Lay one 8.5-by-11-inch piece of brown construction paper on a flat surface. Make marks on a lengthwise side of the paper every 2.75 inches. Cut horizontally across the paper, creating four equal strips. These are for the animal totem heads. Paper towel tubes are typically 11 inches tall, so these will cover the entire length of the tube when completed. Cut two construction paper strips, one measuring 2 inches by 11 inches and the other 2 inches by 8 inches.
Have the child draw a different animal head, bird head or earth symbol, such as a sun or water, in the center of each strip. Provide pictures to study before drawing, if desired.
Help the child wrap the strips with the totem heads around the paper towel tube, overlapping or cutting off the excess paper in the back and gluing the paper seams.
Cut the 2-by-11-inch and 2-by-8-inch strips into totem wings. Mark the center point on each 2-inch strip width. Mark the center point on one of side lengths of each strip. Draw a straight line from the center point on the length to one of the center marks on the side. Repeat this process on the other side of the strip. Cut off the angles you have just drawn. The wing now looks like an inverted triangle with 1-inch side edges. Cut V's along the angled edges of the two wings to abstractly simulate feathers.
Have the child color both sides of the two wings, using his or her imagination. Glue the largest wing in the back of the totem pole, directly behind the top totem animal head. Glue the second, smaller wing on the back of the totem pole, directly behind the animal head three totems down from the top. The straight edge is the wing top on each wing piece.
Turn the totem pole upside down. Center two ice pop sticks on the totem pole, flat sides against the totem pole edge. Let the child attach the sticks to the totem pole edge, using craft glue. Allow the glue to dry. Invert the totem pole back to its upright position. The ice pop sticks serve as a base to the totem pole.
Ask your child to each share why he or she chose the particular totems and discuss.