Performing a Haiku
How can spoken word transform a poem?
In this 9-12 lesson, students will reflect on small moments of peace or happiness to write an original haiku. Students will demonstrate spoken word to perform a haiku for an audience.
Lesson Content
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Analyze the structure and themes in a haiku.
Reflect on moments that make you feel at peace or happy.
Brainstorm details and images associated with a moment.
Write an original haiku.
Apply the steps to demonstrate spoken word with poetry.
Perform a spoken word haiku for an audience.
Standards Alignment
Practice and revise a devised or scripted drama/theatre work using theatrical staging conventions.
Practice various acting techniques to expand skills in a rehearsal or drama/theatre performance.
Perform a scripted drama/theatre work for a specific audience.
Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters.
Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters.
Recommended Student Materials
Editable Documents: Before sharing these resources with students, you must first save them to your Google account by opening them, and selecting “Make a copy” from the File menu. Check out Sharing Tips or Instructional Benefits when implementing Google Docs and Google Slides with students.
Students should be familiar with elements of poetry.
Accessibility Notes
Modify handouts, text, and utilize assistive technologies as needed. Provide preferential seating for visual presentations and allow extra time for task completion.
Engage
Show students the video. In the video, Sanchez says, “I sat down and began to read the haiku, and I had started to cry because I had found me.” Discuss with students Mrs. Sanchez’s reaction to haiku poetry. Ask students: What poems, books, or songs do you have a connection with?
Read or share the from Like the Singing Coming Off the Drums. Have students infer the meaning of the poem and examine the haiku characteristics.
Generate a class list of haiku characteristics. For example, composed of three lines, has a 5-7-5 syllable format, themes, a modern haiku doesn't have to be about nature, and images are observed from everyday occurrences.
Build
Divide students into small groups and distribute the . Have each group brainstorm a happy or peaceful moment in the left column. Consider the questions: What makes you smile? What’s your favorite part of the day? What are you thankful for? Teachers can offer ideas such as:
- The first snow of the year
- Sleeping in on spring break
- Pizza night at a friend’s house
- When the bell rings for summer
- Teaching a game to a younger sibling
- Laughing with your friends
- Beating a video game
After students brainstorm a moment, have them visualize your image. Students will illustrate or describe images that correlate with that moment. Examples:
- A Sled
- A pillow
- A slice of pizza
- A clock
- A photo of the younger sibling
- Happy tears
- Video game controller
Tell students they are going to write a haiku using their planner . Keeping in mind the characteristics of traditional and modern haikus, students should craft a haiku based on their individual image of happiness.
Have students engage in a peer editing session. Students should share their haiku with a partner or table group. Partners should make sure that the haiku follows the proper format (three lines, 5-7-5, clear images). Teachers should provide feedback to individual students or in small groups.
Select a digital image to represent the haiku. Have students explore creative common images to pair with their haiku. This image would be projected on a smartboard for later use in the lesson.
Apply
Show students the Teaching Artists Present video How to Perform Spoken Word with Deborah Magdalena. In the instructional video Magdalena teaches students how to transform a poem into a spoken word performance using the three steps she mentioned: connection, vocalization, and movement.
Have students turn and talk about the three steps Magdalena used. Ask students: How can you perform a haiku? Students can reference their haiku, , and the video How to Perform Spoken Word with Deborah Magdalena to generate ideas about connection, vocalization, and movement.
Plan a Haiku performance. Using what they know about spoken word and their poem, have students plan a performance. Allow time for students to rehearse and gather feedback from their peers.
Reflect
Perform haikus for an audience. Have students take turns performing their haikus for the class or another audience. Students can display the image they selected behind them on an interactive board or projector. Teachers can optionally set up a microphone or stage for students to showcase their performances.
Assess students’ haiku performances. Observe how students applied Magdalena’s three steps.
Engage students in a follow-up discussion or written response. Ask students: How can spoken word add power to a poem? How does this relate to Sonia Sanchez sentiments on haiku?
Extend
Have students try a spoken word performance with a different type of poetry, such as free verse, limerick, or a ballad. Students can coordinate a class or school poetry slam to perform for an audience.
How did you use this lesson? Give us your feedback!
Ever wonder about the difference between poetry and spoken word? In this video, you will learn how you can transform a poem, original or not, into an expressive spoken word performance. Watch as spoken word artist Deborah Magdalena breaks down an original poem to show how connection, vocalization, and movement can bring power to your words.
In this 9-12 lesson, students will analyze the sound, rhythm, and improvisation of jazz music. They will explore the works of Yusef Komunyakaa, Sonia Sanchez, and Langston Hughes. Students apply musicality and sound elements to original poems.Â
In this 3-5 lesson, students will explore jazz music and dance, then write a jazz-inspired cinquain poem. They will build their background on the history of jazz and its use of improvisation to demonstrate jazz dance movements.Â
In this 3-5 lesson, students will write original haiku’s and paint landscape art. Students will explore the geography and culture of Japan. They will display their art on a scroll and design a class art gallery.
In this 3-5 lesson, students will illustrate self-portraits to identify their senses. They will take a virtual field trip to the ocean to explore a sensory experience. Students will write a haiku poem about the ocean, bringing science and creative writing together as one.
Grades 3-5
Visual Arts
English & Literature
Japan
Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning
Eric Friedman Director, Digital Learning
Kenny Neal Manager, Digital Education Resources
Tiffany A. Bryant Manager, Operations and Audience Engagement
JoDee Scissors Content Specialist, Digital Learning
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