Haiku Template
Print a haiku sheet with three lines for 5, 7 and 5 syllables. Each line ends with small circles, one for every syllable, so writers can tick them off as they count. Choose from 5 layouts: one haiku with a box to draw a picture, a planner (I see, I hear, I feel, one box per syllable and a final copy), two or three haiku per page, or a landscape display card. Add one of 15 borders we drew ourselves, a colour, and single, handwriting or dotted lines. Type a haiku to check it: the syllable counter shows the count for each line as you type and marks words that people say two ways, and the sheet prints your haiku as a final copy. Download a PDF, 300 DPI PNG or SVG. Nothing is uploaded.
100% private — everything runs in your browser. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Print at 100% (Actual size). Tick one circle for each syllable as you write, or type a haiku to check the count and print a final copy.
Sheet
Look
Your haiku (optional)
The count is an estimate from English spelling. It marks words that people say two ways.
Runs in your browser with our own code: nothing you type is uploaded or saved. The borders, word lists and syllable counter are our own. You may use what you make here, including commercially, with no credit needed.
How to make a haiku sheet
- Choose a layout: one haiku with a picture, the planner, two or three per page or the display card.
- Pick a border, a colour and the writing lines, and turn the syllable circles and picture box on or off.
- Type a haiku if you like: the counter checks 5, 7 and 5 as you type.
- Set the number of copies for a class set.
- Download the PDF and print at 100% (Actual size).
What you can use it for
- Poetry units and nature walks
- Teaching syllables and clapping out words
- Seasonal writing with a season word
- A haiku a day journal page
- Display cards for a class poetry wall
- Writing club and library activities
Layouts
| Layout | Page | Haiku per page | Picture box |
|---|---|---|---|
| One haiku with a picture box | Portrait | 1 | Yes |
| Haiku planner (ideas, syllable boxes, final copy) | Portrait | 1 | No |
| Two haiku per page | Portrait | 2 | Yes |
| Three haiku per page (lines only) | Portrait | 3 | No |
| Display card, landscape (picture + poem) | Landscape | 1 | Yes |
Every layout comes with any of the 15 borders (plain line, double line, rounded double, stitched, dots, scallops, waves, zigzag, stars, hearts, leafy vine, diamonds, checkerboard, corner brackets, bunting) and single, handwriting or dotted lines.
Season words with their syllables
| Season | Words (syllables) |
|---|---|
| Spring | blossom (2), petal (2), robin (2), rain (1), puddle (2), seedling (2), tulip (2), buds (1), meadow (2) |
| Summer | sunshine (2), firefly (3), cicada (3), ocean (2), sandcastle (3), lemonade (3), thunder (2), heat (1), beach (1) |
| Autumn | maple (2), harvest (2), pumpkin (2), acorn (2), leaves (1), scarecrow (2), orchard (2), apple (2), geese (1) |
| Winter | snowflake (2), frost (1), icicle (3), mitten (2), blanket (2), snowman (2), chimney (2), silent (2), pine (1) |
These come from our own word list. Every word in it is checked against the counter by our tests.
The syllable counter
| Example line | Syllables counted |
|---|---|
| An old quiet pond | 5 |
| A little frog jumps into | 7 |
| the sound of water | 5 |
| What it checks | Result |
|---|---|
| Words in our own word list | 211 of 211 right |
| By the spelling rules alone | 202 of 211 |
| Own exceptions built in | 67 |
| Words marked as said two ways | 49 |
Limits: it is an estimate for English. Words said two ways are marked, names and borrowed words may be off by one, and numbers must be written as words.
Teaching tips
| Step | Try this |
|---|---|
| Clap it | Clap each syllable and tick a circle for each clap |
| See, hear, feel | Fill the three idea boxes on the planner first |
| One moment | Write about one thing happening now, not a whole day |
| Swap words | Too many syllables? Try a shorter word: beautiful (3) to bright (1) |
Count words in a longer piece with the Word Counter, print plain writing paper with Lined Paper or plan a picture story with the Storyboard Template.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a haiku?
A short poem from Japan, written in English in three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables. A haiku usually catches one moment in nature and often names the season with a season word, such as blossom for spring or frost for winter.
How do I write a haiku?
Pick one small moment: what you see, hear or feel. Write it in three lines, then count the syllables and swap words until the lines have 5, 7 and 5. The planner layout has boxes for these steps.
How does the syllable counter work?
It follows English spelling rules: it counts groups of vowels, leaves out a silent e at the end and most -ed endings, and splits vowel pairs said as two sounds, as in li-on. A short list of 67 words that break the rules is built in. It gets every one of the 211 words in our own word list right (202 of them by the rules alone).
What are its limits?
It is an estimate. Some words are said two ways (fire, flower, every, poem, family, orange), so the counter marks them as could be one more or one fewer. Names, made-up words and words borrowed from other languages can be off by one. Digits are not counted: write numbers as words. Clapping the line out loud is still the best check.
Do haiku have to be 5-7-5?
In English classrooms 5-7-5 is the usual rule, and it is what the sheets are set up for. Many poets writing in English use fewer syllables, since Japanese counts sound units that are shorter than English syllables. Turn the syllable circles off for a free-form sheet.
What is a season word?
A word that tells the reader the time of year, such as snowflake, cicada or harvest. The one-haiku layout has a line for it, and the tables on this page list some by season.
Can I print a sheet for every student?
Yes. Set the number of copies (up to 30) and the PDF has that many pages.
Can I use the sheets in class or in things I sell?
Yes. The borders, layouts and word lists are ours, and you may use the sheets and anything made with them, including in things you sell, without giving credit. The note under the tool gives the full terms.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The sheets are drawn by JavaScript in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere or saved when you close the page.