Sometimes I Feel Like A Fox

Minds On:

Do you recognize what this is? What do you see?

This totem pole is made up of animal totems. Totem means clan or family.

Animals and their characteristics are very important to First Nations people.

Animal totems represent different families and the skills families learn to help their clan. Animals also serve as guides; when we identify with their positive traits, the animals help protect and instruct us.

Pacific Coast First Nations People used totem animals to create stories in totem poles. Totem poles tell the stories of families and their history through the animals carved.

Let's Read!

Let's Make!

Create Animal Masks

You can adapt the masks shown in the YouTube clip to make animal totems masks.

You can find templates for paper masks using the link below.

EXTEND: Have students create their own plays about animals they identify with, and put on a performance! How do they identify with certain animals? How do they show that they are like certain animals?

Build Animals with Pattern Blocks

Some templates to get you started:

Virtual Pattern Block Builder

Build an animal only using six bricks!

Copy of Totem Building