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%2Fuser
s.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-andcrafts/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:
Florida Kids State Symbols Website http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/kids/symbols.cfm
Symbols of the United States government website: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/index.html
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
Used a variety of
internet and
print resources
to research
Totem Poles
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
Points
1
2
3
4
Needs Improvement
Average
Above Average
Excellent
____
Needs Improvement
Average
Above Average
Excellent
____
Needs Improvement
Average
Above Average
Excellent
____
Needs Improvement
Average
Above Average
Excellent
____
Needs Improvement
Average
Above Average
Excellent
____
Total---->
____
Teacher Comments:
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V. Resources
Florida Kids State Symbols Website http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/kids/symbols.cfm
Symbols of the United States government website: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/index.html
Introduction to Totem Poles
http://familycrafts.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=familycrafts&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fuser
s.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-andcrafts/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