One type of totem pole created by Native Americans uses people and animals to describe family or clan history. In this lesson, students will research their own family history and create a totem pole to reflect and communicate that history. In the process they will learn about symbols and how they are used. On This PageLesson plan information|
School level | | • | Elementary School (5-11 years old) |
| Subjects | | Class time | | • | 2-3 class periods (45-minute periods) |
| Software required | | • | Microsoft Office PowerPoint |
| Materials needed | |
Teacher guideGoals| • | Students are introduced to the concept of symbol. | | • | Students learn about Native American totem poles. | | • | Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources. |
Objectives| • | Students research their family history. | | • | Students select symbols to represent historic events in their family history and create a totem pole combining those symbols. | | • | Students create an Office PowerPoint presentation showing their family history totem pole and explaining each symbol in it. |
Lesson procedureIntroductionDoes anyone know what a symbol is? A symbol is something visible—such as an object, a picture, or a written word or particular mark—that stands for something else that is invisible, like ideas, actions, or events. For example, a red eight-sided sign stands for STOP in our country. Is our American flag a symbol? What does it symbolize or stand for? What other symbols can you think of? [Select and show photos of a totem pole.] You have all seen pictures of totem poles. But what do you really know about totem poles? Totem poles are collections of symbols that represent important events, stories, status, and kinship or clan relationships in the history of families in Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest. This picture, for example, taken from a totem pole in Old Kasaan, Alaska, shows a Haida ancestor. 
Other poles show what clan a family belongs to, for example, the eagle clan, as in this photograph: 
Or the frog clan, as in this photograph. 
One exciting way to discover who you are is to find out about your family history. In this activity, you will interview family members about your family's history, find symbols to represent that history, and build your own totem pole with the symbols you choose to communicate who your family is. Main activity
The Student handout (Microsoft Office Word document, 16 KB) includes the main activities for this lesson, including:
| • | Step 1, "Research your family history and select symbols to represent that history" | | • | Step 2, "Create a totem pole of your family and explain it in an Office PowerPoint presentation" |
ConclusionStudents can be assessed on their PowerPoint presentations. | • | They should have four or five symbols to represent their family history. | | • | Each symbol should be explained in the presentation. |
Materials neededLesson extension activities| • | Students can make totems to represent historical figures or characters in books. | | • | Students can use art materials to make three-dimensional models of their totem poles. | | • | Students can watch a documentary film (27 min.) of the Haida artist Bill Reid carving a totem pole and talking about the process and the meaning. |
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