Use an animal joke as a short reading warm-up, a partner activity or a chance to explore a word with two meanings. These activities are intended for elementary classrooms; read the selection first and choose vocabulary that fits your learners.

A five-minute joke warm-up

  1. Choose one joke from the mixed collection and read only its question.
  2. Give learners quiet thinking time, then invite a few guesses.
  3. Read the answer. Ask which word or sound makes the surprise work.
  4. Let partners explain the joke to each other. Invite a volunteer to share an explanation.

Three word pairs to explore

  • Hare and hair: a hare is an animal; hair grows on a head. How does “hare-cut” change the meaning of “haircut”?
  • Paws and pause: paws belong to animals; a pause is a short stop. Why might a cat put a film on “paws”?
  • Mane and main: a mane is long hair on an animal's head or neck; main means most important. What happens when a horse lives on “Mane Street”?

Read with a partner

One reader takes the question and the other takes the answer. Swap roles, then try the joke again with a pause before the punchline. Children can point to a picture, draw the two meanings or explain the word orally.

Make a classroom joke card

  1. Choose an animal and one useful word, such as a duck's bill or an elephant's trunk.
  2. Find another meaning of that word. A bill can be a request for payment; a trunk can be a storage box.
  3. Write a short question on the front of a folded card and the answer inside.
  4. Check that the joke makes sense and is kind. Add a drawing and share it with a partner.

Helpful discussion prompts

  • Which word has two meanings?
  • Which two words sound alike?
  • What did you expect the answer to be?
  • Is this an animal fact or a make-believe joke? How can you tell?

Keep the laughter welcoming

Let children choose whether to read aloud. Explain unfamiliar words without putting anyone on the spot. Keep the humour about animals, sounds and silly situations, and encourage children to laugh together.

For more choices, browse all animal jokes, rabbit jokes, cat jokes and horse jokes.