True Taíno History

This lesson plan is part of our “Art through a Social Studies Lens” lesson plan series. Click here to view all 8 lessons.

This kit contains:

• Part 1 Slide Deck

• Part 1 Teacher Guide

• Part 1 Student Notes

• Taíno Territory Map

• Petroglyph Activity

• Part 2 Slide Deck

• Part 2 Teacher Guide

• Part 3 Teacher Guide

• Comparison Activity

• Vocabulary List

Objectives

Part 1: The Taino People

• Identity: to explain who the Taíno people were

• Skill: to analyze primary and secondary accounts of Taíno culture

• Intellectual: to describe and infer what Taíno tribal life was like

• Criticality: to recognize that the Taíno people had a vibrant culture before colonization

Part 2: Colonial Impact

• Identity: to understand how Columbus’s arrival interrupted island life

• Skill: to analyze a primary source journal excerpt

• Intellectual: to discuss the impact that colonization had on the Taíno people

• Criticality: to reconsider the celebration of Columbus Day as a holiday

Part 3: Modern Resilience

• Identity: to identify the importance of cultural identities and maintain practices

• Skill: to recall information from part I to compare and contrast

• Intellectual: to describe how Taino influence shows up in modern culture

• Criticality: to recognize the resiliency of the Taíno people through their ability to bring themselves and their culture into modern communities

Essential Questions

• Who were the Taino people?

• What was Taino culture like prior to colonization?

• Who was Christopher Columbus and what was his voyage?

• How did colonization impact the Taino people?

• Do you think we should celebrate Columbus Day?

• How does Taino influence show up in modern culture?

• How are the Taino people resilient?

Introduction

This lesson introduces the indigenous people of the Caribbean and the thriving community on the islands prior to colonization. The lesson is taught in three parts: (1) a lesson on the Taíno people, (2) a lesson on the colonial impact, and (3) an overview of modern resiliency. The content reveals a lot about people who were almost wiped out by European colonizers and intends to draw students towards a conclusion in which Taíno culture and legacy is something known, respected, and awe-inspiring.

Note for Educators

This lesson plan is created to be taught in lower elementary school classrooms. Teachers should use their discretion to adapt content for student accessibility: for example, allowing students to draw on the guided notes instead of writing words.”

Lesson plan created by Mackenzie Rice with Javier Cruz Winnick, Taíno Fellow Author.