The Egg’s on You

Posted on March 18, 2016 by stfleming

Q: Why shouldn’t you tell an egg a joke?
A: Because it might crack up!

Explanation:  To crack up means to start laughing (sometimes it also means to to go crazy).  When you break an egg you first crack it open.

If an egg cracks up does it start laughing or does it just crack open?  This joke is funny because of the double meaning of the word ‘crack.’

More with egg: You can also be caught with egg on your face, be a good egg, and here are many more egg-spressions (expressions).

Learn an interesting way to crack an egg:

 

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All Decked Out

Posted on March 7, 2016 by stfleming

Q: Why couldn’t the pirate play cards?
A: Because he was sitting on the deck!

Explanation:  The flat part of sail boat (or pirate ship!) where you stand is called the deck.  A group of playing cards is called a deck of cards.  If you are sitting on a deck of cards you can’t play with them… and that’s what the pirate was doing!  Or maybe he was sitting on the deck of his ship.

This joke is funny because of the double meaning of the word ‘deck.’

If you are interested in learning how to play a new card game take a look at this video:

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Your Future is Very Clear

Posted on February 29, 2016 by stfleming

Q: What kind of cookies make you rich?
A: Fortune cookies!

Explanation: If you have a lot of money you have a fortune.  The cookies that they give you in Chinese restaurants are called fortune cookies.

This joke is funny because it plays with the double meaning of the word fortune: a lot of money and a type of cookie.

Watch the video below to learn how to make fortune cookies out of paper:

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Dread Knight

Posted on February 25, 2016 by stfleming

Q: What bug do knights hate?
A: Dragonflies!

Explanation: Bugs are insects.  A knight (sounds like night) is a soldier for a king or queen.  They often wore armor or a coat of mail and rode on horses.  In stories, knights sometimes fight dragons.

A dragonfly is an insect that eats mosquitoes.  They are beautiful and they do not bite people!

Knights hate dragons but not dragonflies– and that is why this joke is funny!

Here is a video all about dragonflies:

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Chew Chew Train

Posted on February 23, 2016 by stfleming

Q: What’s the difference between a teacher and a train??
A: A teacher says, “Spit out that gum!” and a train says, “Chew! Chew!”

Explanation: Or perhaps the train says, “Choo, choo?!?”

In most schools gum is not allowed.  If a teacher sees you chewing gum he or she will ask you to spit it out (even though there are some researched benefits of chewing gum).

Another name for a train is a choo choo and that sounds the same as chew- chew, probably because of the sound of the train whistle.

This joke is funny because it plays with the words “choo choo” and “chew, chew.”

If you like trains you might watch the Choo Choo Bob Show, Thomas and Friends,  go to a train show or travel Europe on the Eurail.

Or you could watch a 1903 silent film- The Great Train Robbery!

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Rain in your Brain

Posted on February 15, 2016 by stfleming

Q: Why was there thunder and lightning in the lab?
A: The scientists were brainstorming!

Explanation: I love a good thunderstorm!  Especially if I am safe inside.  A brainstorm is not a real storm but a way to gather ideas

When people brainstorm they make a list of many ideas.  Scientists brainstorm ideas for experiments and possible answers or explanations to questions they have.  (A lab is a place where some scientists work.)

This joke is funny because it plays with the words storm/ brainstorm.

Here is what a thunderstorm looks like.  Remember: do not go out in a thunderstorm!

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Tools for Fools?

Posted on February 4, 2016 by stfleming

Q: What tool can you use to cut water?
A: A sea-saw!

Explanation: To understand this joke you must first know what a seesaw is.  A seesaw is a toy/ game/ ride that you might see on a playground where children play (it is also known as a teeter-totter).  Imagine a long piece of wood that is balanced in the middle; one person sits on each end of the board and as one goes up, the other goes down.

A saw is a tool used to cut things. Of course, you cannot cut water… even with a saw.  This joke is funny because seesaw sounds like sea-saw and both end in “saw,” a tool (saw is the past tense verb of to see).  (Just to be clear: the fools part of the title refers to someone trying to cut water, not the amazing performance below!!)

Here are some gymnasts performing on a see saw- Do not try this at home!

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February Cannot

Posted on February 2, 2016 by stfleming

Q: Can February March?
A: No, but April May!

Explanation: Happy Groundhog’s Day! Or Groundhog Day?  Hmmm…

The above joke plays with the months and the double meaning of some of the words.

“To march” means to walk with a regular pace or to walk in an organized way; think of soldiers marching or people marching in a parade or a protest.  Can February March?  No, it is a month and it cannot walk. March is also a month (and there are two of the meanings of March).

May, in addition to being a month, is an auxiliary verb similar to ‘can’ or ‘might.’  In this joke February cannot march but April might be able to march.  It only makes sense if you understand the multiple meanings of March and May.

But it is February and here is a quick-talking explanation of Groundhog Day:

 

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Winter Ride

Posted on December 25, 2015 by stfleming

Q: How does a snowman get around?
A: He rides an icicle!

Explanation: Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate!

“To get around” means “to move” or “to travel.”

An icicle is a piece of ice that forms when dripping water freezes.  The word icicle sounds like tricycle.  This joke is funny because those two words sound alike.

In honor of Christmas I offer you one of my favorite movies, It’s a Wonderful Life.  In this movie George Bailey does not “get around” but the end of the movie is great!

https://vimeo.com/113419668

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Rappin’ Wrapper?

Posted on December 19, 2015 by stfleming

Q: What do you call an elf who sings?
A: A wrapper!

Explanation: In this joke, elves are Santa Claus’ helpers.  They are the ones who make the toys and wrap them so that Santa can deliver the toys on Christmas Eve.  “To wrap a present” means to cover it with decorative paper to make the gift look nice.  Wrapping a present also makes people wonder what is under the wrapping paper.

A “Rapper” is a person who sings, usually songs that have amazing rhymes at high speed.  (For more information on the history of rap music check out this link.)

This joke is funny because “wrap” sounds like “rap.”

Here is a Christmas rap song about the Grinch Who Stole Christmas:

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