Pacific Islands Day / Tapa Cloth Pattern Art
Tapa Cloth Pattern Art
Children learn that bark cloth is made in several Pacific nations, called ngatu in Tonga, siapo in Samoa and masi in Fiji, then create their own geometric designs on crumpled brown paper.
How to run it
- Show photographs of bark cloth from official museum collections and point out how designs differ between Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.
- Explain that bark cloth is made from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree and is often given at important family occasions.
- Children crumple and flatten brown paper to give it a cloth-like texture.
- Using brown, black and red paint or crayons, they create their own repeating patterns of lines, triangles and dots, without copying a specific family or community design.
You will need
- brown paper bags or kraft paper
- brown, black and red paint or crayons
- rulers
- small brushes
- museum photos of bark cloth
Make it easier or harderYounger children use stamps and sponges; older children plan a symmetrical design on grid paper first.
SafetyUse photos from museums or Pacific cultural organisations, and invite a local Pacific community member to share if possible.
My Time Our Place · Outcome 1, Outcome 4Children explore Pacific art traditions and create their own designs using pattern and repetition.
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