Understanding humor devices enhances students’ writing skills and comprehension and helps them know how to respond appropriately in social situations.
Definitions
This lesson focuses on three humor devices:
Understatement: Stating or presenting something with modesty or restraint to create a subtle or ironic effect.
Hyperbole: An obvious and deliberate exaggeration or overstatement intended for effect and not to be taken literally. For example, “He had a million excuses.”
Sarcasm: A scornfully ironic remark. Originating from Ancient Greece, sarcasm is often used to be mean to others, but it can also leave the user feeling a bit sore too.
Teaching Ideas
Activity #1: Videos
Showing one or more short videos makes a great hook activity for your lesson on humor devices!
What is verbal irony? – Christopher Warner [3:29]
- Christopher Warner breaks down the nuances between irony and sarcasm, shedding light on this essential literary technique. Perfect for sparking classroom discussions.
Hyperbole and Understatement – A Short Digital Piece [4:03]
- Dive into the realm of exaggeration and subtlety. This video explores hyperbole and understatement, providing relatable examples that students can analyze and discuss.
Hyperboles in Music [1:09]
- Did you know that hyperbole isn’t limited to literature? Discover how musicians use exaggerated language to evoke emotions and create memorable lyrics.
Activity #2: Literature Search: Finding Humor Devices in Picture Books
Introducing humor devices to upper elementary students can be a fun, educational experience, especially when you incorporate literature that they are already familiar with. Humor devices such as understatement, hyperbole, and irony are fun to identify and enhance students’ comprehension and analytical skills. Below is a list of picture books with these humor devices, along with specific examples to guide your students’ exploration.
Understatement:
Big Old Bones by Carol Carrick: An archaeologist makes monumental discoveries, but the text humorously downplays the excitement, creating a subtle comedic effect.
The House Gobbaleen by Lloyd Alexander: The goblin’s tricks are presented subtly and modestly, creating a comic contrast through understatement.
Squiggle’s Tale by Andre Dahan: A small fish narrates its big adventures in an understated manner, adding a humorous touch.
Bewildered for Three Days: As to Why Daniel Boone Never Wore His Coonskin Cap by Andrew Glass: The title sets up an understated approach to a quirky historical anecdote, enhancing the humor.
Goldilocks Returns by Lisa Campbell Ernst: Goldilocks returns, and the story humorously downplays the chaos she caused, using understatement to add to the humor.
Dread Pig of Night by Jean Gralley: The protagonist’s fears are understated, making the story amusing through subtle humor.
Mama and Me and the Model T by Faye Gibbons: A journey in a Model T is humorously understated in its challenges and triumphs, adding a comedic element.
Hyperbole:
Tall Tales: Stories such as Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, and John Henry exemplify hyperbole with their larger-than-life characters and exaggerated deeds.
A Spoon in Every Bite by Joe Hayes: In this story, a boy eats a lot of soup, and each spoonful becomes a hyperbolic adventure.
Trouble with Thunder Mountain by Russell Hoban: A mountain with exaggerated problems that escalate humorously makes for an entertaining and engaging story.
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The Full Belly Bowl by Jim Aylesworth: The ironic consequences of the protagonist’s wish with a magical bowl create an unexpected twist in the story.
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The Table Where Rich People Sit by Byrd Baylor: The story turns the concept of wealth on its head, presenting a rich irony in the protagonist’s realizations.
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Switch on the Night by Ray Bradbury: The story ironically contrasts the protagonist’s fear of the dark with the beauty found within it.
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The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark by Carmen Agra Deedy: The use of irony in a historical context, where appearances versus reality play a crucial role, highlights the contrast between what is seen and what is true.
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Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin: The cows’ demands create an unexpected and humorous situational irony.
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Why? by Lindsay Camp: The protagonist’s constant questions lead to ironic responses.
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You’ll Drive Me Wild! by Mem Fox: The mother’s sarcastic remarks to her child’s antics create humor.
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Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse: The anticipation and irony of waiting for rain during a drought create a poignant contrast between hope and the harsh reality.
Activity #3: Humor Devices in Stories
In this activity, students will explore using humor devices in storytelling. They will read four short stories, each presented in three paragraphs, and identify the humor device used in each section. The humor devices covered are hyperbole, understatement, and sarcasm.
Use the story below to explain the activity to students. Download the accompanying handout to access the remaining four stories.
This activity aims to engage students in recognizing different types of humor and understanding how they are used in writing to create comedic effects.
Lucy stepped outside and was immediately hit by a gust of wind so strong it felt like she was standing in a hurricane. She pulled her scarf tighter, convinced it would take a hundred layers of clothing to keep warm in this weather.
Paragraph 1: Hyperbole
She continued walking to the park, noticing the pond was a bit chilly. The ice forming on the surface gave it away, but Lucy thought it added a nice sparkle to the scenery.
Paragraph 2: Understatement
When Lucy finally reached the park bench, her friend Max looked at her wide-eyed. “Oh, brilliant choice to leave your hat at home, Lucy. You really know how to dress for a blizzard,” he grinned. Lucy laughed, knowing he was right.
Paragraph 3: Sarcasm
Activity #3: Teaching Humor Devices with Cartoons from Cartoon Stock
Cartoon Stock is a fantastic resource for upper elementary teachers looking to add a fun and engaging element to their humor-device lessons. With over 750,000 cartoons available, this site offers a vast collection of humorous content that can illustrate concepts like understatement, hyperbole, and irony. Although the site is primarily designed for writers to purchase cartoons for their work, students can still enjoy browsing through the cartoons without making any purchases. To help you get started, I’ve included links to three categories that align with our current topic:
Activity: Create Your Own Cartoon
Objective: Students will explore cartoons to understand how humor devices are used and create their own cartoons using ideas inspired by the cartoons they viewed.
Instructions:
- Explore Cartoons:
- Direct students to the provided links to explore cartoons that exemplify understatement, hyperbole, and irony.
- Allow students to spend some time browsing through the cartoons, encouraging them to note their favorite examples and identify which humor device is being used.
- Discussion:
- Hold a class discussion where students share the most amusing cartoons and explain the humor device used. This activity will help reinforce their understanding of understatement, hyperbole, and irony.
- Create Your Own Cartoon:
- Provide students with blank comic strips or cartoon templates.
- Ask students to choose one humor device (understatement, hyperbole, or irony) and create a cartoon using it.
- Encourage them to think creatively about everyday situations that can be exaggerated, understated, or presented ironically.
- Share and Reflect:
- Once students have completed their cartoons, have them share their work with the class.
- Discuss how each student used the chosen humor device and its effect on the humor of their cartoon.
Cartoon Examples
Hyperbole:
When the menu says ‘farm-to-table,’ they mean it quite literally
Understatement:
Just a little hill to climb… No biggie.
This activity helps students understand humor devices in a fun and interactive way and allows them to apply their knowledge creatively. Using cartoons as a teaching tool can make abstract concepts more tangible and engaging for students.
Teaching humor devices like understatement, hyperbole, and sarcasm can be a delightful journey into the world of language and wit for upper elementary students. By exploring these devices in literature, cartoons, and everyday situations, students sharpen their analytical skills and develop a deeper appreciation for the nuances of communication.
Download the handout accompanying this blog post to further engage your students in understanding humor devices. It includes four short stories, each showcasing a different humor device for students to identify. This activity encourages students to recognize and appreciate the clever use of language in creating comedic effects. Download the handout now to add a touch of humor to your classroom!
See the product that inspired this post.
Tale tales are a great way to teach humor devices. Check out my Tall Tall unit at Teachers Pay Teachers featuring four stories:
- Paul Bunyan
- John Henry
- Davy Crockett
- Mike Fink
