June 22: My Rock, my story: Personal rock portraits

Sigiriya-inspired rock painting

Teachers:

Duration: 1.5 hours

Age Group: 6–16 (can be adapted)

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

Goal: Set context, spark curiosity, and break the ice

You will need:

• Clean smooth rocks (for younger kids just a A4 paper)

• Acrylic paints, paint markers, pencils

• Reference sheets of everyday and symbolic items

• Cups of water, tissues, palettes

• paper for sketching

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

Goal: Set context, spark curiosity, and break the ice

Icebreaker (5 min) – “If You Were Painted on a Rock…”

Kids to draw 3 symbols that represent themselves, without writing any words or letters.

• Examples: A cat = they love animals, a mountain = they’re adventurous, a book = they like stories.

• Once they finish drawing (about 3–4 minutes), they fold the card in half and write their name inside, not visible.
  Put all cards in the middle of the circle or on a board/wall. One by one, pull a card and ask the group who is represented on each card.

  Intro to Sigiriya (5 min)

• Show images, video clips of Sigiriya frescoes (the famous “cloud maidens”), explaining they are over 1,500 years old.(see videos)

• Discuss:

• The mystery: Who were these women?

• The story in the symbols: flowers, jewelry, posture, and location.

• Connect to the idea: “Symbols tell stories without words.”

2. Visualization and Observation (10 minutes)

Goal: Analyze visuals and practice seeing beyond the surface

• Show close-ups of fresco details: hand gestures, flowers, baskets, colors, eye direction.

• Ask:

• “What do you think she is doing?”

• “Why do you think she’s holding that flower?”

• Let kids sketch or list three symbolic objects they might use in their own story.

Ask them to imagine a modern Sigiriya—what would be painted on a rock today?

3. Making and Problem-Solving (35 minutes)

Goal: Kids create rock paintings using symbols from their own lives

Main Activity: Paint Your Story Rock

Tips:

1. Plan Your Story :

• Think of the story you want to tell

• Think of a few symbols to represent your personal story (a dream, a hobby, the family, a favorite place etc.).

• Sketch on paper first, and once satisfied, directly on the rock.

2. Paint the Story):

• Add symbolic items, colors, maybe figures, or backgrounds.

• Use layering, outlines, or hidden elements to make it mysterious.

3. Hide a Clue (5 min):

• Kids to include one secret element that others must guess the meaning of.
  
  
  

4. Community Building (10 minutes)

Goal: Share, interpret, and connect through each other's artwork

“Guess My Story Game”

• All rocks are placed in the center.

• Kids walk around like a “gallery,” pick one rock (not their own), and try to “read” the story out loud:
  “I think this person likes swimming and dreams of going to Japan…”
  Then, the real story will be revealed by every kid.
  This allows for fun interaction, empathy, and understanding of visual storytelling.

• Recap message:

“Just like Sigiriya told stories without words, you created a piece of history with your own voice. Art can hide secrets and tell stories.”