Brief Description

In this lesson, students will learn about the traditional Japanese poetry form Haiku and write their own poems using digital photos they have taken as inspiration.  Students will learn to import digital photos into a word processing document.  They will then write a haiku to go with the digital photo and use the formatting capabilities of the word processor to format their poems.

Standards and Frameworks

Technology Standards

1T-E2.  Demonstrate increasingly sophisticated operation of technology components
3T-E1. Use formatting capabilities of technology tools for communicating and illustrating

R-E3. Analyze selections of fiction, nonfiction and poetry by identifying the plot line
(i.e., beginning, conflict, rising action, climax and resolution); distinguishing the main character from minor ones; describing the relationships between and motivations of characters; and making inferences about the events, setting, style, tone, mood and meaning of the selection

Academic

• Students will identify haiku as a form of poetry.
• Students will create their own haiku poems based on a digital photo they have taken.

• Students will use a digital camera to take a photo.
• Students will retrieve a digital photo from a disk.
• Students will use a word processing application to write a haiku poem about their digital photo.
• Students will place a digital photo in a word processing document as an illustration.

• Students will need to know how to use a digital camera to take photos.
• Students will need a basic understanding of using a word processing application to write text.
• Students will need to know how to access a digital photo on a disk and insert it into a word processing document.

• A multimedia computer with Internet access.
• A digital camera, such as a Sony Mavica.
• A computer with a word processing program such as Microsoft Word.
• A printer, color preferred.

Students with special needs will be accommodated in one or more of the following ways, depending on need.  Students who need support in reading will be paired with another students who can help read or read aloud any directions.  Students who are English Language Learners will also be paired with another student who can read directions and explain the process.  These students will also have the requirements modified as needed.  Students will be required to complete a haiku, but students could do this orally and have another student type the poem for them.  Students will also be rated on the trait of Word Choice at a level that is appropriate for them.  Gifted students will be challenged to write more haiku, or a different style of poetry in addition to the required haiku.

Procedures

1. The teacher will introduce the haiku form of poetry to the students.  Briefly, haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that consists of three lines with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables in the third line.  Haiku is traditionally written about nature.  For background information and examples, see the following websites:

Asian Topics: Haiku by Basho
http://www.columbia.edu/itc/eacp/asiasite/topics/index.html?topic=Haiku+subtopic=Intro
Haiku for People http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/
2. Students will use the digital camera to take photos of objects or people around school.  Students will then choose one of their photos to use to write a haiku poem.
3. In the computer lab or at the classroom computer, students will insert their chosen photos into a word processing document.
a. Students will import the digital pictures to the computer they will be using.  Depending on the camera used, the camera will either need to be hooked up to the computer, or the floppy disk from the camera inserted into the floppy drive of the computer.  Students should create a folder in which to store their photos, or this should be done for them previously.  Students should copy the photos from the camera into their folder.  It is also a good idea for the students to rename the picture files to something descriptive (trees.jpg) instead of using the default names given by the camera.
b. Students will then open the word processing application and insert their chosen photo into a new document.  In Microsoft Word in involves going to the Insert Menu, selecting Picture, then From File.  Students will need to navigate to their folders and select the photo they want to insert.
4. Students will then compose a haiku poem based on their photos.  Composition will take place in the word processing application. For example, if a student took a photo of a tree, then he or she would write about that tree.
5. When students are finished composing their haiku, they may use the formatting capabilities of the word processing application to change the font, font size, and color.  Students will also peer-edit their haiku.  Students will work with a partner to check conventions, i.e., spelling and punctuation (if any).
a. To change the font, font size, and color of the text, students will need to highlight, or select, the text and use the Format Menu (in Microsoft Word).  By choosing Font from this menu, students can adjust the size, style and color of the text.
6. When students are finished, they will print their poems, preferably in color.
7. Students who would like to may write more than one haiku, depending on time restrictions on the computer.

Students will be assessed on the following points:
Academic Objectives:

• The poem follows the structure of haiku
• The poem relates to the subject of the photo
• The trait of Word Choice from the Six Traits of Writing: students will be rated on the appropriateness, originality, and creativity of the words they use in their haiku.

• A digital photo was taken.
• A digital photo was inserted into a word processing document.
• The poem was written using a word processing application.