Year 6 totem pole sculptures

Year 6 have been learning about the Ancient Maya in history and art. As part of their art learning journey this term, the children explored the work of Canadian artist Robert Davidson, a master carver of totem poles. They learned that 'totem' means 'a natural object or animal that is believed by a particular society to have spiritual significance and that is adopted by it as an emblem'. Having planned and sketched their designs in a previous lesson, children then constructed a wire frame to support their totem poles, before adding clay blocks and using tools to carve facial features and wings.