Haiku for Kids

The students' homework for tonight has them writing a haiku (Social Studies Activity Book pg. 47.) We had a bit of time to learn about what a haiku was in class, it being:

• A Japanese style of poetry
• Consists of three lines: the first line having five syllables, the second line having seven syllables and the third line having five syllables
• Many haikus refer to something in nature or animals

We reviewed syllabification in class and wrote a quick sample poem to get the students prepared for their homework:

Miss Easterling's class (five syllables)
Is full of lovely students (seven syllables)
Who drive her bonkers (five syllables)

This was just a funny example of what they could do. I encouraged the students to pick any topic that might interest them (soccer, ice cream, mummies, etc.) and try to write a haiku.

Here is a link that the students can check out that explains a bit more about haikus and offers some examples.

I look forward to reading the students' first attempts at this style of poetry tomorrow!