What Is a Cinquain Poem?

Cinquain poems are short, five-line poems that follow a specific syllable count or word pattern. They are a great way for students to experiment with poetry writing without the pressure of writing long, complex compositions.

Here’s what you need to know when teaching your students how to write a cinquain poem:

• Purpose – Cinquain poems describe a particular topic.
• Structure – Cinquain poems have five lines. Each line performs a specific function in describing the chosen topic.
• Rhythm – Cinquain poems have a rhythm pattern that is created by the number of syllables in each line.
• Rhyme – Cinquain poems do not usually rhyme.

Easily Teach How to Write a Cinquain Poem

To assist you in teaching your students how to write a cinquain poem, Teach Starter has created this set of four worksheets. These worksheets will set your students up for success by providing guidance and structure as they plan and write a cinquain poem on a topic of their choice.

Here’s what you will discover inside this cinquain poem template pack:

1. Cinquain Overview – This page explains everything your students need to know about cinquain poems. It also includes an example cinquain about snowflakes.
2. Cinquain Graphic Organiser – This page supports students in brainstorming topics, vocabulary and imagery for their own cinquain poem.
3. Cinquain Scaffolding Sheet and Checklist – This page supports students in writing a cinquain poem by providing a labelled scaffold and editing checklist.
4. Cinquain Writing Sheet – This page has been included for students to produce a polished final copy of their cinquain poem.

Cinquain poems provide an engaging way for students to develop their poetic skills, experiment with language and express their thoughts creatively within a structured framework. They make a great choice for beginning poets!

Download This Cinquain Poem Template

This resource downloads as an easy-print PDF or an editable Google Slides file. Use the Download button to access your preferred version of this resource. Please note that you will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides file before accessing it.

Brittany Collins, a Teach Starter collaborator, contributed to this resource.

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