15.3 Mindful Art Activity: Pompidou Center in Paris, France

Activity: Imagine and Draw Your Special Place

In this mindful creative art activity, kids will practice using their imaginations to travel to a "special place" in their minds, that is an actual real place!

Today's visualization is: Pompidou Modern Art Museum in Paris, France.

First, we’ll start with our Circle breathing practice—a simple, soothing technique to help everyone feel relaxed and centered.

Next, kids will close their eyes and listen to a guided visualization, where they'll explore a real place in their imagination.

Afterward, they'll get to draw the place they pictured in their minds, capturing all the details they saw, heard, and felt. This activity encourages creativity, mindfulness, and the joy of bringing inner worlds to life through art!

At the end, it's great to show  kids a picture of the real place so that they can then compare it to their imagination!

Transcript

Paris in Your Mind: A Creative Meditation at the Pompidou

Hello there! Welcome to Big Belly Breathing!

My name is Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely, and I’m excited to share a fun drawing activity with you today! We’ll take a quick moment to settle in and breathe, and then I’ll describe a magical place for you to draw. Then, when you’re done listening, it’s your turn to use your pencil or art materials to draw what you imagined in your mind. Are you ready? Let’s get started!

To begin, find a cozy spot in your classroom or at your desk where you can relax. Maybe you want to sit up straight or lean back comfortably. Close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose, filling your belly like a balloon. Now breathe out through your mouth, letting any worries float away like fluffy clouds. Let’s practice our Circle Breathing: Place your hands gently on your heart. As you inhale deeply, move your hands in a circle, and then reverse the circle as you exhale. Let’s do this together a few times, feeling calm and ready for adventure.

Activity:

Now that you’re feeling relaxed, I want you to picture the Pompidou Center in your mind. This is a very unique and exciting place in Paris, France, where people come to see amazing modern art, colorful architecture, and incredible views of the city. Let’s imagine it together!

First, imagine the building itself. The Pompidou Center looks like it was built inside out! Its pipes and tubes are on the outside of the building, and they’re painted in bright colors—red, blue, yellow, and green! You might see big see-through escalators on the outside that carry people all the way to the top. It’s fun, bold, and totally different from other buildings in Paris.

Now picture yourself standing in front of the Pompidou. The square in front of the museum is full of energy—street performers are dancing and juggling, musicians are playing joyful tunes, and kids are laughing as they chase pigeons across the cobblestones. You feel the excitement of creativity all around you!

As you walk up toward the building, you ride the big glass escalator that winds along the side. You can see the rooftops of Paris spreading out in every direction—the Eiffel Tower in the distance, little cafés on the corners, and narrow winding streets below.

Once you reach the top, step into a gallery filled with modern art. Imagine paintings in bright splashes of color, abstract shapes, and wild sculptures that make you wonder and smile. There’s even a whole room made to feel like a rainbow forest, or a sculpture that looks like it came from a dream!

Now, imagine stepping outside onto the rooftop terrace. The sky above is soft and blue, with fluffy clouds drifting past. You feel the breeze on your face and look out over the entire city. You take a deep breath in… and out… feeling grateful for this colorful, creative world.

And now it’s time to use your creativity! For the next 15–20 minutes, use your art materials to draw what you imagined. Think of the Pompidou’s bold, bright pipes, the bustling square below, the winding escalators, the rooftop view of Paris, and all the wild, fun art inside. What colors and shapes will you include?

When you’re done, you can look up real photos of the Pompidou Center and see how your imagination compares. Did you notice the real colors and structure? Did you add something extra?

Thank you for joining me on this creative adventure through Paris! I can’t wait to see what you create. And if you want to send me your drawing—I’d love to see it!

Take BIG Care, see you soon, and remember the BBB motto:
 Breathe Move Eat Rest
 Respirer Bouger Manger Se Reposer

Merci beaucoup! À bientôt! Bye for now! ✨🖼️🎨🇫🇷