Haiku Activity

SSAT Middle Level Vocabulary #4

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Haikus shrink our words

And expand our beating hearts

Thump. Thump. Have fun too!

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Welcome to the Haiku activity! This advanced form of vocabulary practice can help with mastering words that may appear on the SSAT Middle Level, or in life in general!

Haikus are a beautiful form of poetry that originated in Japan. They usually focus on nature, but can have other subjects as well. With Haikus there is no need to rhyme. Their unique format on its own can create enough charm to win over an audience.

Here are the rules:

Pick a word from the examples that come after this intro. Write a Haiku in the comments that uses the word properly. The Haiku format is like this:

5 syllables

7 syllables

5 syllables

Here is an example Haiku with separated syllables to get you started:

Five syll-a-bles first

Now are se-ven to play with

Sor-ry back to five

If you get stuck, look at the rest of the haikus below or contact us. Remember, we love teaching and tutoring so we always try to be available for a student in need.

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Below are 10 SSAT vocab words and the example Haikus that use them:

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Approximate – almost exact or correct

101

Oh! So close to 100!

Approximately

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Arbitrary – something that results from opinions, wishes or feelings instead of a rule or reason

Was the bird conscious?

Or was it arbitrary?

Landing on my palm

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Arid – having little or no rain; extremely dry

A dried up river.

Cracked earth. Dusty wind. Bleached bones.

Arid was the scene.

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Aspiration – a hope to reach a goal.

I have always dreamt

That I could fly like a bird

My aspiration.

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Assent – to agree

Learn what they want first

If you want them to assent

Then receive your wish

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You made it half way to the end! Here is a famous Haiku by Katsushika Hokusai called “A Poppy Blooms” to give you a boost of energy! He is one of the students of Bashō. Keep in mind, he wrote his Haikus in Japanese, so the English version may not follow the 5/7/5 structure that we are using.

I write, erase rewrite

Erase again, and then

A poppy blooms.

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Assert – to say something with confidence or power

You dare look at me!?

I have no need to assert!

I am the hot sun!

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Assess – to look at a thing or situation and try to understand it

The earthquake was strong

We must assess the damage

Oh! How terrible

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Assured – confident

The river just flows

Always assured in its course

Back to the ocean

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Astonish – surprise or impress someone a lot

You astonish me

Little bee. You should not fly

Buy you find a way

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Audible – able to be heard

Nature speaks to all

But is only audible

To those who listen

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Time to post in the comments below!

Now It is your turn

Post a fun Haiku below

Here is the format:

5 syllables

7 syllables

5 syllables

Include at least one of these words in your Haiku:

approximate, arbitrary, arid, aspiration, assent, assert, assess, assured, astonish, audible