Journal Entry Cinquains
Turning Observations into Poetry
Opening your
senses to the world around you is an important skill for scientists and
artists alike. Sights, smells, textures and sounds all make up the intricate
picture that surrounds any object we set out to explore. Things once unnoticed
take on powerful importance when captured in notes and images.
Let your
journal pages be a springboard to creativity. Quiet observations often
reveal rich word content and material for poetic expression. Take a walk
with your journal. Focus your exploration on any particular topic you
choose; the season, the playground, or a nature trail. Use your senses
and record your observations.
Change
Your Observations into Poetry
Here is a
simple form of poetry called a cinquain (SIN cane). Cinquains are a great
way to get started with poetry because they are formula poetry. These
poems contain 22 syllables in a 2-4-6-8-2 syllable pattern. Here is a
suggested idea for the text:
- first
line: two syllables (stating the title)
- second
line: four syllables (describing the topic)
- third
line: six syllables (expressing an action)
- fourth
line: eight syllables (expressing a feeling)
- fifth
line: two syllables (another word for the title)
Allison Bailey's students from Citrus Elementary School in Vero Beach,
FL wrote some cinquains about springtime in honor of the Spring Equinox.
Here are a couple of the poems they shared:
Spring
Time
Longer days come
Blowing wind tomorrow
Animals are getting happy
Spring day
by Michael T. |
Spring
Time
Plants, butterflies
Laying eggs, eggs soon hatch
Curious cygnets and small kits
Spring's here.
by Maggie |
Good poets
choose words carefully. They create powerful images when they use unexpected
comparisons, repeat words and phrases, choose words for their sounds,
recreate sounds, or select rhyming words.
The process of writing poetry can be truly fulfilling to any writer. Follow
the process you would for any writing project, starting with brainstorming,
then go through first and second drafts. Once you have a draft you like,
share it with another writer. You might decide to modify a word here or
there to fine-tune your work. Try reading your poem to someone or sharing
it with your class. Reading poetry aloud allows the poet to fully share
the magic of the words they have selected.
Try This!
Write your own cinquains:
- Take a
walk with your journal and write some of your observations.
- Write
3 or 4 cinquains using the observations you wrote down. Feel free to
embelish with new words you find that offer richer sounds or help you
describe.
- Celebrate
with a class poetry reading, or publish a book of class poetry.
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