Nature Poetry

Activity type: this is a free writing activity in which students describe nature and the environment.

Level: Pre-Intermediate


Teacher's notes:

1. If possible, take the students outside and walk around with them, as they do so ask them to describe their surroundings and feelings about where they are.
2. Tell them to think of five words which describe the place or their feelings about the place.
   
3. When back in class or still outside if possible, tell the students to write the five words in any order.
   
   

   For example: Fall, cold, busy, gray and unfriendly Green, alive, windy, leaves and branches

   
   
4. The students can do the above part of the activity alone. Then put them in to pairs; ask them to read their words out to the person next to them. They can compare their words and explain why they have written what they have.
   
5. Once they have done this, tell the pairs that they are going to write a ‘HAIKU’.
   
6. This is a Japanese style of poetry which consists of three lines. The first line has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables and the third has five syllables.
   
7. Tell the pairs to try to combine their words to do this and of course add more words. Explain that haiku is meant to represent a moment. Almost as if someone takes a photograph of a moment – a snapshot. The haiku should express the moment. It does not have to be grammatically correct.
   
8. Once they have finished, ask them to stick their haiku on the walls of the classroom. Tell all of the students to mingle and to read the other poems.
   
9. Tell pairs to explain their poems to try to contrast and compare their poems. Develop this comparison into a class discussion.
   
10. For homework, ask the students t write about a place near their homes or their homes. Tell them to do the same procedure i.e. to start with five words and then to develop it into a haiku.