Tiki Statues

Tiki statues have been around for hundreds of years. They have their roots in Polynesian culture. They are most prominently found in the Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Hawaii and the most famous Tikis tower over Easter Island.

Fifth grade students learned about the mystery surrounding the massive head sculptures on Easter Island and discussed there possible meaning.

Tikis usually featured a human head carved from wood or volcanic rock. The large cylindrical shape of the trees formed their basic shape. All of the features are exaggerated especially the nose and mouth. Most ancient Tikis have little painted decoration. They differ from Totem poles because they lack the presence of animals and the intention of telling a story or representing a group of people.

Fifth graders created their Tikis by sketching out ideas onto brown paper with pencil. Students then traced their design to make their Tikis symmetrical.
Next, they used construction paper crayons to add vibrant color to their drawings. Lastly, they used lines to replicate the texture of a wood carving.