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Indoor activity

Cardboard Tube Totem Pole

Stack and decorate cardboard tubes into a colourful totem pole with painted faces, wings, and beaks!

Ages 2-12 0-1 hours Education 6/10

Materials

  • Flat Paintbrush
  • Googly Eyes
  • Paper
  • Poster Paint
  • PVA Glue
  • Scissors
  • White Vinegar

Illustrated Steps

1

Paint the Tubes

Paint three cardboard tubes different bold colours and stand them up to dry.

2

Design the Animal Faces

Draw a different animal face on each tube — eagle, bear, and fish.

3

Add Wings and Features

Cut and glue paper wings, ears, and fins onto each tube section.

4

Stack and Display

Glue the decorated tubes together into a tall totem pole and display it!

What You’ll Create

A towering totem pole from the recycling bin! 🎨 Your little artists will stack cardboard tubes on top of each other, painting each one a different bold colour and adding animal faces — an eagle with spread wings at the top, a bear with big teeth in the middle, and a fish with scales at the bottom. The finished totem pole stands tall and proud!

How to Set It Up

Step 1: Paint the Tubes

Take 3 cardboard tubes (toilet roll or kitchen roll cut to size). Paint each tube a different bold colour — red, blue, and yellow work brilliantly. Use poster paint and a flat paintbrush. Stand them upright on a protected surface to dry. 🎨

Step 2: Design the Animal Faces

Using markers, draw a different animal face on each tube. The top tube gets an eagle (fierce eyes, pointed beak). The middle gets a bear (round ears, big nose). The bottom gets a fish (wide eyes, scales pattern). Make the expressions bold and dramatic! 🦅

Step 3: Add Wings and Features

Cut wings, ears, fins, and beaks from paper using scissors. Fold tabs at the base of each piece and glue them onto the tubes with PVA glue. The eagle gets wide spread wings, the bear gets round ears, and the fish gets side fins. 🐻

Step 4: Stack and Display

Once everything is dry, stack the tubes on top of each other and glue them together. Press firmly and let the glue set. Your totem pole is ready to display — stand it on a shelf or windowsill! 🏔️

Have fun!

  • 🌍 Research real Pacific Northwest totem poles and the stories they tell!
  • 🎭 Invent your own animal symbols — what animal represents your family?
  • 📏 Use more tubes to make a taller totem pole with more animal sections!
  • ✨ Add glitter glue or sequins for a sparkling ceremonial look!

Why It’s Amazing

  • Cultural Awareness: Learning about totem poles introduces indigenous art traditions and storytelling through symbols. 🌍

  • Stacking and Balance: Building a vertical structure from cylinders teaches engineering concepts like centre of gravity and stability. 🔬

  • Character Design: Creating distinct animal faces on each section develops illustration skills and expressive drawing. 🎨

  • Recycling Creativity: Transforming cardboard tubes into art shows that everyday waste can become something beautiful. ♻️

Pro Tips

For ages 2–4: Pre-cut all wings and features. Let them paint the tubes (messy is fine!) and help them stick the features on. Stack the tubes yourself with hot glue for stability.

For ages 4–7: Let them paint and draw the faces. Pre-cut the wing/ear shapes but let them glue everything. Show them how to fold tabs for stronger attachment. They can stack with PVA glue.

For ages 7–12: Research real totem pole animals and their meanings. Design their own symbols. Cut all pieces themselves. Try more complex features like 3D beaks folded from paper or layered feather textures. Create a story that the totem pole tells from top to bottom.

Secret Pro Move: Before painting, wrap each tube in a layer of white paper (glued on) — this gives a smoother surface that takes paint more evenly and makes the colours much more vibrant! 🎯