Totem Poles in Florid1 - Polk County Public Schools · Introduce them to Totem Poles from different cultures/time periods through books: the list is provided on the Resources Page

Totem Poles in Florida? Susan Yolmeh, Spook Hill Elementary

I. Lesson Summary

Summary Children have always been interested in the stories Totem Poles tell us. Most Totem Poles tell us about someone’s culture or beliefs. Children in Florida do not have an opportunity to see Totem Poles as readily as children do in the Northwestern part of the United States. The purpose of this lesson is to tie the two extreme sides of the United States together. It is also intended to be used as a fun, creative way to begin their study of American History. American History tells a story, we will begin with the story of our own families. Objectives Students will:

1. Learn about Florida and United States historical symbols

2. Learn about Native American Totem Poles

3. Create Totem Poles that represent their family histories by incorporating Florida and United States historical symbols

U.S. History Event or Era Numerous time periods, from early Northwestern Native American history to the present

Grade Level This lesson was primarily designed for the intermediate grades in elementary school. It could also be adapted to middle and high school. Materials

Computer Lab with internet access, internet sites provided on the next page, resource books provided on the resource page, and assorted materials for the students to make their own family totem poles either at home or in school.

Lesson Time A minimum of six 45 minute time periods. This could span over two weeks or six weeks.

II. Lesson Procedures

1. Talk with the students about symbols and how they represent ideas and events. Time required: 5-10 minutes.

2. Brainstorm/draw Florida symbols as related to Florida History. Time required: at least one 45 minute time period. Depending on the interest level of the students, and the time that the teacher has, this could extend over several class periods.

Florida Kids State Symbols Website http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/kids/symbols.cfm

3. Brainstorm/draw United States symbols as related to American History. Time required: at least one 45 minute time period. A very good website is listed on the activities page. Depending on the interest level of the students, and the time that the teacher has, this could extend over several class periods.

Symbols of the United States government website: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/index.html

4. Find out about what students know about Totem Poles. Time required: 5-10 minutes.

5. Introduce them to Totem Poles from different cultures/time periods through books: the list is provided on the Resources Page. The internet links are provided below. Time required: at least one 45 minute time period. Depending on the interest level of the students, and the time that the teacher has this could extend over several class periods.

Introduction to Totem Poles http://familycrafts.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=familycrafts&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fusers.imag.net%2F%7Esry.jkramer%2Fnativetotems%2Fdefault.html

American Indian Totem Poles http://www.native-languages.org/totem.htm

Northwest Coast First Nation Totem Poles http://collections.ic.gc.ca/time/galler07/frames/totems.htm

Royal British Columbia Museum http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/totems/totems1b.html

Alaska’s Totem Poles http://www.everythingalaska.com/eta.ttp.html

Background on Totem Poles http://www.btigerlily.net/BTTotem.html

What is a Totem Pole? http://www.diduknow.info/world/object4_que1.html

6. Talk with their parents and find out as much as they can about their family history. Ask the children to try to bring in pictures/symbols/artifacts that they can share with the class. Depending on the interest level of the students, and the time that the teacher has, this could extend over several class periods in the traditional Show and Tell Format. The Show and Tell Format would only take a few minutes a day.

7. Either at home or in school students make a family totem pole telling about their families history. Make sure they include Florida/American History symbols into their Totem Poles. . Depending on the interest level of the students, and the time that the teacher has this could extend over several class periods. I would limit it to two class periods. The students in my class made their Totem Poles at home, so I did not use any class time for this.

The internet has some interesting/creative ways an individual student/family could make their Totem Poles:

Paper Towel Totem Pole http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/na/totempole/

Egg Carton Totem Pole http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/nativeamerican/a/blmtotemp.htm

Milk Carton Totem Pole http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/famf87project/famf87project13.html

The students/families can also use their own ideas: carpet rolls, cardboard boxes, bamboo poles, show boxes, five gallon buckets, etc…

III. Lesson Activities

The website activities to learn about American Indian Totem Poles are listed on the Lesson Procedure page.

Activities to learn about Florida and the United States of America historical symbols:



Examples of Totem Poles in Washington state. Pictures taken by Zach’s family in August 2005. Zach was in Washington for a family vacation.

Examples of Totem Poles made by my class in August 2005.

Matt’s Totem Pole is an excellent example of a varied use of materials.

The rich, vibrant colors in Shai’Ante’s Totem Pole beautifully illustrates what is important to her and her family.

Chase’s Totem Pole is made of bamboo and painted with acrylic paint. It tells a story.

You can quickly tell what Ian’s many interests are by examining his Totem Pole.

IV. Assessment

Family History Totem Pole

Name: ________________________ Teacher: Date : ___________________ Title of Work: ___________________ Criteria Points 1 2 3 4 Used a variety of

internet and print resources

to research Totem Poles

Needs Improvement Average Above Average Excellent ____

Used a variety of internet and

print resources to research state of Florida and

national symbols of the United

States of America


Used symbols from the state of

Florida into your totem pole


Used national symbols from

the United States of America into your Totem Pole


Incorporated your individual family history

into your Totem Pole


Total----> ____ Teacher Comments:

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V. Resources



Introduction to Totem Poles http://familycrafts.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=familycrafts&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fusers.imag.net%2F%7Esry.jkramer%2Fnativetotems%2Fdefault.html

American Indian Totem Poles http://www.native-languages.org/totem.htm

Northwest Coast First Nation Totem Poles http://collections.ic.gc.ca/time/galler07/frames/totems.htm

Royal British Columbia Museum http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/totems/totems1b.html

Alaska’s Totem Poles http://www.everythingalaska.com/eta.ttp.html

Background on Totem Poles http://www.btigerlily.net/BTTotem.html

What is a Totem Pole? http://www.diduknow.info/world/object4_que1.html

Paper Towel Totem Pole http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/na/totempole/

Egg Carton Totem Pole http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/nativeamerican/a/blmtotemp.htm

Milk Carton Totem Pole http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/famf87project/famf87project13.html

Free Website Rubric Maker http://teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/general/

With print material, I had to be very careful to preview everything first. Many of the pictures of people making them were historical accurate, and therefore sometimes did not show their bodies fully clothed. I used the books below as a resource:

Batdorf, Carol. An Indian Coloring Book, Totem Poles, An Ancient Art Hancock House Publishers: 1990 Although this is an excellent resource, I did need to draw more clothes on some of the people in this coloring book.

Hoyt-Goldsmith. Totem Pole Holiday House: 1990

Hancock, David Totem Poles of the Northwest: Hancock House Publishers: 1977

Barbeau, Marius Art of the Totem:Hancock House Publishers: 1984

Hancock, David Tlingit, Their Art and Culture: Hancock House Publishers: 2003 Pages 48-49 may need some clothes drawn on the Totem Pole carvers.

Hancock House Publisher’s Website(four of the above books can be purchased from here): http://www.hancockhouse.com/cgi-bin/products/search_prod_web.pl

Documents

Totem Poles in Florid1 - Polk County Public Schools · Introduce them to Totem Poles from different cultures/time periods through books: the list is provided on the Resources Page