A Dance of the Forests Lesson Plan

Understanding Totems & Animism

Kind of Activity:

Group Discussion

Objective:

Students will learn about the significance of totem poles within inidgenous cultures (both Native American and African) through various multimedia sources.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.2

Structure:

1. Introduce the lesson- Let students know that they will learn about totems in both an indigenous African context, and indigenous Native American context. (5 minutes)

2. Have student share what they believe totems to be based upon their inference from the reading (10 minutes)

3. Play "Totems in African Spirituality". Let students know that they should take notes during the...