NATIVE AMERICAN TOTEM POLE ELA MINI UNIT | Art Integration | Thanksgiving

Easily incorporate THEMATICALLY RIGOROUS LEARNING into your classroom routine with this no-prep, 24-page Totem Pole Mini Unit for Middle Grades (Grades 4-8)! This mini-unit includes everything you need to learn about Totem Poles with your students in your ELA, Art, or Social Studies classroom-reading, writing, art, and STEM. This is a great Thanksgiving-related art integration unit too!

The following Native American Totem Pole Resources are included:

•Nonfiction reading passage about Totem Poles with CCSS-aligned questions & answer key.

•3 writing prompts (1 narrative, 1 informative, 1 opinion) in 2 formats (choice board and prompt with lines)

•Create a Totem Pole that represents your family art integration activity (with rubric).

•Totem Pole STEAM activity: Construct the tallest totem pole using the available supplies.

•Writing tools: Revising/editing checklists, color-coding charts

•9 writing papers

•Video links for background knowledge and extension

•Teacher directions

Writing Additional Information

Writing Prompts are provided in two formats:

•Prompt Choice Board: All prompts on one page

•Prompt With Lines: Students respond to prompts on provided lines

Writing Tools that are included:

•Revising and editing checklists for each type of writing are included.

•Color-coding Chart: Students color code writing to ensure it has all required elements...and help the teacher with grading!

•9 Writing papers: Leaf border B&W, Leaf & acorn border B&W, Line with corner leaf acorn B&W,, Fall squares Color, Fall dots Color, Fall lace Color, Fall dot frame Color, Leaf color, Maple leaf Color

Ways to Use

•Pick and choose which activities you want to do...or do them all!

•Integrate art into your reading and writing lessons.

•Set up stations around your room.

•Rotate from room to room to complete one activity in each room.

•Do one activity each day for a week.

•Use for Fun Friday, Morning Meeting, or for your curriculum-based activity.

•Do activities as a whole class.

•Can even be used by a sub!

•Do you teach art? This includes an easy-to-implement art activity.

•Do you teach gifted? This provides great enrichment!

How I Use in My Classroom

I like to work with other teachers in my school and let the students rotate from room to room. We start by watching the videos. Students then rotate to the following activities for approximately 1 hour each.

•Room 1: Reading

•Room 2: Writing

•Room 3: Art

•Room 4: STEM

Related Resources

Check out the “Thanksgiving and Fall” section of the Megan Memories store for these related resources:

Thanksgiving Resources:

• Minute to Win It
• STEM Challenges
• Reading, Writing, Art
• Norman Rockwell ELA Unit
• Creation Stations (great for MakerSpace!)
• Fun Sheets
• Thanksgiving MEGA Unit!
• The ULTIMATE Thanksgiving Party Game!

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