Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

Welcome! This slide presentation will teach you how to create a successful vocabulary haiku that uses one of the vocabulary words you have collected for the week. It will also provide the criteria for you to be able to receive full credit for your vocabulary haiku.

One of the best mentor texts for haikus is Jack Prelutsky’s If Not for the Cat. The haikus in that book, which are all about

animals, contain some excellent vocabulary words. I learned the intransitive verb—undulate— reading this book, and I will never not think of a jellyfish when I explain what that verb means to my writing students. There is a free-to-access online notebook lesson called Haiku Riddles based on this book. Click here to visit that lesson.

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

A haiku is an English imitation of a Japanese poetry format. The traditional Japanese haiku contains seventeen syllables expressed in three lines. Haikus are often about mankind’s connections to nature, to the seasons of life, or they juxtapose two seemingly unrelated objects. All in just seventeen syllables! Juxtapose? That sounds like a vocabulary word we better learn.

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

noun form: juxtaposition

root analysis: iuxta (Latin root, meaning

‘near’ or ‘beside’) + positio (Latin root,

meaning ‘to place’)

Showing sentence: “In art class yesterday, we juxtaposed a famous black and white photo with a famous color photo and examined the differences as we debated .”

(examined= transitive verb; debated = intransitive)

juxtapose (transitive verb) — to place two things side by side for the purpose of comparing them.

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

Let’s juxtapose a haiku with an even simpler poetry format— the acrostic poem.

(image found online at http://crayola.com)

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

Let’s learn haiku basics of a by comparing them to an even simpler poem—acrostics. A haiku is a three-line poem, consisting of seventeen syllables. The first line has five syllables, the second line has seven, and the third has five. It should try to be about some element of nature. Click to see.

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

A haiku is a three-line poem, consisting of seventeen syllables. The first line has five syllables, the second line has seven, and the third has five. It should be about some element of nature. Click to see an acrostic.

Oh, powerful sun (5) When juxtaposed with our Earth, (7)

We seem small indeed. (5)

Let’s learn the “haiku basics” as we make this comparison with an acrostic poem.

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

Let’s juxtapose a haiku with this other simple poetry. Similarities and differences? Go!

Oh, powerful sun (5) When juxtaposed with our Earth, (7)

We seem small indeed. (5)

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

One of your weekly vocabulary options is to put one of your collected vocabulary words into a seventeen-syllable haiku. This will teach you syllabication. This will teach you to juxtapose or make connections with nature. This will help you have a new, meaningful experience with your vocabulary word through writing.

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

The Vocabulary Haiku Rubric

4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

The vocabulary haiku does all of these:

The vocabulary haiku does three of these:

The vocabulary haiku does two of these:

The vocabulary haiku does one of these:

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

Click here to open a printable version of this rubric for your students.

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

The Rubric

4 points 3 points

The vocabulary haiku does all of these:

The vocabulary haiku does three of these:

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

Oh, powerful sun (5) When juxtaposed with our Earth, (7)

We seem small indeed. (5)

Score it! Did it earn a 3 or 4?

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

The Rubric

4 points 3 points

The vocabulary haiku does all of these:

The vocabulary haiku does three of these:

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

How could Chaz make his vocabulary haiku worth 4 points, or is it 4 points already?

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

The Rubric

4 points 3 points

The vocabulary haiku does all of these:

The vocabulary haiku does three of these:

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

How could Travis make his vocabulary haiku worth 4 points, or is it 4 points already?

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

The Rubric

4 points 3 points

The vocabulary haiku does all of these:

The vocabulary haiku does three of these:

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

How could Natalie make her vocabulary haiku worth 4 points, or is it 4 points already?

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

The Rubric

4 points 3 points

The vocabulary haiku does all of these:

The vocabulary haiku does three of these:

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

How could Jared make his vocabulary haiku worth 4 points, or is it 4 points already?

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

The Rubric

4 points 3 points

The vocabulary haiku does all of these:

The vocabulary haiku does three of these:

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

How could Mason make his vocabulary haiku worth 4 points, or is it 4 points already?

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

Remember, it’s okay to “go the extra mile” with your vocabulary haikus. Use each vocabulary word correctly as you connect it to something else in a mere seventeen syllables. Take a look at these last two haikus. Both simple. Both thoughtful. Whose do you like best? Hannah’s or Ryan’s?

Hannah Ryan

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

This is an optional extra poetry and partner task for teachers using this PowerPoint lesson. Click here for a printable version of these haikus.

Compare these three haikus, written by great Japanese writers. Which one do you like best? Why?

Look up these three vocabulary adjectives that one could associate with nature: pristine, migratory, innate. Which could you put in an interesting haiku? Work with a partner to design a vocabulary haiku that would earn a four on the rubric. Be creative!

In the twilight rain These brilliant-hued hibiscus -- A lovely sunset.

-- Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

Toward those short trees We saw a hawk descending On a day in spring.

-- Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902)

Over the wintry forest, winds howling in rage with no leaves to blow. -- Natsume Soseki (1867-1916)

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

The Vocabulary Haiku Rubric

4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

The vocabulary haiku does all of these:

The vocabulary haiku does three of these:

The vocabulary haiku does two of these:

The vocabulary haiku does one of these:

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The vocabulary word is spelled correctly and underlined.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku juxtaposes two items or links to nature somehow.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku uses the 5-7-5 pattern.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

• The haiku is neatly presented in a colorful or visual way.

Click here to open a printable version of this rubric for your students.

Vocabulary Collectors

Meaningful writing activity = vocabulary haikus

One of the best mentor texts for haikus is Jack Prelutsky’s If Not for the Cat. The haikus in that book, which are all about

animals, contain some excellent vocabulary words. I learned the intransitive verb—undulate— reading this book, and I will never not think of a jellyfish when I explain what that verb means to my writing students. There is a free-to-access online notebook lesson called Haiku Riddles based on this book. Click here to visit that lesson.

And don’t forget there’s a fun lesson online that has students continue practicing haikus in their writer’s notebooks. Thanks for watching. Collect vocabulary to better your future. People like you if you have a good vocabulary.