· at least 4 cereal boxes of all different sizes
· construction paper of different shapes and sizes (remnants are useful)
· white paper
· pencils, colored pencils, crayons, and markers
· scissors
· glue
· masking tape
· 24” x 24” heavy cardboard sheet to serve as a base for the cereal box totem poles

Two weeks prior to the start of this assignment, the teacher should send a note home to parents, requesting that each student have a cereal box to bring to class by the start date of this WebQuest activity.  The note should state that the size of the cereal box is not important, in fact, all different sizes are preferred. (Have extra boxes on hand!).

Note: the teacher will give students permission to begin creating their totem pole cereal boxes ONLY after they have successfully completed their storytelling compositions.

With the teacher’s approval, the working co-operative group of students will
gather their cereal boxes.  Within the group, each person decides which totem pole character that he/she will create.  Next, each group member will select the colors of construction paper that will be needed.  If a student chooses to draw a character, he/she should use the white paper. The student should first measure the paper against the size of the box and then cut it to size. Only paste it to the box after the animal has been drawn and colored.

Students are often more imaginative artists than teachers!  But even they need guidance and suggestions.  The teacher may consider showing a completed totem cereal box to the whole class at this point.  The example can be put on display for reference at a central place in the classroom.  Students may like to make wings, beaks, or perhaps orca fins which protrude out from their boxes.  The teacher can model for the class how to fold paper and create these additions to their totem pole cereal boxes.

When each group member has completed their individual totems, they should be ready to stack them in the proper order.  The order of the animals MUST correspond to the telling of the group’s story, with the bottom figure representing the start of the story.  The top figure must represent the last character to appear in the story. The group should then tell the story to the teacher, who confirms that the totem characters are in the correct order.  Using three or four of these sticky rolls, adhere the first box bottom to the 24” x 24” base.  Next, in a like manner, affix each totem box bottom to one another in their correct story order.  Place your totem poles all over your school!