Haitian Culture Curriculum Guide

Teacher Resources:
• Map of the Americas
• Books on Haiti and Haitian art from school media center
• Background on Haitian artists – in Background section of Haitian Culture Curriculum Guide
Grades K-5
• White drawing paper
• Colored markers
• Pencils
• Tap-Tap pattern – in Supplementary Materials section of Haitian Culture Curriculum Guide
Grades K-5
Background:
Haitian artists are known for their flat metal sculptures made from recycled oil drums and painted in
very bright colors.
One of the most interesting expressions of Haitian art is the Tap-Tap, which is a small bus with
brightly colored designs. The artist always plans designs on paper before transferring them to the
metal for cutting and painting. The subjects of these paintings are usually found in everyday life
and religion.
Haiti has exported art all over the world. Contemporary Haitian art is greatly valued and collected
and is also part of museum collections.
Procedures/Activities:
1. Point out Haiti on the map of the Americas, and discuss Haitian art and traditions. You might
want to use books on Haitian art and traditions from your school media center and the
Background Information on Haitian artists in the Haitian Culture Curriculum Guide Grades
K-5.
2. Review vocabulary (Haiti, Hispaniola, Tap-Tap, Tainos, Haitian Creole) with students.
3. Distribute materials for students to create a painting representative of Haitian art by designing
their own Tap-Tap. Students will write a five-sentence paragraph that describes the meaning of
their designs. Students could type and print their description paragraphs using word
processing software.
4. Students present their Tap-Taps to the class and read their five sentence paragraph descriptions
of their designs.
5. Students post their Tap-Taps on class bulletin boards.
6. As a class, review the display of Tap-Taps, and write a class paragraph that discusses the
similarities and differences between the Tap-Taps.
Assessment:
• Participation in class discussion
• Completion of Tap-Tap design
• Five-sentence paragraph describing Tap-Tap
• Class paragraph on similarities and differences between Tap-Taps
42