Haiku Lesson Plan

1) Tell students they are going to write a haiku. Ask the students if they
know what a haiku is.
2) Talk about how a haiku is a form of poetry from Japan. A haiku
consists of 17 syllables and usually 3 lines. There are five syllables in
the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third. The lines do
not rhyme. Each haiku must contain a kigo, or season word, that
indicates the season in which the haiku is set. For example, cherry
blossoms indicate spring, snow indicates winter, and mosquitoes
indicate summer, but the season word isn't always that obvious. The
poem contains a "cutting" or division between two contrasting parts.
In English, the first or second line usually ends with a colon or long
dash to indicate this cutting. In writing haiku, think about nature and
the present moment. Use verbs in the present tense, and choose each
word very carefully.

To assess student understanding of haiku, elicit student responses to the

following questions:

* In what country did haiku originate? (Japan)

* What is the usual subject of haiku? (nature)
* How many syllables does a haiku have? (17)
* How many lines does a haiku usually have? (three)
* How many syllables should each line have? (first -- 5, second -- 7,
third -- 5)
* What verb tense should you use when writing haiku? (present)
* Does haiku rhyme? (no)

Next, have students close their eyes and imagine themselves walking
through the woods, lying in the grass, walking through a field, etc. Create
on the board a list of how words and expressions the students are feeling
about the nature that surrounds them.

3) Tell the students that each group is going to create a word chart. Give
each group one long piece of paper and two markers. Tell them to
think about the current season (SPRING) and write a list of words or
phrases that represents or makes them think of spring on a piece of
scratch paper.
4) Tables 4 and 5 will think of nouns. For example, during spring,
responses might include flowers, buds, new leaves, and ducklings.
5) Table 1 and 2 will work on adjectives, words that describe spring. For
example, responses might include warm, rainy, cool, bright, colorful,
young.

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6) Table 3 will write out words that are verbs – action words. Examples
could be bloom or rain.
7) Give students time to generate as many words as they can on one
piece of chart paper. When the word charts are complete, post them
so that all students can review all charts and give input. Some words
may be added to (or deleted from) each chart as students discover that
they are categorized by parts of speech.
8) Leave the lists posted on the board and move to the HAIKU
WORKSHEET.
9) Go through the worksheet section by section. This will review
syllables. Emphasize that the haiku should symbolize spring.
10) This worksheet should lead the students to finishing 2 haiku poems
by the end of the period.

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 Name Date

Haiku Poems

A syllable is a part of a word pronounced as a unit. It is usually made up of a

vowel alone or a vowel with one or more consonants. The word “syllable” has
three syllables: syl-la-ble.

Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry. Haiku poems consist of 3 lines.

The lines do not rhyme and usually not complete sentences. Here is an
example of Haiku poetry.

Green and speckled legs,

Hop on logs and lily pads
Splash in cool water.

How many syllables are in the each line of that example? Use a / to separate
each syllable.

Green and speckled legs, syllables:

Hope on logs and lily pads syllables:

Splash in cool water. syllables:

What animal do you think the Haiku is describing?

The first and last lines of a Haiku have 5 syllables and the middle line has 7
syllables. Here is a Haiku to help you remember.

I am first with five

Then seven in the middle –
Five again to end.

Since the Haiku poet only 3 lines to work with, Haiku poems are usually written
about one simple thing, usually about nature. An animal, a season of the year,
a raindrop or a snowflake are all examples of things you might write a Haiku
about.

Here are some examples of student Haiku poems. Use a / to separate each
syllable.

Pacific Coast Ocean Desert

By Robin Fallandy By Azizah Humphrey Kate N'Guetta
Waves crash on the shore, Misty blue magic, Hot flaming fire,
Beautiful water glows. Waves pounding against my feet. Dry, dusty sand and cactus,
Having fun swimming. Sandy happiness. Desert winds blow by.

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Haiku Prewrite:
Think about a theme from spring that you want to write about.
What is your theme?
Write down a list of words that you might want to use for your haiku from the
word charts.

Choose the words that you like from this list. Count the syllables of the words.
Put them together in the form of 5-7-5 syllable lines. Use a / to separate each
syllable.

Title:

Line 1 (5 syllables):

Line 2 (7 syllables):

Line 3 (5 syllables):

Work on a second haiku using the words you selected. Count the syllables of
the words. Put them together in the form of 5-7-5 syllable lines. Use a / to
separate each syllable.

Title:

Line 1 (5 syllables):

Line 2 (7 syllables):

Line 3 (5 syllables):

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