Curated OER
Team Totems
Students, after researching the history of totem poles, express their team spirit and unique personal style by creating a replica of a traditional totem pole as a get-to-know-you project. They incorporate a teams commonalities and...
Curated OER
Timeless Totems
Students respond an email from Roger Totem, who is the curator of a new museum opening. students discuss with the art teacher to explain the project and get support. Students, in accordance with the guidelines, divide into groups...
Curated OER
Tell a Totem Story
Students study and view pictures of Native American totem poles on the internet. They create totem poles using PowerPoint that represent their family histories using symbols to designate historic events.
Curated OER
Totem Pole and Native American Costume
Students create a totem pole, Native American costume, and Native American mask. They discuss design elements, view a slideshow, and using various craft materials construct a totem pole with various face designs, a Native American...
Curated OER
Sculpture: Statues, Monuments, and More
Students explore some of the components of sculpture through a variety of artists and their artwork. The six lessons of this unit utilize the sculptures experienced when students were studying American history and the Native Americans.
Curated OER
Summary, Symbolism, and Levels of Meaning - The Healing Totem
Students watch a video and write a summary about a symbolic totem pole. In this symbolism lesson, students discuss the components of summarizing and watch a video about a totem pole. Students write a summary of the video and discuss the...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Native American Cultures Across the United States
Learners explore different aspects of the cultures of the First Americans in this lesson plan. Stereotypes are often associated with Native Americans through movies and in the context of the Thanksgiving holiday. Specific information and...
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Native American Crafts for Kids
Students and teachers will enjoy the craft project ideas on this colorful site! You'll find simple instructions with illustrations on how to make a Kachina doll, canoe, totem pole, rainstick, tepee, rattle, and a bulletin board to tie it...
Other
Pat Cramer: Totem Poles: An Exploration
Come listen to the music, then learn all about totem poles. Information about totem poles includes where to find them, their age, history as well as beautiful photos.
Royal British Colombia Museum (Canada)
Royal British Columbia Museum: Thunderbird Park
This online exhibit explores the transformation of British Columbia's Thunderbird Park, a park established to display totem poles and other carvings by the First Nations' people. Interactive "maps" documenting the park's history from...
Read Works
Read Works: Native Americans Totem Poles
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational about Native American totem poles and why they were made. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Math + Arts: Symmetry, Reflective Drawing, and Totem Poles
In this lesson, students will create a colored pencil drawing utilizing symmetry and forms characteristic of Northwest Coast art and write a critique of their work. Media resources and teacher materials are included.