“Carving the Pole” Writing Prompt

Create a totem pole for your family. Draw and color a picture of the symbols on the totem pole. Then write a detailed paragraph (4-6 sentences) that tells what your symbols mean and why you chose them. Because it’s only ONE paragraph, you should have a topic sentence and your details sentences should be really descriptive and high quality. You might even have more than 6 sentences. Follow the editing/revising process to improve and check your work.

Editing/Revising Checklist:1. Reread your writing to see that it makes sense and that you described all the symbols.2. Use a dictionary to check spelling.3. Check grammar (subject and verb agreement, use of adjectives, complete sentences, etc.).4. Check capitalization and punctuation. 5. Write in your neatest cursive. 6. Drawing should be neat and colorful.

Example (Using a picture from the internet so you can see easily- pretend I drew that. Paragraph underneath.)

My totem pole represents my family. The image at the top of the pole represents me and my husband. It is an owl because owls are wise like parents. Also, the owl is protecting the animals below with its wings spread wide. This is like how Mr. Vogt and I protect our two sons. The second symbol represents my son, Ian. This animal represents Ian because it has small wings spread out a little bit, and Ian (our older son) is spreading his wings in high school. The bottom animal represents our younger son, Elliott. It does not have wings showing. Elliott is still at Lincoln Elementary, so he hasn’t really gone out on his own yet. Also, the face kind of reminds me of a face Elliott likes to make.