Represent your family with a totem pole

Kids can create a fun family symbol by following this project to make a totem pole. The project comes from OMSI (www.omsi.edu).

Materials:

• Empty paper towel tube or oatmeal box

• Construction paper

• Colored pencils

• Glue

• Scissors

To do and notice: A totem is a symbol that comes from nature like the sun, an animal or a plant.

A symbol is an object that stands for a bigger idea. For example, a drawing of a heart stands for love.

1. Think of four totems that represent you and your family.

2. Draw totems on paper and cut them out.

3. Glue the totems on the paper towel roll or oatmeal box.

4. Stand up the paper towel roll or oatmeal box. You have created a family totem pole!

5. See if a friend can guess what your totem represents.

Going further: Totem poles made by the native tribes of the Northwest Coast can represent families, adventures and stories. Only the owner and the carver know the real story (unless you tell it!).