Haiku

Cool Melons — Turn to Frogs! by Matthew Gollub
This teacher's guide includes summary and background, prereading questions, vocabulary, reader response questions, strategies for ESL and interdisciplinary connections.

Dairy Lama
Students can submit haiku (or "mooku") here for publication. Be sure to read the suggestion on the "submit" page. The site owners make this offer: if an entire class submits haiku, they will send the class Dairy Lama buttons!

Get Your Haiku On!
This exercise has four haiku variations for your students to try: group haiku; speed haiku; an un-haiku haiku; and a haiku battle.

Exploring Haiku with Issa
Video of former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass reading a translation of haiku by the 18th century Japanese poet, Kubayashi Issa; analysis; and teaching tips.

Haiku and Beyond: A Study of Japanese Literature
This extensive unit about Japan is designed for 4th graders. The lesson on haiku begins on page 14. Adobe Reader required for access.

Seasonal Haiku: Writing Poems to Celebrate Any Season
In this lesson, designed for grades 3-5, students work with descriptive language related to seasons. They analyze haiku together, then write and illustrate their own.

Traditional Forms of Poetry: Tankas and Haiku
This web page offers suggestions on writing haiku and tanka poetry.

You Too Can Haiku
Students will briefly examine the geography of Japan and Japanese culture through examples of Asian art and music. After learning about and listening to some examples of haiku, they will write their own haiku. Lastly, students will illustrate and "publish" their finished poems in the style of a Japanese scroll using rice paper, ink, and watercolor. Designed for grades K-4.