As I whittle away at my paper piles, I have come across many forgotten lesson ideas… Here’s one that is both quick & easy: “A HAIKU for Every Theme”… It covers some Literacy and whatever other subject you or the students wish.

I did these in a Grade 5 classroom.  The teacher wanted me to complete the lesson on writing Haiku, plus she also wished for us to discuss Earth Day and combine the two…

The students enjoyed putting their finished poems up for all to see, plus it gave them motivation to do a great job.  After I showed them the pattern, and we made a couple all together, they were off, some of them creating 2 or 3 in the short time we actually had to work.  They worked on the pictures during their own nutrition break time.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any of their poems or our whole-class creations, but here are some of my attempts…

We care about Earth
We will write poems for HOPE
Others will care, too. S. O. S.

Planet near to death
but (Maybe) it’s not too late.
As ONE, we rally. 

Haiku
Five syllables
And then we want seven more
And five once again  

** Alternatively, as an introduction to Haiku (for a class that is not familiar), I think I would show them about three Haiku Poems and have the students working in small groups to figure out the Rules for Haiku.

Poem by: Dorothy Cameron SmithPhotography by Myself, Nicola Schneider

This was an old assignment I have found among my paper piles… It was written when I was only 14 years old, um, that would be 20 years ago, when I couldn’t even fathom ever being 34 years old!

I am Nikki, but really Nicola.
I am exactly 14 years old (plus one day). 
I am a student in my ninth year, 
at Sir Allan MacNab High School. 

At my tallest, I am five foot seven.
My eyes are greyish-blue
And my hair is blond but almost brown. 
I am older than Mali, Tara and Darryl,
Younger than Lisa, Shauna, Cindy and Lori.
My birthday is in March,
Almost April.

I love warm weather 
and fluffy, white snow
And Christmas and summer.
When I was little, 
I watched Sesame Street and cartoons.
I still watch cartoons, 
but not Sesame Street- very often. 

My room is a mess
Because I like it that way.
Books and clothes are all over the floor,
But what else are floors for?
It’s organized chaos. 

I wish I were rich,
And if I were 
I’d have a bigger house,
More clothes,
And an expensive sports car.
I’d travel all over the world 
in my very own private jet.
But I’m not rich.
Dreams are free.

I love my psycho mother,
My brother, who is my friend,
And Coffee, my cat.

My name is Nikki.

(Written, April 1st, 1991)