Even if autumn kigo (seasonal words) look difficult, they’re actually all around in the “everyday scenes” familiar to children.Red dragonflies flying in the sky, picking up acorns, cosmos swaying in the park, the walk home under a sunset.By watching videos of these experiences or feeling them firsthand, the words suddenly connect as something “about me.”Autumn in particular is rich in colors, sounds, and smells, making it the perfect season to begin writing haiku.These kigo are all tied to seeing, hearing, eating, and playing, so they naturally grow from “I know that!” to “I want to use that!”Rather than just memorizing words, treasure the feeling of enjoying autumn, and try going on a kigo hunt with the children.
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For Elementary School Students! A Fun Collection of Autumn Seasonal-Word Ideas (1–10)
mackerel skyNEW!
Personally, when I see these “scale clouds,” I feel autumn.
Small clouds line up like fish scales, and it’s as if a huge fish is swimming across the sky.
I imagine children have also been surprised when they happened to look up and see them.
In fact, these scale clouds are called “cirrocumulus” in meteorology, and they’re said to be a sign that it may rain within a few days.
They’re also known as “sardine clouds” or “mackerel clouds.” From this seasonal term that represents a quintessential autumn cloud, try imagining the autumn scenery spreading out beneath them.
silver grassNEW!
Susuki, known as a decoration for moon viewing, is one of the autumn seasonal words.
The sight of swaying clumps of susuki in the wind is enchanting, and even my child wants to touch it, saying, “So fluffy!” Perhaps the children have seen it at least once.
As you enjoy this symbol of autumn as a seasonal word, try to imagine the autumn scenery and atmosphere.
However, susuki is a member of the grass family and releases pollen.
It can also cause injury if touched with bare hands, so please be careful when handling it in real life.
acornNEW!
Acorns are everywhere in autumn parks! Once you find one, you notice many more scattered around it.
Surely children, too, have memories of picking up acorns.
If they were in elementary school, they may have tried crafts using acorns—like spinning tops, balancing toys, or even “cakes.” Wouldn’t it be lovely to share memories together as we trace the acorn-related recollections tucked within autumn? Using this seasonal word, do try your hand at composing autumn haiku or linked verse.
grapesNEW!
Autumn is also the season when grapes are at their best.
You’ll see varieties like Kyoho, Shine Muscat, and Pione more often at supermarkets and on the dinner table, even for elementary school kids.
Naturally, grapes are one of the seasonal words for autumn.
I think it’s a kigo that easily brings back memories through the word itself, so if you write a haiku, consider using it as a theme.
The sweetness of grapes, their texture, how your hands turn purple when you peel them—there must be many familiar memories.
By the way, when I buy grapes in autumn, I always go for seedless Kyoho.
cosmosNEW!
Cosmos, known as a quintessential autumn flower, is striking with its pink petals and vivid yellow center, and in kanji it’s written as “秋桜” (autumn cherry blossoms).
Because cosmos are so familiar and are often grown in flower beds, they’re likely one of the flowers even elementary school children know well.
This time, through the autumn seasonal word “cosmos,” let’s recall its beautiful appearance and the memories associated with it—talking with friends about how pretty they are, visiting a field of cosmos—surely there are many such memories.
MoonNEW!
Autumn is the season for moon viewing, isn’t it? I, too, remember enjoying an unusually beautiful full moon and delicious dumplings while wondering, “I wonder if there are rabbits up there?” The “moon” is one of autumn’s seasonal words.
The moon often appears in picture books and stories we grow up with, and it feels very familiar.
I’m sure children also have memories and stories connected to the moon.
I hope they can enjoy recalling the autumn scenes they’ve experienced through seasonal words, and feel the fun of expressing them.
autumn skyNEW!
Summer skies feel close, but autumn skies somehow seem distant and clear, don’t they? That said, for elementary schoolers, there may be few who sense the changing seasons by looking at the sky.
When I was a child, the only change I noticed was something like “it looks like it might rain,” and unfortunately I never felt any poetic atmosphere.
That’s precisely why I think this autumn haiku-making is a good opportunity to learn about how the sky differs with each season.
By enjoying the skies of the four seasons through composing haiku, their range of interests will surely expand.