What it is and how to teach it

1. Teaching writing through poems
HAIKU POEMS

2. What it is?
Haiku is a poetic form and a type of
poetry from the Japanese culture. Haiku
combines form, content, and language in
a meaningful, yet compact form. Haiku
poets write about everyday things. Many
themes include nature, feelings, or
experiences. Usually they use simple
words and grammar. The most common
form for Haiku is three short lines. The
first line usually contains five (5)
syllables, the second line seven (7)
syllables, and the third line contains five
(5) syllables. Haiku doesn't rhyme. A
Haiku must "paint" a mental image in the
reader's mind. This is the challenge of
Haiku - to put the poem's meaning and
imagery in the reader's mind in ONLY 17
syllables over just three (3) lines of
poetry! The theme of our Haiku Poems is
“Nature”

4. • There are no specific rules for
writing haiku; however, the structure
of haiku is always the same,
including the following features:
• Only three lines, totaling 17 syllables
throughout
• The first line is only 5 syllables
• The second line is 7 syllables
Read more at http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-
usage/rules-for-writing-haiku.html#50dU0XeoczzyOKlu.99
• The third line is 5 syllables like the first
• Punctuation and capitalization rules are
up to the poet, and need not follow rigid
rules used in structuring sentences
• Haiku does not have to rhyme, in fact
many times it does not rhyme at all
• Some haiku can include the repetition of
words or sounds
HAIKU STRUCTURE

5. • Begin by reading examples of haiku to help you get inspired about the subjects
and construction of haiku. Haiku is simply a beautiful form of poetry, so take time
to appreciate it before you begin writing it. Ample examples are available online
and through your local library.Create a list of possible subjects that you might
write about, considering various aspects of nature that inspire you. Consider
animals, insects, seasons, and more. Even the smallest natural details can make
for great haiku.After you choose a subject, you may want to look at a few
pictures of it, or go outside and admire it. Like all of the great poets before you,
some of the greatest inspiration comes from simply admiring nature and the
world around them.Make a list of words that relate to the subject you have
chosen. Be as descriptive as possible and don’t worry – none of the terms will
go to waste! Whatever you don’t use in one haiku can be used in another
poem.Begin by writing with the 5-7-5 rule in mind. If you have trouble
determining how many syllables are in a word because you are not sure you are
pronouncing it correctly, remember that you can always look the word up here on
YourDictionary for a count of the syllables.
Read more at http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/rules-for-
writing-haiku.html#50dU0XeoczzyOKlu.99

6. IDEAS?
• As a first day of school activity, have students brainstorm words about
themselves and then write a haiku. Read the haikus aloud and have the
class try to guess which student the haiku describes. You will get to know
your students, and your students will get to know each other.
• Use a haiku as a culminating activity for a content area unit (science, social
studies, even math)! Brainstorm a list of words with students that show what
they learned in the unit. Group related words together and have students
write a haiku about the topic. For example, if you have just finished a unit on
the Revolutionary War, have students write a haiku about the important
events, people, or ideas.