Funded Dec 19, 2009Thank you so much for donating the materials that we needed so that our third graders could actually experience, hands on, what it is like to tell a story through carving a totem pole. The materials came in weeks ago, before we were ready to start our units on Native Americans and Storytelling. The students saw the boxes from donorschoose.org were eager to get their hands on the project. Before we could start carving our own totem poles, we had to read a nonfiction text that taught us the steps that Native Americans take to carve totem poles and we researched what the different totem symbols represent. Our students discovered that Native American Clans or Tribes pick certain totem symbols that represent them. They discovered that the symbols would tell the story of who they are to others who see the totem pole. So, once the students had studied several different symbols, they decided on the totem symbols that would best tell a story of their lives. Some students picked bear to show they have courage, others picked spider because they are creative, some picked cougar for their loyalty to others; there are so many others that sadly, I don't have the space to share with you. The kids were very engaged and eager to share with others the reasons they picked the totem symbols to put on their poles.
Once they planned their totem figures, they sketched the symbols on paper before sketching them on the wood. Next, they grabbed their carving tools, that you so generously donated, and they persevered at carving the symbols. Finally it was time to paint their totem poles. First they researched traditional colors and discovered how Native Americans used natural resources to create these colors- we used tempera paint instead since berries, seashells, and copper were not readily available. Once their poles were completed, we mounted the totem poles on wooden plaques so they would be ready to share their poles with each other.
This project really drove home the idea that storytelling can take on different forms; one being that of stories through pictures. The students learned that early Native American tribes did not have a written language like we have; so instead, they used pictures to communicate and tell their stories. This project has actually sparked additional storytelling through pictures. Students are now using symbols commonly found on bearskins and cave walls to write wordless stories to share with their classmates. So, again, thank you so much for your generous donation. My students not only truly experienced storytelling through totem poles, but now, on their own, they are extending their understanding of different ways Native Americans tell stories by making their own picture stories. The learning only keeps growing because of generous donors like you. ”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Atkatz