Question: How might one create a digital totem pole? Or should one?
Despite my goal to promote Web 2.0 within my classroom this fall, with this project, maybe non-digital is the way to go.
A few nights ago in a conversation with my husband about what I was reading, we discussed the totem pole as one of the original means of communication within our nation.
Thus, this is where I go next with my English 11 students as we begin our first thematic literacy unit “A Pioneer Never Quits.” One of the projects for this unit is for the students to create a literary totem pole.
- Each student determines the main “chunks” within his/her life. Each chuck is represented on a card. For example, the chunks in my sample literary totem pole are family, education, school, church, and hobbies = my totem pole consists of five cards.
- Each card contains a description, whether through the use of pictures, words, 3-D objects…whatever that student wants to use to represent that facet of his/her life.
- Yes, each card represents what a bear, a whale, a raven might have represented on a “real” totem pole: what is important or meaninful in one’s life.
- The cards are scored; each turned in opposite directions and then small slits are placed on the bottom of each card (except for the bottom one!) and slid over the card below it. As they interlock, the pole is built.
- This year the totem poles will be built around a paper towel cardboard center for added support. The ones built last year would stand but were quite wobbily!
- Then we create our English 11 Museum of Modern History.
Digital? No, I don’t think so…unless the student chooses that method. Some of the originality, the creativity, the uniqueness might be lost, just as unique as the original totem poles.
Unless, of course, someone knows of a tool to create these literary totem poles and not loose the 3-D effect. Ideas?
Source for this project: I have searched the internet and can no longer find the teacher from whom I “borrowed” this idea. Sorry! I will post pictures soon…just do not have one at the time of this posting.
2 responses so far ↓
What if the digital component comes in the reflection of the project? Could students take pics (or flip video segments) of their finished totems (or them working throughout the process) and write a blog post explaining what and how they learned–metacognition?
[Reply]
Yes, that will be one of our blog topics…and yes, that’s digital!
I do need add that to their blog topic list. So far, they are drafting a version of their Letter to the Next President and one about a pioneer they personally know.
Thanks!
[Reply]
Leave a Comment