Mental Maps
ACTIVITY MATERIALS
Pencil
Black Marker
Colored markers
Paper
BEFORE WE START
Grab a pen and paper and get ready to explore the world (and your city)! Answer these fun questions:
- How many cities around the world can you name?
- Can you name any famous landmarks in Riyadh? Think towers, parks, museums, or places everyone knows!
- Can you name any roads or streets in Riyadh? Maybe the one you take to school?
- What are some popular places in Riyadh? Like The Boulevard, Panorama Mall, or any fun spots you love to go!
15 min
ACTIVITY PROMPT
You are going to draw something we call a "Mental Map". It is a map you draw from your memory. It’s how you see the city in your mind! It doesn’t have to be perfect or realistic—just show the places you remember and the roads you know.
You might include: your house or school, places you visit often, roads you take every day, landmarks you love. Everyone’s mental map is different—and that’s what makes it special!
1st
Gather your markers, and papers—it's time to create!
ACTIVITY STEPS
10 min
- Think of all the places you know in the city—landmarks, names, what they’re for… For the first ma you will think of your daily journey—from home to school.
- Start with your house and draw it in the middle of your map.
- Add other places around it—places you go to often/places you’ve seen.
- Connect the places with roads!
- Try to write the names of the roads and places
- Draw that path and tell us the story of your day through the city!
2nd
ACTIVITY STEPS
45 min
For the second map, focus on an entertainment place you usually go to—like a mall, a sports center, or a spot where you do an activity after school.
3rd
ACTIVITY STEPS
45 min
Scan or take a picture of your mental maps. Make sure they're clear and clean, like the photo on the right.
3rd
ACTIVITY STEPS
15 min
ACTIVITY EXAMPLES
Style: Simple Abstraction
Style: Elevation
Intro Activity: Mental Maps
Imagine a day in Riyadh and think about the places you go, the roads you take, and the landmarks you see. Now draw your own mentals map of the city based on your memories—make it personal and fun!