We did this totem pole craft as part of Native American Heritage Month after an extensive history unit study that involved Indigenous / First People’s lessons, attending authentic Native American activities to fully understand the culture, including discussing the importance of storytelling and getting input on our kids’ craft.
Totem Pole Craft Project For Native American Crafts
When my daughter was studying Alaska, it included information on Indigenous People and First Nations Peoples and information on Native storytelling.
This piqued her interest and so she asked to learn more about Native culture, totem storytelling, more about Native American symbols, and about Native history.
This is one of the things I love most about homeschooling:
If you allow it, there is a natural process of learning that happens.
But, before we could do a craft like this, it important to understand everything surrounding it.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT NATIVE CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES: When you’re creating your lesson plans and activities, be sure to remain respectful of (especially) the crafts that you are doing. For example, it’s not appropriate to do feather headdress crafts because those are often used in sacred rituals and for traditions. If you are doing other crafts from the culture (for example a basket or beadwork or totem), be sure to completely study and learn about the history of the item and culture surrounding the item and not just doing a “one-off” craft without honoring the cultural significance and learning about the different Tribal Nations.
For example, when we did the totem pole craft (that you see in the image above), we spent an entire unit learning about Native storytelling, First Peoples’ storytelling techniques, the importance of stories, story symbols in the culture, and understanding the spiritual significance poles (and more).
ABOUT NATIVE STORYTELLING POLES
Totem Pole History, Facts, and Symbols
Before you do the totem pole craft, make sure that you spend some time learning about authentic Native culture, Native American language, and especially pole storytelling.
The Totem Pole [VIDEO]
Watch THE TOTEM POLE: AN INTERCULTURAL HISTORY.
What is a totem pole?
Totem poles are usually large trees (most often cedar) that are carved with animals or other symbols. They represent families, or regions, or clans.
How a Totem Pole Is Created [VIDEO]
Watch A Totem Story about how a totem is created.
What is the totem meaning?
Totems have different meanings based on who carved it (or who is displaying it). For some, the totem definition is an event or specific time in history. For others, it might tell a story.
Who uses totem poles?
In America, you may see indigenous people of Alaska or the Northwest Pacific with totems. Initially there were only a few tribes or clans that used them, but then their use spread to other indigenous people.
Totems are specific to the regions, families, or clans who carve them.
For those who know totems, it may be easy to spot who created it.
What are totem pole symbols?
Most totem poles are carved and painted with totem animals. The poles can also have mythological symbols or symbols of legends passed through the family history.
What is a totem pole animal?
Each animal on a totem pole has a different meaning.
A quick search online and we found this cool Native American Totem Animals & Their Meanings.
Use these animal totem meanings as a guide when creating your totem.
(And, did you know that every animal and every color has a special meaning and significance?)
GET RESPECTFUL LESSON PLAN IDEAS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
Totem Pole Lessons and Activities
The craft below is fun, but it loses its learning value and may even be disrespectful if you don’t understand what is behind it and you don’t honor Native culture.
Be sure to talk about the history and meanings before you start.
Here are some great resources for Native and totem pole information:
(These could even help you create a unit study before the craft!)
• Read more about What Is A Totem Pole?
• Partnership With Native Americans recommends watching Dreamkeeper.
• Celebrating Native Cultures Through Words: Storytelling and Oral Traditions
• Art of Storytelling: Robert Lewis (Cherokee Nation)
I highly recommend that you find Indigenous events in your area where your kids can ask storytelling and other questions to help them learn and involve locals from your own area before making your storytelling craft.
Native American Totem Poles for Kids: How To Make an Animal Totem Pole
DIRECTIONS FOR A NATIVE AMERICAN CRAFT FOR KIDS
Craft Supplies:
• Paper towel tube, toilet paper tubes, or craft tubes (the amount depends on how tall you want to make your totem)
• Paint
• Paint brushes
• Hot glue or tape (if needed, if you are making a taller totem)
• Paper and pencil
• A copy of the totem animal symbol meanings
• Small square piece of cardboard for base (optional)
You may also enjoy these totems you can cut out and make!
Craft Directions:
1. Review and discuss the totem animal symbols meanings. Encourage the kids to think about what kind of story they want their totem to tell. (You can even read books about totems before the craft.) If level appropriate, have them write their story.
2. Plan and draw the totem on paper. This will allow them to rearrange the animals or stories before they start painting.
3. Glue the craft tubes together. (Optional. If you are using a tall paper towel tube and you want this to be the height of the totem, you can skip this step.)
4. Paint the craft tubes with the animals of choice. Let dry completely.
5. Hot glue the bottom tube onto the piece of cardboard as a base. (Optional only if you need extra stability.)
6. Have your child tell your story of their totem pole!
CONTINUE NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH LEARNING & HISTORY UNIT STUDY IDEAS
Totem Pole Books for Kids
Let us know how your totem pole craft goes!
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