Christmas Poetry Unit - Lesson 2 - Christmas Haikus PowerPoint

The enchanting world of Christmas Haikus is introduced to students in this engaging poetry lesson. A haiku is a traditional Japanese form of poetry that is composed of three lines, with the first and last lines containing five syllables each and the middle line having seven syllables. These compact poems do not typically rhyme. The lesson encourages students to listen carefully to several haikus to discern their common structural elements and invites them to explore the concept of syllables, which are units of pronunciation within a word. For instance, 'snowman' breaks down into two syllables: 'snow' and 'man'. The class is then tasked with writing a collective haiku poem about Christmas, prompting them to reflect on the sensory experiences associated with the festive season, such as sights, sounds, smells, and tastes.

Students are encouraged to brainstorm Christmas imagery and vocabulary, including elements like Christmas pudding, trees, snowfall, and carols. Armed with these festive words and images, they are instructed on the strict rules of haiku writing: a three-line structure with a 5/7/5 syllable pattern, and the effective use of punctuation. After examining examples of Christmas haikus, students are set to write their own, drawing inspiration from various Christmas scenes. Upon completion, volunteers have the opportunity to share their poems with the class, discussing the merits of their work and considering areas for improvement. The lesson concludes with an exercise to redraft their poems for greater impact, teaching the value of revising one's writing to enhance its quality.