top of the head.

3. Trace 2 wings onto a single piece of black poster board. Cut out.

4. Trace beak onto orange construction paper. Cut out.

5. Place the straw between the 2 pieces of body and staple onto the straw.

6. Place a wing on top of the body (at the shoulder) and using a hole puncher, punch a hole through the wing and the body. Fasten with a brad. Do the same thing with the other wing.

7. Glue the eyes and the beak on.

8. Twirl the straw between your palms.*

* If the wings don't flap up and down as you spin your crow, then you must loosen the paper fasteners.

Tiger and Mouse Mask

2009-09-20T18:50:00.000-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

This is a fun project to do with "Once A Mouse ..." by Marcia Brown.
One side is a mouse, and the other is a tiger.

Materials:
1 sheet of orange cardstock
1 sheet of gray or brown cardstock
1 sheet of black cardstock
1 small scrap of pink cardstock (for mouse ears)
1 black marker
stapler
1 jumbo popsicle stick
glue stick
scissors
1 exacto knife (for adults only)

1. Print tiger image onto orange cardstock. Cut out face. With an exacto knife, cut out the eyes. Color the stripes black with the marker.
2. Print mouse image onto gray (or brown) cardstock. Cut out face. With an exacto knife, cut out the eyes.
3. Print the ears and nose image onto regular paper. Cut out and use for templates.
4. Trace the mouse ears onto pink cardstock. Cut out.
5. Trace the tiger ears, nose, mouse nose and mouth onto black cardstock. Cut out. Glue onto the masks.
6. Glue the two animal faces together. (Make sure that the eyes line up nicely.) Staple the mask on a popsicle stick.

For personal use only

Click on the image to get a full size view. Print.

Tortoise Collage

2009-09-20T18:47:00.001-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

This is a collage project for "Tortoise and the Hare."

Materials:

1 Sheet of cardstock (for background surface)

Decorative paper

Glue stick

Scissors

1. Print the image below onto paper. Cut out and use for templates.

2. Trace your templates onto decorative paper. Glue on paper.

Note: If you get confused about which leg goes where, follow the diagram with the letters.

Click on image for full size view. Print

Letter diagram Click on image for full size view. Print.

Ganesha Card

2009-09-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Light colored card stock (for printing image)

Decorative Paper (Scrapbooking paper works really well.)

Scissors

Glue Stick

Blank greeting card and envelope

1. Print image onto card stock to make your template. Cut out.

2. Trace Template onto decorative paper. Cut out.

3. Glue pieces onto greeting card.

Click on image to get a full page view. Print

Blue Jackal Puppet

2009-09-20T18:44:00.000-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

This was created to go with the Panchatantra, "The Blue Jackal."

Materials

Blue paper bag

Blue construction paper

Black construction paper

Light colored construction paper (pink or beige)

2 googly eyes

Black marker

Glue stick

Scissors

Scotch tape

Directions

Cut out pieces from diagram. Use these for templates. Trace the templates onto appropriate colored paper. Cut out.

1. Fold the rectagular shape on the paper bag (see diagram A below). Tape (or glue) the corners down.

2. Glue the light colored ears onto the blue ears. Fold where indicated.

3. Glue bottom fold of the ears to the back of the head.

4. Glue the light colored eyes onto the head. Place the googly eyes.

5. Glue the black nose onto the blue nose. Draw spots with black marker. Glue onto the head.

6. Glue the tail on the back of the puppet.

Click on diagram for full-page image. Print

Lord Hanumaan Collage

2009-09-20T18:43:00.000-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Light colored card stock

Decorative paper (Scrapbooking paper works really well)

Scissors

Glue Stick

1. Print image onto light colored card stock to make template. Cut out.

2. Trace template onto decorative paper. Cut out.

3. Glue pieces onto a nice card stock surface.

Click on image to get a full page view. Print.

Lord Ganesha Papier Mache

2009-09-20T18:41:00.000-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

This papier mache Lord Ganesha was made by Balavihar students and parents for our 2008 End of the Year Program.

This is definitely an art project to do outdoors -- where kids can get creative and MESSY.

Below are the material list and instructions to make a wall hanging.

Materials

2 Dinner paper plates (heavy duty)

Roll of masking tape

A couple of sheets of newspaper (or newsprint)

Strips of newspaper (or newsprint -- about 1/2 to 1 inch wide)

aluminum foil (optional)

Paste*

Tempera Paints**

Paint brush

Containers (for paints and brush water)

* To make your own paste: Mix 1 part flour to 3 parts water in a medium sized pot. Whisk well so that all lumps are gone. Cook on the stove until you get a nice, smooth consistency (like oatmeal.) Let cool, before using. (Once cooled, you can add a little elmer's glue, if you want. This is a nice way to keep little insects from eating your paper while it's drying.)

**Add some Elmer's glue to the tempera paint if you want to make it more resistant to water. Also, it will give the paint a shinier finish. (Artist's acrylic medium is also a good option, but costs more.)

Directions

To create your Lord Ganesha form: Cut one paper plate in half (each of these pieces will be used as an ear.) Tape each ear to either side of the other paper plate. (see photo A) Take a couple of sheets of newsprint and roll them together, tightly, to make his trunk. Tape his trunk into place on the paper plate. Now make his tusks. This can be done easily by using aluminum foil. (If you do use aluminum foil, make sure that you completely cover the foil with masking tape -- otherwise you are going to have a struggle making the paper stick when you begin pasting.)

Photo A

If you want Ganesha's face to have a more roundish form, add some paper to the center of the plate (until you have the shape you want) and tape it in place. (see Photo A)

Once you are satisfied with your form, then you are ready to papier mache. Take a strip of paper and tear it into pieces (a couple of inches is nice). Dip your fingers into the paste and smooth it onto the form. Add your paper strip and smooth it down. (Use more paste, if needed**). Be sure that when you paste the paper on you get all the wrinkles out. You want a nice smooth surface. Remember, when this sculpture dries, it will harden. If there are wrinkles when it is wet, then there will be hard wrinkles when it is dry. Also, be careful not to allow any open gaps between the paper plates ... everything gets covered with paper. You want to create a seamless work of art. (see Photo B)

**Be careful not to use too much paste. A few kids had some mold growing in super pasty areas. This is a very tactile art process, and sometimes kids really get into the pasting part. "Just enough paste" is a good rule of thumb.

Completely papier mache one side of the face. Let it dry. Turn over and paste the other side. Ideally, you would like to have 2 or three coats of paper before considering the sculpture finished and ready for decorating.

Photo B

Once Ganesha is thoroughly dry, bring out the paints and have a blast!

The above wall hangings were made by Balavihar summer campers.

Lord Shiva Stand Up Card

2009-09-20T18:39:00.000-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Blue poster board

Lighter blue card stock

Black card stock

Brown cardstock

Orange cardstock

Silver gel pen

Black marker

Scissors

Glue stick

Double sided tape

1 small googly eye

Blue cellophane (craft store, in the party section)

Directions for Assembly

Print out templates onto lightly colored card stock. Cut out. Trace pieces onto colored card stock (as indicated on drawing) and cut out.

1. Fold the stand on the dotted lines and place the double sided tape where indicated. Peel and stick together the posterboard so that it stands upright. This is the body for Lord Shiva.

2. Draw Lord Shiva's face with black marker. Decorate with silver gel pen.

3. Glue black hair onto head.

4. Decorate the hair with silver gel pen.

5. Glue the head to body (top of the stand).

6. Draw black lines on the orange paper. Glue to the bottom of the stand.

7. Decorate snake. Stick googly eye on.

8. Peel the double sided tape and place the snake through the body, so that the tape sticks to the inside of the stand.

9. Glue moon onto the hair.

10. Cut thin strips of blue cellophane and glue them to the back of the hair so they cascade over Lord Shiva's face.

Click on image for full view. Print.

MatsyaH (Fish) Collage - Paper Weaving

2009-09-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Decorative papers - a variety (for collage and weaving)

Surface paper (cardstock, or any kind of thick paper)

Glue stick

Exacto knife (adult supervisison required)

Decorating items -- ribbons, sequins, lace, etc.

Directions

1. Print diagrams below. Cut pieces out and use for template.

2. Trace template pieces onto decorative paper. Cut out.

3. Glue pieces onto surface paper.

4. With exacto knife cut lines into image (through surface paper) where you want to weave paper strips. Sturdy paper is good for weaving. If you use foil, be prepared for a bit of a struggle. Experiment with line cutting. Make some wavy, straight, thick and thin. This will create different effects in the weaving.

5. Glue ends of woven strips onto surface paper.

6. Decorate fish with sequins, ribbon, etc.

Here are two good sites for weaving ideas and instructions:

Different loom techniques for kids

Good diagrams on weaving process

Click on image for full-page view. Print

Ganesha Collage - Paper Weaving

2009-09-20T18:32:00.001-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Decorative papers - a variety (for collage and weaving)

Surface paper (cardstock, or any kind of thick paper)

Glue stick

Exacto knife (adult supervisison required)

Decorating items -- ribbons, sequins, lace, etc.

Directions

1. Print diagrams below. Cut pieces out and use for template.

2. Trace template pieces onto decorative paper. Cut out.

3. Glue pieces onto surface paper.

5. Glue ends of woven strips onto surface paper.

6. Decorate Lord Ganesha with sequins, ribbon, etc.

Here are two good sites for weaving ideas and instructions:

Different loom techniques for kids

Good diagrams on weaving process

Click on image for full-page view. Print.

Mosaics with Paper

2009-09-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

Summer Camp 2010

This is a really fun and simple project to do, with any kind of paper - wrapping, artist decorative, scrapbooking, magazine photos, or even plain construction. (Here is a good justification for saving scraps from around the house.) We like to use decorative and scrapbooking because it adds interesting texture and patterning. Before doing a Rangoli picture, we suggest that you start with a basic square grid pattern, so that the children can begin to understand how colors and patterns relate to and effect one another.

Materials

Base paper. Light colored cardstock is recommended.

Variety of paper scraps (cut into 1 or 2 inch squares)

Glue stick

Scissors

Pencil

Ruler

Directions

With a pencil and ruler, lightly draw and 1 (or 2 inch) square grid on the surface paper. Arrange your paper squares and glue.

Note: Once the child has mastered the art of arranging and gluing, have him/her experiment with rangoli designs. You can cut a square into triangles, for instance, to create a more complicated pattern. The possibilities are endless!

Paper Weaving

2009-09-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

Materials

Piece of sturdy paper (cardstock is nice)

Strips of sturdy paper (at least 1/2 inch wide) The length should equal the width of your cardstock

Scissors

Glue Stick

Exacto knife (adult supervision)

Directions

With Exacto knife (or scissors) cut vertical strips into your cardstock. (Make sure that you leave at least 1/2 to 1 inch border at the top, bottom and sides.) Do not worry about exact measurements when you cut - it's nice to have irregular distances between the vertical lines.

Take your strips of paper and begin weaving. First strip travels over, under, over, under, etc. Glue the ends down to the cardstock. Second strip travels under, over, under, over, etc. Glue the ends to the cardstock. Repeat this process until you can weave no more. Experiment with patterned paper for your weaving strips and surface. The variations are endless.

Some helpful links on weaving for kids:

Different loom techniques for kids

Good diagrams on weaving process

Some paper weavings that were done by a few of our Balavihar campers.

Color Wheel (in clay)

2009-09-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.
Summer Camp 2010

All colors blended together equal कृष्ण

Materials

Clay - Red, Blue, Yellow and White (Crayola Modeling Magic works nicely)

Clay roller or chapati roller

Directions

1. Take a ball of white clay and roll it out like a chapati. Try to make it as round as possible.

2. Give each child equal portions of red, blue and yellow clay.

3. Have them divide each color into four equal portions. You should end up with four small balls of blue, red and yellow.

At this point, it's really helpful to place the colors - as you make them - around the outside of the white "chapati". Otherwise, you'll get confused as to which color belongs where. Don't press them into the wheel until you're completely done mixing all of the color discs -- this will be the very last thing you do.

4. Following the diagram below, place one of the red balls on the outside of the wheel. Do the same with one blue and yellow ball. (These are the primary colors.)

5. Take a red, blue and yellow ball and divide each of them into halves. (You should have two equal portions of each color.)

6. Take a red, blue and yellow balls and divide each of the colors into four equal little balls. (You should have 4 equal portions of each color.)

* You will have a ball of red, blue and yellow left over. Set these aside for the center of the wheel.

7. With the balls from Step 5, thoroughly blend numbers 2, 5, and 8 on the diagram below. Place them on the outside of the wheel. (These are the secondary colors.)

8. With the little balls from Step 6, blend numbers, blend numbers 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9 on the diagram below. Place them on the outside of the wheel. (These are the tertiary colors.)

9. Blend the remaining portions of red, blue and yellow. This goes in the center of the wheel. This is कृष्ण - all colors (or black.)

10. Now that you have all your colors mixed, place the color discs (one by one) onto the surface and press into the wheel.

Ganesha Clay Sculpture

2009-09-20T18:21:00.000-07:00

Click on image to view enlarged.

This is a really fun project, for children (and adults) of all ages. One of our moms taught us how to do this in the Toddler Class a few years back, and it's been a hit ever since! The kids never get tired of making Lord Ganesha ...

Materials

Clay (Crayola Modeling Magic works best)

In the following photographs, the shapes are colored coded to help you step through the process. You will need to make: (See Photo A)

1 large ball for the body (orange)

1 smaller ball for the head (pink)

2 small balls for the ears (blue)

2 log shapes for the legs (yellow)

2 log shapes for the arms (green)

1 small log shape for the crown (green)

Photo A

Take the pink ball and stretch it (very gently and slowly) until it has a thick shape at one end and a long tail at the other. (See Photo B)

Photo B

Curl the tail up on one side and push it in a little to make it stick. Flatten the clay (just a little) to make it look like an elephant's head. (See Photo C)

Photo C

Place the pink head onto the orange body. Press it in gently and smooth the pieces together with your fingers. (See Photo D)

Photo D

Starting from behind the body, wrap the yellow logs around to the front. Flatten the front of the logs with your fingers to look like Ganesha's feet. (See Photo E)

Photo E

Starting from behind the body, wrap the green logs around to the front. Flatten the front of the logs with your fingers to look like Ganesha's hands. (See Photo F)

Photo F

Flatten the blue balls (so that they look like roti) and place them on either side of the head. These are his ears. (See Photos G and H)

Photo G

Photo H

Roll the little green log into a circle and form into a crown. Place on top of Lord Ganesha's head. (See Photo I)

Photo I

If you want, decorate with sequins or rhinestones!