Spring is here! Birds are singing, the sun is shining………and…..the kids are going crazy, we are stressed about testing and there are still too many weeks until the end of the year! So it is the PERFECT time to bring on some fun ways to practice what we’ve already taught.
By this time of year, most classes from kinder on up, have learned to infer. We infer what the characters are feeling in kinder, and what the protagonist’s motivation was in middle school and beyond, and many other kinds of inferences in between. But because we all need a break from the stress that is inevitable this time of year, why not practice inferring in a fun way for a few minutes each day? Why not practice inferring with……jokes and riddles? Jokes and riddles require a lot of inferring and thinking, and provide some fun at the same time.
Here are some ideas for ways to use them:
1. Use a joke or riddle for your morning meeting. The littles can practice their reading, find phonics and sight words to circle, and can practice inferring while they think through the joke or riddle together.
2. Use a joke or riddle as an entry task for intermediate students. They can think and infer together as partners or in groups to solve it, then each can write the solution or punch line that they inferred, and add why they think it makes sense. Each group can share their solution or punch line with the class. Great opportunity for cooperative work and speaking practice!
3. Have students look for jokes or riddles at home and bring them in to share. One or two students can share theirs each day. Just don’t let them tell the solution or punch line until the rest of the class has had enough time to work on inferring the answer first.
4. Have intermediate students write their own riddles to exchange with a partner. The partner has to infer the solution to the riddle.
- I’m full of keys, but can’t open any door. What am I? A piano.
- I will always come, but never arrive today. What am I? Tomorrow.
- I don’t have wings, but I can fly. I don’t have eyes but I can cry. What am I? A cloud.
- What Spring flowers can by found on people’s faces? Tulips! (Two-lips)
- What did the big flower say to the little one? “You’re really growing, bud!”
- What do you call a rabbit with the sniffles? A runny bunny!
- How does a rabbit throw a tantrum? He get’s hopping mad!
- What stories do bunnies like best? The ones with hoppy endings!
- Why was the Easter Bunny so upset? He was having a bad hare day!
- Why did the Easter Bunny hide? Because he was a little chicken!
- How does Easter end? With an R.
