Skoda, students design mandala

CRESCO - Future art teacher Adam Skoda put some of his skills to work by doing a project with students at Notre Dame elementary.

For years, he has put his artistic talent to use as a graphic artist. Now he is going to the University of Northern Iowa to teach others.

He has two children at Notre Dame, in third and fifth grades, and decided to practice some lesson plans by doing a “mandala” chalk project. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a mandala is a graphic and often symbolic pattern, usually in the form of a circle divided into four separate sections. 

Skoda designed a center symbol and allowed each grade to chalk in one of the rings surrounding the cross. Approximately 250 chalk sticks were used on the outside circles, and many hard pastels were used on the center design.

Lead Teacher Renée Cuvelier stated, “Kudos to Adam Skoda for volunteering to take on an ‘end of the year’ project of this magnitude!  We are so very grateful for his time, talents and patience.  He took this project upon himself — organized every bit of it. It was wonderful to watch it develop and unfold throughout the day.”

If this project is any indication of his future endeavors as an art teacher, his students will be in for a treat!