Sciku & Scitanka
How can poetry
blend with science to share an
Important idea?
Created by Jim Bentley, National Geographic Explorer & Fellow
Haiku
Haiku is an ancient form of Japanese, non-rhyming poetry. It has 3-lines of text following a syllable pattern of 5 - 7 - 5. It has 17 syllables in all.
A syllable is the number of “beats” in a word. The word “syl-la-ble” has three beats or syllables.
Every syllable has one vowel sound and may or may not have more consonants, or non-vowel letters.
Subjects in haiku almost always say something about nature or human nature.
Nature refers to anything in our environment.
Topics for nature could include anything related to:
Human nature refers to how we act, think, or feel as humans...the things that make us “human.”
Topics for human nature could include anything related to:
Created by Jim Bentley, National Geographic Explorer & Fellow
Haiku
The stars danced across the
Sky, as ballerinas dancing across
A stage of moonlight.
-Tessa Miller, 13 years old
Hello, ant! You are
very strong. Can you survive
my thumb? I guess not.
-Sofia Webster, 10 years old
I look up at night
and see a half eaten moon
with cookie crumb stars.
-Michael Clinard, 10 years old
Dog that’s barking
at the gate.
I’m awake
-Tracy Hamer, 10 years old
Waves whisper to each other
beneath the black blanket.
The ocean at night.
-Tessa Nortont, 10years old
Trees waving in the wind
whispering silently.
What secrets could they tell?
-Jonathan Buscher, 13 years old
Ouch! A bee has stung me.
Because he was afraid of me,
now he’s guaranteed to die.
-Stven Bobst, 13 years old
Trees waving in the wind
whispering silently.
What secrets could they tell?
-Jonathan Buscher, 13 years old
I hear the leaves rustle.
With pollen everywhere,
I take a deep breath and sneeze
-Brian Sewell, 13 years old
Autumn peeked its heard
around the corner to watch
the trees undress.
-Zivela Leveskis, 13 years old
Created by Jim Bentley, National Geographic Explorer & Fellow
Sciku
Sciku is a new form of poetry that has 3-lines of text following a syllable pattern of 5 - 7 - 5. It does not rhyme. It has 17 syllables in all.
A sciku is a poem about anything related to science.
It can be fun, but it must also be informative.
Here are a couple of examples related to a Geo-Inquiry Project which is trying to answer the question: How can we reduce plastic entering our oceans?
Plastic. I see you
not hiding very well in
the bushes at school.
Plastic. If you climb
down that storm drain you might just
end up in oceans.
Plastic. When you are
in the ocean you can have
algae (plants) grow on you.
Plastic. With your plant
clothing on, you smell just like
fish food. But you’re not!
Plastic. My eyes see
you. But my nose can’t smell you.
Fish? They smell you and eat!
Created by Jim Bentley, National Geographic Explorer & Fellow
Scitanka
Scitanka is a new form of poetry that has 5-lines of text following a syllable pattern of 5 - 7 - 5 - 7 - 7. It does not rhyme. It has 31 syllables in all.
A scitanka is a poem about anything related to science.
It can be fun, but it must also be informative.
Here are a couple of scitanka based on the September 2019 Explorer Magazine “The Problem With Plastics” (Adventurer edition for grades 5-6, Lexile 520L-950L).
She studied bird poop.
Justine Ammendiola did!
Little auks feeding.
Where do they eat? GPS
lost. Solution: use guano.
Catch an auk is HARD!
Make a tiny noose with rope.
Put it on a rock.
And...wait...then...YANK! But not too hard. Don’t hurt little auk’s feet!
Gently hold the auk.
Don’t squeeze too hard. Don’t hurt it.
Wait patiently. Breathe.
It will poop soon and you can
analyze it for plastic.
Created by Jim Bentley, National Geographic Explorer & Fellow