Totem

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/totem

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the dominant timber species?Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)
2. What is the historical peak period?Approximately 18th to early 20th centuries, with significant modern revitalization
3. What are totem poles and who makes them?Totem poles are tall wooden sculptures carved by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, such as the Haida, Tlingit, Kwakwaka'wakw, and Coast Salish.
4. Why are totem poles made from cedar wood?Cedar is durable, easy to carve, and has special cultural importance for these peoples.

Iconography: The visual images and symbols used in the work of an artist or artistic tradition.
Cosmology: The understanding of the origin, structure, and nature of the universe within a particular cultural or religious framework.
Form Lines: A characteristic design element in Northwest Coast art, consisting of flowing, curved lines that define shapes and create visual rhythm.
Self-Determination: The right of a people to determine their own political status and freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development.