Our Totem Pole Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will examine a Native American tradition and sequence the steps of making a totem pole.

 

Social Studies Focus:

traditions

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, sequencing, nonfiction text features

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a diagram

 

Vocabulary:

totem pole, tradition, Tsimshian, community

 

CCSS:

SL.2.3, RI.2.1, RI.2.3, RI.2.4, RI.2.5, RI.2.10

 

Guided Reading Level: 

L

 

Lexile Level: 

480L

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Provide students with some background on Tain, his people, and the tradition of making totem poles.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "Welcome to Tain's World." After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is the most interesting thing you learned about Tain?

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are totem pole, tradition, Tsimshian, and community.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. How do kids think a totem pole is made?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about the steps it takes to make a totem pole.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think printable. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

  • Use the online game show to gauge comprehension and reinforce the issue’s content. Students can play by themselves or in teams. For each question they answer correctly, they win a point.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important ELA skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words totem pole, tradition, Tsimshian, and community.

Editor’s Pick: Sequencing (15 min.)

  • The From Start to Finish skill sheet has children use information from the issue to write out the steps of creating a totem pole.

ELA Focus: Nonfiction Text Features (15 min.)

  • The Text-Feature Hunt skill sheet is a fun way to brush up on nonfiction text features.

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher-Lexile level: 530L
  • Lower-Lexile level: 440L