Writing Lesson for Art Students Grades 4 and 5 Haiku in Clay Paul Guider, Shady Grove Elementary Henrico County Objectives / Overview

• Explore Japanese art that describes the qualities of nature.

• Examine how Japanese artists combine writing and visual arts.

• Choose and develop a specific and well-loved subject from nature.

• List specified parts of speech in a rubric that explores the sensations of the five senses.

• Write a haiku according to standard guidelines. • Create a clay slab. • Impress the poem into the clay with alphabet pasta. • Add symbols and decoration to the clay poem.

English SOLs 4.2 Listen to subject-related oral presentations. 4.4 Describe how language and setting contribute to

purpose. 4.7 Convey a central idea in poetry. 4.8 Edit writing and emphasize adjectives and adverbs. 5.4 Read fiction and clarify meaning. 5.5 Describe characteristics of poetry. 5.6 Describe how choice of vocabulary contributes to

enjoyment.

5.8 Write to entertain. Organize information. Use descriptive vocabulary.

5.9 Emphasize adjectives and adverbs. Art SOLs 4.1 Generate ideas. 4.7 Use the slab technique. 4.10 Abstract environmental elements. 4.16 Analyze visual properties. 4.22 Formulate questions about art. 5.1 Synthesize information. 5.10 Experiment with materials. 5.13 Describe the ceramic process. 5.20 Compare cultural differences. Five Senses Rubric Specific Focus or Topic from Nature: Adjectives describing characteristics of topic: Sight Touch Smell Sound Taste

EXAMPLE Topic: Leaves in Ice Sight Touch Smell Sound Taste crystalline cold damp gurgling wet fragile brittle metallic whispering dirty timeless slick earthy crackling gritty floating ridged frigid soft sharp gloomy wet moldy wary sour Rules for Haiku

• Nouns and verbs are allowed. • Adjectives and adverbs are emphasized. • Forms of be are discouraged. • Articles, conjunctions and prepositions are forbidden. • The first line is five syllables. • The second line is seven syllables. • The third line is five syllables. • There is no punctuation.

Example “Leaves in Ice” by Paul Guider Sour pond slick ridged glass Trapped leaves color over gloom Earthly masterpiece

Notes on clay work Students should work with about one half pound of clay, to produce a slab large enough to accommodate their writing. The slab should be about 30 square inches. Use whatever method you like. Irregular slabs work fine. Alphabet pasta is used to create the writing, symbols and designs in clay. You can use rice and seeds too. Lay the pasta, etc., lightly on the surface of the clay at first, until they are arranged to make a good composition, and to have the writing evenly spaced. The poem does not need to be written in straight, parallel lines. It can flow across the slab. Once everything is in place, press the pasta, etc., down into the clay as far as it will go. If you do not finish in one period, slabs can easily be stored in large zipper bags. BUT – the pasta will get bloated and moldy. It will still work, it’s just that students will have trouble continuing. After the clay pieces are thoroughly dry, just stack them in the kiln and fire. You do not remove the organic elements; they burn off. Make sure you have plenty of ventilation. Paint finished pieces with acrylic. Students must use the brush bristles to force paint into the tiny crevices. I like to wipe the surface with a rag to create a contrast between indentations and surface. It looks professional to paint the edges and back.

Student examples of Haiku Which season is being depicted? SNOWFLAKES FALL SOFTLY CRISP CLEAN SMELLS FILL FRIGID AIR COLD PONDS GET COVERED TIGER FIELD STALKING POUNCE CATCH FAST GREAT DELICIOUS SLEEP WELL BIG DINNER TREES BLOWING ALONG BIRDS DRINKING GLOSSY WATER CRICKETS PLAYING SONGS BIG OCEANS WHITENESS SNOWFLAKES FALLING SILENTLY SWEET TASTE SMALL SNOWFLAKES RAINS FALLING SLOWLY BLOSSOMS BLOOMING FORMING GRACE BUNNIES BEING BORN RIDING RAPID WAVES TALKING AFTER LATE MIDNIGHT SINGING OLD CAMP TALES DEER HEAD DIPS SLOWLY CALM FOREST FRIGID RIVER TAKES LONG SLOW COLD DRINK LIQUID SALIVA WOOSH OF CRACKLED WOLF YELLOW CARCASS EYES POPPING OFF PETALS SEEING VERY BRIGHT COLORS AWESOME AROMA