Cinquain Syllables

What’s a cinquain? Find out as you use the intense colors of Crayola® Model Magic to accent the number of syllables in each line of your original verse.

1.

Read books of poetry. Notice the different ways that poets arrange the words and lines in their work. These are the rules for writing each line of a cinquain: <UL>Line 1 - Title (2 syllables) Line 2 - Describe (4 syllables) Line 3 - Action (6 syllables) Line 4 - Feeling or effect (8 syllables) Line 5 - Synonym for initial noun (2 syllables)</UL>For example: <UL>Parties Fun, food, games, friends Talk, laugh, and celebrate Share old memories, make new ones Good times</UL>
2.

Write your own cinquain neatly with a Crayola Washable Fine Tip Marker. Leave three or four spaces between each line. To make an interesting border, trim around the edges with Crayola Scissors. Use a Crayola Glue Stick to attach the cinquain to a contrasting color of construction paper.
3.

Show each syllable of your cinquain with a distinctive accent mark made with colored Crayola Model Magic. Make tiny icons that reflect the theme of your poem to mark each syllable—such as the party balloons shown here. Create your own signature colors by mixing two or three colors of Model Magic together. Try swirling colors together for more special effects. You could even color-code the syllables.
4.

Allow your icons to dry. Use Crayola School Glue to glue them above each syllable of your cinquain. Air-dry the page flat.
5.

Add decorative details with markers. Read your cinquain to appreciative audiences of families and other students. Display your beautiful cinquains in your classroom or school hallways.

Benefits

Students identify and analyze various forms of poetry, then use information gained from research to write their own cinquain poems.
Students identify each syllable of their cinquain with a small icon that reflects the theme of their poetry.
Students read their poetry and then display it in a prominent place.

Adaptations

Do you read or write music? Try this technique to make musical notes along with the lyrics. Color code the notes.
Use Model Magic to make large quotation marks and other punctuation marks. Display examples of their use. Or mark short and long vowel sounds, even and odd numerals, or any other distinctions in your work.
Explore reading and writing other forms of poetry such as haiku, diamonte, limericks, and shape poems. Use colored Model Magic to form a frame for your haiku. Use the subject of the haiku as a nature-inspired motif for the frame. Try brightly colored Model Magic rolled flat and cut out, to illustrate funny limericks. Sketch the outline of your shape poem. Carefully write your poem to fill the interior of the shape. Enhance the outline of your shape with Model Magic®.
Spend 10 minutes a day discovering new poetry, sharing favorite poetry, or reciting poetry as choral reading with your classmates. Keep folders of your favorite poems to illustrate during free time.
Hang a favorite poem all around the room. Write each line on a large piece of paper. Add illustrations. Display each line in order, at or above eye level. Stroll around the room reciting the poem to yourself, or enjoy it with the entire class. One student

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