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What Is a Haiku?

Think about:

  • the poem’s theme;
  • how many lines are in each poem;
  • how many syllables in each line.

Haiku poems are a�traditional Japanese art form.

What do you notice about these poems?

Winter is coming.

Snow will be arriving soon.

We should rake the leaves.

My two plum trees are

So gracious. See, they flower.

One now, one later.

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Answers

What Is a Haiku?

natural theme

Final line is a comment or observation on the theme.

5 syllables�in first line�

7 syllables�in middle line�

5 syllables�in final line

Winter is coming.

Snow will be arriving soon.

We should rake the leaves.

Three lines in each poem.

My two plum trees are

So gracious. See, they flower.

One now, one later.

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swing

kitty

September

thunderstorm

Syllables are the separate beats/parts of words.

Clap them out as you say them if it helps.

Can you work out how many syllables are in these words?

Syllables

Show Answers

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swing

kitty

September

thunderstorm

swing

kit • ty

Sep • tem • ber

thun • der • storm

one syllable

two syllables

three syllables

three syllables

Can you work out how many syllables are in these words?

Syllables

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Haiku Rules

Three lines in each poem.

5 syllables in first line

7 syllables in middle line

5 syllables in final line

Final line is a comment or observation on the theme.

natural theme

First, we need to choose a theme.

How can we write a haiku?

Let’s Have a Go!

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Our haiku doesn’t have to be about seasons or nature but I want to write mine about summer.

Summer

hot

sunshine

flowers

holiday

beach

ice cream

games

sea

swimming

warm

fun

sand

How can we write a haiku?

Let’s Have a Go!

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Summer

hot

sunshine

flowers

holiday

beach

ice cream

games

sea

swimming

warm

fun

sand

Next, I’ll choose�two or three ideas�which will flow�together.

hot

beach

sea

How can we write a haiku?

Let’s Have a Go!

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How can we write a haiku?

Let’s Have a Go!

Haiku Rules

Three lines in each poem.

5 syllables in first line

7 syllables in middle line

5 syllables in final line

Final line is a comment or observation on the theme.

natural theme

Now we have our ideas, let’s try to fit them into the 5-7-5 syllable format.

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My haiku doesn’t fit the 5-7-5 syllable format. Can you help me to rewrite the parts that I have crossed out?

What do you think of my haiku so far?�What do you notice about it?

How can we write a haiku?

Holidays are coming�

We can go to the beach�

Hot sand is next to the sea

Summer

Holidays are here

We can go to the sea side

Hot sand and the sea

Summer

5

5

7

Let’s Have a Go!

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How can we write a haiku?

You could write your haiku about the seasons or about an animal or plant.

The choice is yours!

  • Each poem has 3 lines.

  • The syllable pattern of the poem should be 5-7-5.

  • Haikus are often written about seasons and nature.

Let’s Have a Go!

Finish

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