# Lesson 23: Create Humorous or Funny Stories

✍️ WRITING (40 Lessons) • 🟡 C. Creative Writing

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## Objective

I can write a short funny story using exaggeration, surprise, and wordplay with a clear setup, build-up, and punchline (or silly twist).

## Materials

- Pencil ✏️ and eraser
- Notebook or tablet
- Tracing Pad (below)

Tip: Keep jokes kind and school-appropriate. Funny ≠ hurtful. Use surprise that’s safe and playful.

## Mini-lesson — How Humor Works

1. Setup → Punchline: The setup creates an expectation; the punchline twists it.
2. Exaggeration (hyperbole): Make something wildly big/small/fast for laughs.
3. Surprise: Lead readers one way, then switch paths.
4. Wordplay: Puns and double meanings (e.g., “time flies” vs real flies).
5. Callbacks: Refer back to an earlier joke for extra humor.

Video won’t be included when printing.

## Guided Practice — Trace, Brainstorm, Then Draft a Gag

Trace humor tools, then draft a 6–8 line funny scene about a runaway sandwich in the cafeteria.

- Trace: setup, twist, pun, exaggeration, surprise
- Setup: The sandwich keeps “disappearing.”
- Twist: It has tiny legs and sprints away!
- Wordplay: “Lettuce meet again.”
- Ending: A callback to the “disappearing” sandwich.

Tracing Pad
Lines
Letter
Pen

## Drag & Drop — Build Setups & Punchlines

Drag chips into the slots to make lines that use exaggeration, surprise, or wordplay. Keep punctuation at the end.

I packed a sandwich so tall it needed an elevator.
I tried to catch the fog but I mist.
Our goldfish learned to fetch the mail somehow.
My backpack is so heavy it has its own weather.
I told a joke about pizza but it was a little cheesy.
Why did the cookie go to the nurse it felt crummy.
The teacher said there would be a pop quiz and someone brought soda.
My cat started a diary it is mostly meow meow meow.
When the sandwich ran away I gave chase with ketchup.
I asked for a light snack and the chips told jokes.
I brought a ladder to class to raise my grades.
Finally the sandwich and I made peas I mean peace.

## Quick Check (15 questions)

#### 1) The setup of a joke does what?

Adds a random detail Creates an expectation Explains three topics

#### 2) The punchline usually…

repeats the setup adds unrelated facts flips the expectation with a surprise

#### 3) Which line is exaggeration?

My backpack weighs a ton. My backpack has two zippers. My backpack is red.

#### 4) Which line uses wordplay (pun)?

The sandwich ran. We made peas—uh—peace. I ate lunch.

#### 5) A good funny story is…

confusing on purpose mean to classmates kind and school-appropriate

#### 6) Best order for a gag:

setup → build-up → punchline punchline → setup → build-up build-up → build-up → build-up

#### 7) A callback joke…

adds new characters refers back to an earlier joke explains science facts

#### 8) Which is a surprise twist?

The quiet sandwich suddenly sprints away on tiny legs. The sandwich has bread. Lunch happens at noon.

#### 9) Wordplay works when a word has…

only one meaning no vowels more than one meaning or sound

#### 10) Which is most school-appropriate?

Teasing a classmate Making a pun about pizza Sharing private info

#### 11) Build-up means…

adding details that lead to the punchline switching topics ending the joke early

#### 12) Which line is a pun?

The book is long. The book smells new. The book had me in binds.

#### 13) Exaggeration works best when…

the reader knows it’s impossible it could be true it is a secret

#### 14) Which ending is a callback?

Suddenly it rains. The sandwich says, “Lettuce meet again.” I finished homework.

#### 15) A funny story should mainly try to…

confuse readers insult people entertain kindly

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Clear setup → build-up → punchline Uses at least two humor tools (exaggeration, surprise, wordplay, callback) Jokes are kind and appropriate Ending feels like a twist or callback

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 My story made readers laugh kindly 🙂 I need more practice with punchlines 😅 Wordplay was tricky

#### I will practice…

Placing the surprise at the end of a line Writing two puns about one topic Adding a short callback in the ending
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