Haiku Lesson Plan

Support site: http://www.haiku.insouthsea.co.uk/teach1.htm

Subject: English (appropriate for any secondary grade level)
Unit Title: Poetry
Lesson Title: Haiku

Context: Following unit on figurative language, exploring concrete and highly structured forms of poetry.

Purpose of Lesson: To recognize themes and formal conventions of haiku poetry. To gain an appreciation for artistic traditions, and learn how to express original ideas while adhering to structured forms.


Materials and Resources:
Work paper
Hand-outs
Internet Access (for activity extension)

Learning expectations: (By the end of this lesson, the student will have…)

Learned what the haiku is and about its special spirit.
Read a number of examples by Japanese masters of the form and some Western ones.
Studied the internal structure of poems, and made interpretative judgements about them.
Written a number of original haikus (and send them in to the Mainichi Daily news in Japan for possible publication!)


Knowledge: Recognising haiku form, themes and Basho’s spirit.

Thinking: Applying Basho’s spirit to their own work, staying true to haiku conventions.

Communication: Verbal discussion of tradition, written reflective responses.

Application: Creating a number of original haiku, revising/editing based on feedback.
Steps in the Lesson:

Read the biography of Basho the most famous Japanese poet, creator of the haiku form. Complete activities.

Tradition hand-out/group discussion.

Zen Buddhism handout (explain that Issa is another famous haiku poet who came 100 years after Basho), then students read aloud.

Fill in “Season Words” chart – Group brainstorm

Main handout: Read haiku, personal response, analysis

Pre-writing exercise: Provide work paper for students to create jot lists of images/words the “see” when they think of the person/location/event…
- Advise students that if they finish before the rest of the class, simply read the next page and start writing their own haiku.

Solo creative writing time: Write haiku!
Share.
Edit.

SEE EXTENSION – EMAIL HAIKU TO MAINICHI NEWS IN JAPAN!!!!!!!


Accommodations/ Modifications:

- Use of partner/groups – Editing based on feedback is an important step in this lesson. If partners/groups are not available, have student ask non-students to read their poems.
- Teacher availability – as students can work independently on most lesson sections, constant supervision not required, however, teacher should check in with students often.
- Time / Lesson structure – flexible, based on how long students need to read, interpret, reflect and especially when writing original work.
- Students who finish activities more quickly can read ahead and begin independent writing activities.

Extension/Follow-up lessons or activities:

The Mainichi Daily News publishes a monthly selection of "Haiku in English" from writers around the world. At the paper's English-language website, students can also read a wide selection of present-day haiku, including recent winners of the Mainichi Haiku Contest. Haiku can be submitted by filling out the entry form at https://form.mainichi.jp/mdn/haiku/form.html

Credit: Gabrielle Gillespie