Cinquains
W
hen you read a poem, it has the power to make you feel playful or grumpy, joyful or
sad. That’s because poetry is meant to set a mood.
Because poems are often quite short, poets must choose descriptive words and
images. The words they use, together with the special way they arrange those words, help to
create a picture in your mind. The words also bring up different emotions as you read each
poem. For example, a poem might make you feel:

Happy – picturing yourself running through a field with arms spread wide.

Hungry – wishing you could lick luscious drips from the rim of an ice cream cone.

Lonely – seeing yourself atop a windswept hill staring out over an empty moor.

Playful – thinking about how it would feel to wriggle your toes in cool, sticky mud.
What Is a Poem?
A poem is a specially arranged group of words that often has a musical quality. This doesn’t
mean all poems can be set to music or that they have to rhyme. As a matter of fact, many
poems don’t rhyme at all! This “musical quality” can also come from using poetic devices such
as imagery, alliteration, repetition, personification, and metaphors and similes.
In addition to using poetic devices, poets also know the importance of choosing each word
with great care.
Imagine yourself creating an exquisite crown for a king. On the table
before you, bowls spill over with both cheap trinkets and precious
jewels. You want this crown to be glorious for the king, not average.
You want it to be magnificent, not dull and plain.
As you sift through the bowls, you choose jewels that are the most
costly and beautiful. You leave the boring, ordinary trinkets behind.
As a result, the crown you make for the king looks rich and colorful.
Poets choose their words in a similar way. They know that a few
vivid, well-chosen words will create a richer, fuller poem than weak or vague words ever could!
Once you discover that poems can be so much more than pairs of rhyming lines, you’ll be
excited to explore new ways of playing with poetry.
Copyright © 2012 Kim Kautzer. All rights reserved. Permission to copy for single-family use only.  www.writeshop.com  [email protected]
Write a Cinquain
A cinquain is an non-rhyming poem. It is made up of five lines
arranged in a special way using just eleven words.
Planet
Graceful, ringed
Spinning, whirling, twirling
Waltzes through the universe
Saturn
A cinquain is one example of shape poetry. Because of the exact number of words required for
each line of this poem, a unique, symmetrical shape is created from interesting, descriptive
words.
The word cinquain comes from the Latin root for “five.” Notice that the cinquain has five lines
that follow this sequence:
Line A: One vague or general one-word subject or topic.
Line B: Two vivid adjectives that describe the topic.
Line C: Three interesting “-ing” action verbs that fit the topic.
Line D: Four-word phrase that captures a feeling about the topic.
Line E: A very specific term that explains Line A.
Here’s another cinquain example:
Insect
Hidden, hungry
Preening, searching, stalking
Waits as if praying
Mantis
Copyright © 2012 Kim Kautzer. All rights reserved. Permission to copy for single-family use only.  www.writeshop.com  [email protected]
Brainstorming
Use the tips below to brainstorm on blank paper for different ideas. Then follow the directions
to write your own beautiful cinquain. When possible, try to use poetic devices like alliteration,
onomatopoeia, or personification. Because the poem has only eleven words, choose each word
carefully!
Word Pair Ideas
(general topic | specific kind)
bird | parrot (OR crow, canary, dove, peacock, etc.)
fruit | apple (OR pear, banana, watermelon, peach, etc.)
season | spring (OR summer, fall/autumn, winter)
winter | January (OR spring/April, summer/July, autumn/October)
candy | jawbreaker (OR Snickers, jelly beans, licorice, gumball, etc.)
storm | tornado (OR hurricane, blizzard, squall, cyclone)
water | river (OR ocean, lake, stream, creek)
Line A: Name a general topic (see the suggestions above or come up with your own).
Line E: Rename your topic, being more specific. (This will be the last line of your cinquain.)
Line B: Brainstorm 5-6 vivid, concrete adjectives to describe Topic E. Do not choose words
that end in “-ing.”
Line C: Brainstorm 5-6 highly descriptive participles (verbs ending in “-ing”) that fit Topic E.
Line D: Brainstorm several four-word phrases that capture some feeling about Topic E.
Follow these tips to develop an effective phrase:

Include a verb. Do not use any “to be” verbs or vague words in your phrase.

Do not repeat any words used elsewhere in the cinquain. Choose brand-new ones.
Remember: You only have eleven words, so make each one unique!

If you can’t think of something, try a combination of adjective + noun + verb +
adverb to create the most concrete phrase possible. Move words around as needed.
For example: Violent storm swirling wildly or Violently, wild storm swirls.
Copyright © 2012 Kim Kautzer. All rights reserved. Permission to copy for single-family use only.  www.writeshop.com  [email protected]
Writing Your Cinquain
1. Pick out the most descriptive words from your brainstorming and put your cinquain
together. When satisfied, recopy the poem onto
clean paper.
2. Center your cinquain on the paper.
3. Begin each line with a capital letter, and remember
your commas. Do not use ending punctuation.
Arrange your cinquain like this:
Line A _______
Line B _______ , _______
Line C _______ , _______, _______
Line D _______ _______ _______ _______
Line E _______
4. When finished, double-check one last time for weak or repeated words. Use a good
thesaurus to help you choose stronger ones.
5. Cinquains do not need titles.
Over the next five days, write one cinquain each day. You may either:

Vary your topics to make your cinquains completely different from one another.

Choose similar topics (such as zoo animals) and write a collection of related cinquain
poems!

Poetry is a great way to engage your kids with writing. Short, interesting mini lessons such as
this one—when tucked in among longer assignments for stories, reports, or essays—add a
fresh dimension of fun and creativity to their writing diet. I hope you’ll revisit cinquains and
other poems with your children throughout the year.
Happy writing,
Copyright © 2012 Kim Kautzer. All rights reserved. Permission to copy for single-family use only.  www.writeshop.com  [email protected]
30 Fun and Exciting Writing Prompts
For Younger Students
Let young children write or dictate (according to their ability and willingness). Encourage them
to tell several sentences about each prompt. Motivated children are welcome to write more.
Prompt reluctant writers with who, what, when, where, why?
1.
What if there were no such thing as cold cereal? What kinds of breakfast foods would
you like to eat instead?
2.
Think of someone in your family who means a great deal to you. Write or tell about
why they are special or why you love them.
3.
Write about five activities you can do in the mountains.
4.
What if you were a race car? How about a toaster, bucket, umbrella, paint brush, or
other object? Write or tell a story about a day in your life.
5.
Make a list of five favorite books. Tell why you like each one.
6.
“I remember when ______ happened.” Think about a time something exciting, scary, or
interesting happened to you. Write or tell about this experience.
7.
What do you like to collect? Tell about your collection.
8.
Everyone has special qualities—including you! What makes you special? Write about
some of your unique qualities.
9.
What if you were an elephant? Or, perhaps you could be a fish, spider, eagle, penguin,
hamster, skunk, or other creature. Write or tell a story about how you spend your day.
10. Think of something you would like to invent. Describe your invention and tell how
someone would use it.
11. Pretend that the food in your refrigerator comes to life when you close the door. Write
about what happens inside the fridge.
12. Describe one possession could you not live without.
13. Pretend you are a bird. Tell a story about flying north for the summer.
14. You have been asked to invent a new ice cream flavor. Draw a picture of your creation
and write a tasty description.
15. If you could have a secret hideout, tell what it would look like and what you would do
there.
Kim Kautzer  Copyright ©2012 WriteShop, Inc.  www.writeshop.com  [email protected]
30 Writing Prompts
For Older Students
1.
Walt Disney said, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” Imagine yourself doing
something impossible, and write a story about it.
2.
If helium balloons could lift your house, where would you travel? What would you see
and do?
3.
Who was kind to you today? Write down what this person did and how it made you
feel. Next, write down a thoughtful action that you will do for someone else today.
Now, go do it!
4.
Each of us has positive character qualities—such as generosity, kindness, or selfdiscipline—that make us helpful or easy to be with. But we also have qualities that are
disagreeable or negative.
Think of a personal quality you need to work on. Perhaps you are a bit stubborn, lazy,
or selfish. Maybe you like to argue with your parents. Or perhaps you’re not very good
about cleaning up after yourself. Explain how this character quality affects others in
your family. Then, write down five things you can do to begin improving your attitude
or behavior.
5.
If you could be friends with a character in one of your favorite books, whose friend
would you be? Choose an experience from the book and rewrite it in your own words
as if you had been there together.
6.
Would you rather live in a castle, houseboat, or jungle hut? Explain why.
7.
As a family, think up your own creative adventure using these words:
jeep, ancient pyramid, sandstorm, missing mummy, secret passageway, hieroglyphics,
trap door, palm tree, crocodile, leopard, Nile River, biplane



8.
Choose one person to begin the story.
Take turns choosing a new word and adding to the story until each player has
had a turn and all the words are used up.
For added fun, first write the words on pieces of paper and fold the papers.
Players must continue the story by drawing a new paper randomly and using
that word or phrase to continue the story.
Imagine you are opening a pizza shop for zoo animals. Plan a menu with a variety of
toppings to appeal to different animals. Describe several of your original pizza
creations, and explain which animal would most likely order each different pizza.
Kim Kautzer  Copyright ©2012 WriteShop, Inc.  www.writeshop.com  [email protected]
2
30 Writing Prompts
9.
3
Choose 3-5 favorite books that you have read and know well. In one sentence, write
the main idea of each book to tell what it is mostly about. For example:
Charlotte’s Web
A barnyard spider named Charlotte uses her amazing writing skills to spare the
life of her friend, Wilbur the pig.
10. Would you rather explore a locked garden with overgrown weeds, or a wild jungle
known for its quicksand? What might happen if you got your chance?
11. What is your best memory of last year? Tell about it.
12. A wealthy man gives you $1,000, along with the requirement that you must give the
money away. Since you cannot save it or spend it on yourself, what would you do with
the money?
13. From the chart below, pick one story element from each column (character trait,
character, plot, and setting). Write a short story.
Example: a timid mouse meets a lost baby lion in a hidden cave
Character Trait
Character
Plot
Setting
shy
fairy
meets a lost _________
toy box
clumsy
dinosaur
opens a secret _______
hidden cave
clever
mouse
tries to find_________
forest
timid
detective
discovers___________
medieval England
14. List 10 questions you would ask a Bible character you would like to meet.
15. If you could combine features from several animals to create the perfect pet, what
features would you choose? How would your customized pet look and act?
Kim Kautzer  Copyright ©2012 WriteShop, Inc.  www.writeshop.com  [email protected]
A
re you looking for a writing curriculum that gives your children a wide variety of writing
experiences? If so, take a look at WriteShop.
WriteShop Primary – Grades K-3
An introduction to early writing skills, WriteShop Primary gives young children tools to experience success as
they develop the ability to write. Whether you have a more advanced child or one who is just beginning, this
program’s flexibility lets your young students work at their own level. Gently introduce writing through
guided writing practice, favorite picture books, games, and crafty writing projects. Extra challenges appear
throughout each lesson to keep the interest of a more advanced child.
“Writing was often my son’s first choice of schoolwork for the day. The difference in the length and
complexity of his stories was astounding. WriteShop Primary is very complete and a good choice for a
parent with no prior teaching experience.” –Rebecca, California
WriteShop Junior – Grades 3-5
WriteShop Junior eases your upper-elementary students into writing. Engaging games and activities teach
and review important writing and self-editing skills while keeping it fun for everyone. Easy-to-use lesson
plans help you lead and guide them through the steps of the writing process. WriteShop Junior exposes
children to genre, fiction and nonfiction writing, and journal writing and introduces exciting new
brainstorming and editing tools that truly motivate young writers!
"WriteShop is the most complete, fun and effective writing program that we have been able to find, and
it makes teaching writing ‘do-able’ for me! Thank you again and again!” –Shyla, British Columbia
WriteShop I and II – Middle and High School
The flagship WriteShop program sets teens on a course for success, guiding them through each step of the
writing process. Award-winning WriteShop takes the guesswork out of teaching writing. Assignments give
students a chance to practice various kinds of writing, including creative, expository, and narrative. This
course also teaches students important techniques of style and self-editing. Lessons focus on clarity,
conciseness, colorful vocabulary, and sentence variety, with a strong emphasis placed on the editing
process. With each lesson, students learn and practice new skills, apply them to their current writing project,
and edit and revise the composition several times.
“WriteShop I is working so miraculously for [my son]. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before; I can’t
believe how well he does with it—and with no complaining!” —Julee, California

Photo Credits Courtesy of Creative Commons 2.0
 Crown by Herry Lawford
 Solar System by NASA
 Praying Mantis by Christine Cimala
Photo Credits Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Girl Writing
Copyright © 2012 Kim Kautzer. All rights reserved. Permission to copy for single-family use only.  www.writeshop.com  [email protected]
[email protected]
Keep up with WriteShop by following:
Award-winning WriteShop offers
quality, parent-approved writing
resources for kindergarten
through high school, helping new
and veteran homeschoolers alike
teach writing with confidence.
See the WriteShop store for
details!