Poetry and Science

8.6e Poetry and Science

Poetic forms offer a rich variety of writing styles for the science classroom. Many science teachers have integrated language arts into science teaching by engaging students in the writing of poetry. Here is a collection of poetic forms pulled together by Molly McClauskey, a student at the University of Vermont.

Science Writing: Poetic Forms

Poetic Form Example

Cinquian
The cinquain is an extension of the haiku and has this form:

a word (think of a topic)

2 adjectives (describe the topic)

3 action words (what the topic does)

a statement or 4 more adjectives

a synonym or one more adjectives for the first word

Quarks
tiny and fundamental

up, down, up

building blocks of nuclear matter

energy

Limerick
Limericks are rhythmic poems, usually written about a character and her/his habits or traits. Form:

8 syllables

8 syllables rhyme

5 syllables rhyme

5 syllables

8 syllables

There was an old man with a beard
Who said, "it is just as I feared,

Two owls and a hen,

Four larks and a wren,

Have all built their nests in my beard!"

Diamante
Try writing a diamante about your favorite scientist, or science theory. It has 7 lines:

1 noun

2 adjectives

3 "ing" words

4 nouns

3 "ing" words

2 adjectives

1 noun opposite of first noun

Try: Galileo, Copernicus, Stephen Hawkins; plate tectonics theory, atomic theory, the "Big Bang" theory.

Haiku
A haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. Try writing one; they have this form:

first line: five syllables

second line: seven syllables

last line: five syllables

Pine tree silhouette
painted by the harvest moon

on a shining night

Poetic Form	Example
Cinquian The cinquain is an extension of the haiku and has this form: a word (think of a topic) 2 adjectives (describe the topic) 3 action words (what the topic does) a statement or 4 more adjectives a synonym or one more adjectives for the first word	Quarks tiny and fundamental up, down, up building blocks of nuclear matter energy
Limerick Limericks are rhythmic poems, usually written about a character and her/his habits or traits. Form: 8 syllables 8 syllables rhyme 5 syllables rhyme 5 syllables 8 syllables	There was an old man with a beard Who said, "it is just as I feared, Two owls and a hen, Four larks and a wren, Have all built their nests in my beard!"
Diamante Try writing a diamante about your favorite scientist, or science theory. It has 7 lines: 1 noun 2 adjectives 3 "ing" words 4 nouns 3 "ing" words 2 adjectives 1 noun opposite of first noun	Try: Galileo, Copernicus, Stephen Hawkins; plate tectonics theory, atomic theory, the "Big Bang" theory.
Haiku A haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. Try writing one; they have this form: first line: five syllables second line: seven syllables last line: five syllables	Pine tree silhouette painted by the harvest moon on a shining night