Northwest Coast Project

TASK
You will create a totem pole to represent their family.

REQUIREMENTS
You will create a totem pole to represent your own family. You
may use paper, cardboard or any non-edible materials.

You must use the information from the Totem Pole Handouts
(colors and animals).

You must fill out a Write Up Sheet about your totem pole.

You must present your totem pole to your peers.

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 Totem Pole Handouts
Facts about Totem Poles
Totem Poles date back beyond the 1700s.
They were carved from wood; mostly cedar trees.
Paint for totem poles came from pigments in nature.
Totems tells a story about an important event or person, favorite fable,
lessons learned, belief or clan origin.
Totem poles are a form of communication, like a poem or song.
One totem pole represented an entire clan and were posted outside of
their home.
Totem poles range from a few feet to 75 feet tall.
Each totem pole was unique.

The Meaning Behind Totem Pole Colors

White Used as a background color, it stands for peace.

Red Represents blood and war, often found on some animals.
Blue Represents rivers, lakes and skies
Yellow Represents the sun, light and happiness
Green Represents trees, grass and mountains
Copper Represents wealth
Purple Represents some plants and mountains in the distance
Black Represents power
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 Totem Pole Handouts
Animals and Symbolism
Beaver Old, wise , builder, creative, artistic, determined,
strong, sense of family, builder of dreams
Eagle Ruler of the sky, great strength, leadership, prestige,
divine spirit, connector to the creator
Frog Spring and new life, communicator, stability, rich in
life, survivalist, connection to water
Hawk Strength, quick to assist when in need of help,
messenger, stopper of time
Owl Wisdom, watchful, perseverance, respected, may be
associated with death
Raven Gave fire to man, gave sun and moon to sky,
mischievous and greedy
Thunderbird Caller of rain, mystical, leadership, known to make
lightening and thunder with the blink of an eye
Whale Hunter, commander of the sea, family centered,
wise, powerful
Wolf Loyalty, success, perseverance, powerful, heals,
teacher, pathfinder, survivalist
Bear Teacher, friendly, strength, humility, motherhood
Salmon Provider, instinct, persistence, dependability,
renewal

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 Totem Pole Write Up
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________

What materials did you use?

Which animal did you pick and why?

What colors did you choose and why?

What other information can you share about your totem pole?

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 Project Rubric
4 3 2 1

The totem pole is The totem pole is The totem pole is

complete. It is complete. It is either not
made with made with complete, not No totem pole
acceptable acceptable visually appealing was turned in.
Totem Pole
materials. The materials. The or not made with
totem pole is totem pole is acceptable
creative and visually materials.
visually appealing.
appealing.

It is clearly It is evident that It doesnt appear No evidence that

evident that information from that much information from
information from the handout has information from the handouts
Incorporating
Handout the handout has been considered the handout has were used when
been considered when observing been considered observing the
when observing the totem pole. when observing totem pole.
the totem pole. the totem pole

Questions are Questions are Questions are Questions are not

thoroughly answered. There answered. There answered or
Write Up
answered. There are few are many grammatical
are no grammatical grammatical errors make it
grammatical errors. errors. hard to read.
errors.

Student is able to Student is able to Student has Student cant

clearly present present the difficulty present
Presentation
the information. information. presenting information.
information.

Student Name: _________________ ___ of 16 = ______%

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 WEBSITES

For additional information, visit one of these websites:

http://www.indians.org/articles/northwest-coast-indians.html

http://firstpeoplesofcanada.com/fp_groups/fp_nwc5.html

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/human-origins-and-

cultural-halls/hall-of-northwest-coast-indians

Note: Only the above websites may be used.

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