Haitian Culture Curriculum Guide

Teacher Resources:
• Chart paper
• Tap-Tap (1995) by Karen Lynn Williams
• Tap-Tap bus pattern - in Supplementary Materials section of Haitian Culture Curriculum
Guide Grades K-5
• Markers
• Milk cartons
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Scissors
• Aluminum foil or art foil
• Tag board
• Optional: acrylic paints/brushes
Background:
One of the most interesting and complex Haitian art forms is evidenced in the Tap-Tap. Haitians
are well known for bright metal designs and sculptures. They apply this to functional objects such
as the Tap-Tap, a small bus with brightly colored designs inspired by everyday life and by religion.
The Tap-Tap bus is unlike any bus in the U.S. The bus is like a truck, transporting people, farm
animals, picked vegetables and fruits in baskets, etc. Sometimes the bus is decorated with political
and/or religious mottoes. The people hit the side of the bus, “tap, tap,” to let the driver know where
to stop. While riding the bus, the people discuss social issues and share everyday news.
Procedures/Activities:
1. As a class, brainstorm about different types of transportation. Display student input on chart
paper.
2. Ask the students the following questions:
• What type of transportation would you need if you lived in the countryside/mountains?
A very busy city? The province (fields)?
• Do you think it would be easy to ride up the mountain road? Why or why not?
• Do you think a donkey is a safe way to travel in the city? Why or why not?
3. Read Tap-Tap (1995) by Karen Lynn Williams aloud to students and emphasize the
following:
• new vocabulary (Tap-Tap bus, province, countryside, city, mountains, transportation)
• types of transportation
• picture of the Tap-Tap bus in the text
• items (e.g., animals, fruits, etc.) transported and how they are transported
4. As a class, write a paragraph summary of Tap-Tap on chart paper; display the summary at the
front of the classroom.
5. Discuss the following issues in the text:
• What Sasifi sees on the Tap-Tap bus - Encourage students to list a variety of things that
are transported on the bus
• What the bus looks like (i.e. color, graphics, etc.)
• How the Tap-Tap bus passengers make the bus stop for them
• How the bus gets its name
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