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Haiku

Introduction What am I? Haikus Printable Worksheets

Introduction:

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 "Haiku" has two syllables: Hai-ku; the word "introduction" has four syllables: in-tro-duc-tion.

"Haiku" is a traditional form of Japanese poetry. Haiku poems consist of 3 lines. The first and last lines of a Haiku have 5 syllables and the middle line has 7 syllables. The lines rarely rhyme.

Here's a Haiku to help you remember:

I am first with five
Then seven in the middle --
Five again to end.

Because Haikus are such short poems, they are usually written about things that are recognizable to the reader. Animals and seasons are examples of recognizable topics children might enjoy exploring.

What am I? Haikus:

The most popular Haiku exercise I have found for children is a "What am I?" Haiku. These act like a riddle. The writer uses the Haiku to describe something. The other children in the class can then attempt to guess what the poet was describing after listening to or reading the Haiku.

The poem can be read aloud by the poet with their classmates guessing the answer after it is read or all the Haikus can be hung on the bulletin board giving everyone the chance to read and guess.

Here are two examples of "What am I?" Haikus:

Green and speckled legs,
Hop on logs and lily pads
Splash in cool water.

In a pouch I grow,
On a southern continent --
Strange creatures I know.

Printable Worksheets:

Worksheet 1: Information about syllables and Haiku. Example poem to analyze.

Worksheet 2: Information about syllables and Haiku. Write your own Haiku.

Worksheet 3: Information about syllables and Haiku. Write your own "What am I?" Haiku.

Examples:

Easter themed Haiku: Easter Chocolate
Spring themed Haiku: Spring is in the Air
Summer themed Haiku: Beaches
Winter themed Haiku: Snowflakes
Valentine's themed Haiku: Hearts

Leanne Guenther

About the Artist/Author:

Hello! I'm Leanne, the creative mind behind KidZone.ws. I love nothing more than enjoying a warm cup of tea and a quiet day with a good friend. Here’s a bit more about me:

Things I Love:

Writing for Kids: My happy place is creating engaging content that sparks curiosity and joy in young minds.
Early Childhood Education: I absolutely adore those early, eager-to-learn years with kids. Their curiosity and enthusiasm are infectious!
History: Exploring the past helps me understand the present and dream about the future.

Things I Have a Love/Hate Relationship With:

Technology: I love how it connects us and makes things easier, but why does it have to change so quickly?
Trivia Nights: I'm your go-to person for fun facts, yet somehow, I always end up in second or third place. Frustrating!
Gardening: I like to think I have a green thumb, but it has a few brown speckles. My plants and I are working on it.
Animals: I adore my pets and they bring me so much joy, but oh, the chores! Why can’t they clean up after themselves?

I earned my degree back in the early '90s, and as a lifelong learner, I continue to delve into the things I love. This includes technology (though I struggle to keep up!), art, early childhood education, history, and mythology as it relates to sociology.

I know that while the educational content on KidZone.ws is largely for kids, many of you visiting the site are educators and caregivers. I’ve tried to share some interesting trivia tidbits and fun facts to make your visit enjoyable too. Happy learning!