Identifying Funny Parts in Stories

Active learning helps students move beyond passive reading by engaging their emotions and language skills. When children identify funny moments in stories and explain why they are funny, they practise comprehension, vocabulary, and expressive talk in a way that feels natural and enjoyable.

• 2nd Year
• The Power of Words: Exploring Literacy and Expression
• 4 activities
• 20 min–35 min

Learning Objectives

1. Identify specific words, phrases, or events within a narrative that evoke a humorous response.
2. Explain the literary devices or narrative elements (e.g., exaggeration, unexpected turns, wordplay) that contribute to humor in a story.
3. Compare and contrast the humor found in different short stories or story excerpts.
4. Articulate personal reasons for finding a specific part of a story funny, referencing textual evidence.

⏱ 25 min·Pairs

Partner Story Share: Funny Moments

Pairs read a short story together and underline one funny part each. They take turns reading the part aloud and explaining why it is funny, using prompts like silly words or surprises. Partners add sticky notes with their own reactions.

Prepare & details

Point out a part in the story that made you laugh.

Facilitation Tip: When students keep Individual Humor Journals, invite them to revisit entries weekly to notice patterns in what makes them laugh.

⏱ 35 min·Small Groups

Small Group Comedy Hunt

In small groups, students scan a class anthology for funny sections and select one to perform. They rehearse a 1-minute skit highlighting the humorous element, then present to the group for feedback on what made it work.

Prepare & details

Describe what made that part funny (e.g., silly words, unexpected actions).

⏱ 30 min·Whole Class

Whole Class Funny Board

As a class, students contribute funny quotes or drawings from stories to a shared board. Each adds one item with a sentence explaining the humor, then the class votes on favorites and discusses patterns in what makes things funny.

Prepare & details

Share a funny moment from a book with a partner.

⏱ 20 min·Individual

Individual Humor Journal

Students independently note two funny parts from independent reading, sketch the scene, and write why it amused them. They select one to share in a voluntary show-and-tell circle.

Prepare & details

Point out a part in the story that made you laugh.

Teaching This Topic

Teachers should model humour analysis by reading aloud and pausing to point out how word choices or character quirks create funny moments. Avoid assuming all students will laugh at the same parts. Instead, use open prompts that encourage observation and personal reflection. Research shows that when humour is treated as a skill to be practised, students become more observant readers and confident speakers.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students pointing to specific text features that create humour, such as wordplay or unexpected twists. They should also explain their reactions using clear language and connect their personal responses to the story’s structure.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Whole Class Funny Board, watch for students who think funny parts have no purpose in stories.

What to Teach Instead

Have students map funny moments onto a story’s timeline and describe how each moment helps the plot or character development.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

During Whole Class Funny Board sharing, note which students use phrases like 'It was funny because...' or 'I laughed when...' to evaluate their ability to articulate humour.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students to rewrite a serious story excerpt by adding three new funny elements using wordplay, irony, or exaggerated details.
• Scaffolding: Provide sentence stems like 'It was funny because the character ___ when ___.' to support students who struggle to explain their reactions.
• Deeper exploration: Ask students to compare two funny moments in the same story and describe how each contributes to the overall tone or mood.

Key Vocabulary

Humor	The quality of being amusing or comic, especially as expressed in literature or speech. It's what makes something funny.
Exaggeration	Making something seem larger, better, or worse than it really is. This can be used to create a funny effect in stories.
Wordplay	The clever and witty use of words, often involving puns or double meanings, to create humor.
Unexpected Turn	A sudden and surprising change in the direction or outcome of a story's plot, which can lead to amusement.