Nov 16: Paper trees (in the style of Sybil Wettasinghe)

Assigned Teachers: Krishanka, Suren, Piyumika

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Team Formation: Induvidual, with group assembly at the end 

Objectives:

• Observe and identify different shapes, forms, and details in plants found outdoors.

• Imagine and visualize a natural object as a character with personality, mood, or story potential.

• Translate a 2D sketch into a 3D form using simple paper construction techniques (cutting, folding, layering, twisting, attaching).

• Experiment with paper as a sculptural material, exploring strength, height, volume, and texture.

You will need:

1. Colored paper (nature colors)

2. Pencils and rough drawing paper

3. Paint, paintbrushes and water

4. Scissors, tape and glue

5. A base board (box cardboard)

Intro

Before we begin, let’s meet Sybil Wettasinghe, one of Sri Lanka’s most beloved storytellers and illustrators. She grew up in a small village where life was surrounded by trees, rivers, animals, and all kinds of curious little details. Instead of seeing nature as something ordinary, she treated it like a world full of characters, secrets, and magic.

Has anyone in class read stories by Sybil?

ஆரம்பிக்கறதுக்கு முன்னாடி, இலங்கையின் ரொம்ப பிரபலமான கதையாசிரியரும் படம் வரைவவருமான சிபில் வெட்டசிங்கா பற்றி கொஞ்சம் அறிந்துக்கலாமா. அவங்க ஒரு சின்ன ஊர்ல வளர்ந்தாங்க, அங்க மரங்களும், நதியும, மிருகங்களும், இன்னிக்கும் நம்ம கவனிக்காத சின்ன-சின்ன விசியங்களும் இருந்துச்சு. இயற்கையை சாதாரணமா பார்க்காம, அது நிறைய கேரக்டர்ஸ், ரகசியங்கள், மந்திரமாதிரி விசியங்களா கற்பனை பண்ணினாங்க.

உங்க கிளாச்ல யாராவது சிபில் வெட்டசிங்காவின் கதைகள் படிச்சிருக்கீங்களா?

Warm up (30 minutes)

• After introducing Sybil Wettasinghe and her art to the class,

• Take a walk outside and identify different plants, trees and bushes. Each student chooses a plant that they would like to focus on.

• Ask the students:

  • If a plant, rock, or animal around you had a personality, what kind would it have — shy, loud, funny, dramatic, curious, lazy, or something else?

  • Which part of nature feels like it could be a main character in a story — and why?

• Go back to the classroom and give your chosen plant a personality trait — brave, shy, bossy, sleepy, wise — then sketch it showing that attitude.

Main Exercise (45 -60 mins)

1. Pick a plant, vine tree or bush from outside that you want to build in 3D out of paper

2. Reference Sybil Wettasinghes style and turn it into a 3D tree! Use the video’s below as guides!

For younger kids

Conclusion:

At the end of the lesson, combine all the trees and plants to make a small paper forest! Snap a pic.