Haitian Culture Curriculum Guide

ACTIVITIES
1. Investigate the different types of pottery, carved figures, canoes, tools, and artifacts crafted in
Haiti.
2. Study and report climate and weather patterns of Haiti, especially hurricanes.
3. Create a map of Haiti, labeling major cities and bodies of water.
4. Students from Haiti and other Caribbean islands speak to the class about their homelands.
5. Invite a guest speaker from Haiti to tell stories that are part of his/her culture. Explain to
students what oral tradition is and its influence on our lives today.
6. Write letters/email to students in your school, or other schools in the county, who come from
Haiti and other Caribbean islands.
7. Discuss the languages, Haitian Creole (Kreyol) and French, spoken by people in Haiti.
8. Invite someone from the Haitian community to demonstrate native storytelling. Students
compose and sing their own story songs.
9. Show a video depicting dances from Haiti and other Caribbean islands. Students practice and
perform them.
10. Research historical sites in Haiti, such as the Citadelle and the Presidential Palace.
11. Compare and contrast family life in American and Haitian cultures. Identify family customs
and ethnic traditions represented in your classroom. Students draw pictures of and identify
family members in their households and complete a journal entry about their families.
12. Students compare and contrast how holidays, such as New Year’s Day and Independence Day
are celebrated in Haiti and in American culture.
13. As a class, compare and contrast the Haitian flag, French flag, and American flag, using a Venn
Diagram. Focus upon the flag colors and emblems. Students make a Haitian flag. The
class/grade could have a flag parade with flags from other countries. (Grade 1)
14. Learn the meanings of simple Haitian Creole (Kreyol) greetings and how to pronounce them.
(Grade 1)
English
1. Hello 7. My name is _____.
2. Good-bye 8. Good morning
3. Thank you 9. You’re welcome.
4. Please 10. Yes
5. How are you? 11. I’m fine, thank you.
6. No 12. Pardon me.
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