Next Saturday 17 April is Haiku Poetry Day. Why not prepare for the day, by reading and writing haiku during the week leading up to it, or for those of us in Australia still on school holidays, celebrate the week after. Of course, any time is good for reading and writing haiku — no excuse is needed.
What is Haiku?
Haiku is a short poem of only three lines with a very structured form. There only 17 syllables in the entire poem:
five on the first line
seven syllables come next
and five on the third
The purpose of the haiku is to capture a brief moment in time. Traditionally, it is written about the seasons but can be used to write poems on any topic. Haiku poetry often concludes with a feeling or observation. Sometimes the feeling is not explicit but is left for the reader to interpret.
What is a syllable?
Before you begin to teach your children to write haiku, they need to know what a syllable is. Whether you are teaching or revising syllables, readilearn has some resources to support you, including:
Continue reading: Having fun with Haiku Poetry in the Classroom – readilearn
Norah Colvin 
I too was taught the American English version of the Japanese style haiku. What amazes me is how persnickity haiku societies can get and how often they change the rules. Now the more common rule is that the tree lines are as short as a breath, whatever that means. And of course you are expected to use a Kigo. Which I don’t always do. But then I am a rebel anyway 🙂
Other short forms that I think you could also teach are these to American Lune forms:
‘From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lune is a fixed-form variant haiku created for the English language, and consists of two versions:
The Robert Kelly lune
Robert Kelly, a Professor of Literature at Bard College, invented a new form of English-language haiku using the form 5/3/5 syllables, with the intention of making the form closer to the Japanese haiku than English-language haiku written in a 5/7/5 syllable format.[1][2]
The Jack Collom lune
It is measured in words rather than syllables, making it easier for children to learn and compose. The form is 3/5/3 words. Jack Collom created this new form of haiku by chance, when he misremembered the original creation of Kelly’s as this form, thereby creating a new one.[1][2]
Both versions are free from all constraints associated with haiku, thus need contain no kigo (season-word), kire (cut), may rhyme and may use all other poetic devices.[1]’
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Thanks for sharing information about those forms, Jules. Just shows we don’t need to always follow the rules but can be flexible in our interpretation.
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For some reason we are obsessed with haikus at work so when anyone retires we all write goodbye haikus. 😂
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This is a wonderful way to teach syllables to children and develop their creative skills. The traditional form does require 5-7-5 syllable count though the modern haiku does not.
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It’s nice to be a bit flexible about things like this. I like to encourage self-expression and not worry too much about the rules. Sometimes a structure provides a bit of guidance and support though, which can be helpful.
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What a great poetry form to introduce to children. Great idea, Norah.
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Thanks, Jacqui. Children always enjoy writing it. They can’t really go wrong with poetry.
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I really enjoyed reading about haikus and how to write haikus, Norah. I think you explained haikus and approaches to penning them more clearly than my tutors at university did. I like how you focused on the basics and learning to write haikus progressively as you get more familiar with its form. That suggestion of clapping along to each syllable is creative – and such a fun way to learn too. The suggestion of sitting outside to write a haiku is also create. If it was raining or miserable weather outside, I think I’d prefer sitting indoors beside the window trying to get some inspiration 🙂
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Thank you for your lovely comment, Mabel, and your tip about sitting inside on a wet or miserable day. It almost conjures up a haiku in itself. 🙂
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It’s great there is a way to pitch haikus to students and the classroom. I think we could write a haiku on a sunny or wet day if we put our minds to it. Happy mid-week, Norah 🙂
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Indeed we could, Mabel. Happy week to you too.
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Hope you are having a good week, Norah. Take care 🙂
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Thank you, Mabel. Best to you also.
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Have a good weekend, Norah 😊
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Yes, I enjoyed your lovely post. Haiku would be a fun way to start kids writing poetry. And, you give such great ideas about beginning. I’ve never written a Haiku poem and should. Sounds like fun!
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Thank you, Patricia. Yes, you should write haiku. It is a beautiful art form. I’m certain you can do it.
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Excellent post, Norah. I will ask the kindergarten teacher if she has the students write haiku poetry. Of course reading it aloud is always welcome for children.
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Thank you, Jennie. Haiku is a beautiful poetic form. Images in words. They often provide us with a different way of thinking about things, which is great for young children and us older children too.
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On top of the benefits you speak of, it seems like a good pre-reading activity to focus on syllables. Haiku has many good things.
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It sure does. It can be enjoyed by any age.
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😀
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Thank you for this post. I have often understood a haiku for a mere shot poem. Had no idea it had precision to it.
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Thank you, Angela. I hope you’ll give it a try. 🙂
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Thank you, Norah, I just might. 🙂
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Please share if you do. 🙂
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Sure!
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