1. Totem Poles
Touching Spirit Bear

2. Art from the Pacific Northwest
In the Northwest coast giant cedar trees grow - this area is known as the Pacific Northwest
The native people who live in the Pacific Northwest use their giant trees to make beautiful pieces of art

3. Totem Poles
The most well known type of art made by the Pacific Northwest Natives is the totem pole.

4. Telling a Story
Totem poles are made for the purpose of telling a story
Some of the stories are about the family of chief who had the pole made
Other poles tell Native American legends
These legends are often about animals who did important things.

5. Reading the Totem Pole Story
The story that the totem pole tells is like a poem. Many things are said with only a few words.
You won’t be able to read the story of a totem pole unless you already KNOW the story.
The stories are told by parents to their children, so they’re remembered year after year.

6. Pictures of Totem Poles

7. More Pictures

8. Your Own Totem Pole
I want you to design your own, personal totem pole. I want you to choose 5 images that would represent you (personality, life, family, etc.). Write 1/2 page describing your totem pole. Tell me what images you would choose and WHY. Go a little deeper than, “I picked a cell phone because I, like, love to TALK!” Choose things that mean a great deal to you.