Craft a Mini Totem Pole

Do this artistic activity to teach your child about the beautiful totem pole carvings of the Pacific Northwest Native American tribes! Use spools and markers to create a mini totem pole detailing important dates in your child's life. Not only will it get her thinking about her own history, but she'll be getting a lesson on another culture, too. You'll end up with a colorful keepsake that will harbor memories for years to come.

What You Need:

• At least 3 wooden spools
• Wood glue
• Markers
• Construction paper
• Child-safe scissors

What to Do:

1. Stack the spools, one on top of the other, and glue them together. Set it aside to dry. If you have spools of different sizes, start with the largest on the bottom and the smallest at the top.
2. As the glue is drying, explain to your child that Native Americans used totem poles as a way to tell a story of important events in the tribe's history. It's probably a good idea to check out a book from the library or find some pictures online so she can see what they look like.
3. Then talk to your child about three important events in her life (or more if you used more than three spools). What she considers important could be something obvious like her baby brother being born, or something not-so-obvious like dropping her ice cream cone at the fair. Just remember: everything is fair game.
4. When the glue is dry, hand your child the markers and let her draw pictures of each event on the wood. Use a different spool for each event, and be sure to decorate all sides of the spool! Encourage her to include colorful pictures illustrating what happened during the event and how it made her feel.
5. Cut wings out of the construction paper and then glue it to the back of the totem pole! You can keep it on a desk, dresser, or place it on the mantle for everyone to see!