If we can learn just one lesson from Shakespeare, it’s that nothing solidifies a bromance more than witty wordplay. Last week, for instance, my freshmen enjoyed gems like:
Romeo: I dreamt a dream tonight.
Mercutio: And so did I.
Romeo: Well, what was yours?
Mercutio: That dreamers often lie.
Romeo: In bed asleep, while they do dream things true. (Ooh, burn!)
Or, how about this darker drop from today’s class, when (spoiler alert!) Mercutio was fatally stabbed by Tybalt:
Romeo: Courage, man. The hurt cannot be much.
Mercutio: No, ‘tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church door; but ‘tis enough, ‘twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.
Oh, that Mercutio, punny til the bitter end. This week’s quips made me think of an Instagram favorite – Punny Pixels. If you’re on IG and like a little cheese in your digital diet, this is for you.
How can we use these adorable little guys in the classroom? I’m going to grab my favorites and toss them into my real-world grammar fails/random English meme rotation of images that scrolls on my presentation screen at the front of the room. Watch out, though. You’ll need to sort through the Punny Pixels before sharing with students because not all of the images are school appropriate and some are definitely funnier than others. Still, they’re all beautifully designed with clean-lined modern charm that will definitely brighten my classroom.
Also, since my freshmen seem to be enjoying the Bard’s pun fun (yes, 3rd period, I heard those snickers when Mercutio grabbed his “fiddlestick” this morning), I’m thinking it’s time break out my Tearable Puns, available here as a free download. Just print, snip, and tape ‘em to your wall. After all, if puns were good enough for Shakespeare, they’re good enough for us.
“Of puns it has been said that those who most dislike them are those who are least able to utter them.” – Edgar Allan Poe
Teach on, everyone!
My eighth grade students loved these puns as well as the images. The images helped them to better understand puns, and they were able to find more puns while we were reading A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Hooray, Angela, I love that we’re infecting the next generation with a love of The Pun!
I TOTALLY forgot about the tearable puns when we did R&J! Bad, Mrs. T! BAD!
Well, there’s always next year, Mrs. T! 🙂
I just put them up on my wall yesterday, and my study hall kids are picking out their favorites to bring to their other teachers. Homonyms are confusing to some of my kids (Sp. Ed.), but they all found one or two they liked.
So glad your kids were able to connect with the puns, Rebekah. Fun stuff! 🙂
Printed these and put outside my door and kids from 9-12 are stopping to read and chuckle! Thanks for the fun idea!!
Oh yeah, CR, these always go fast in my hallway, too. 🙂
Shared your “tearable” puns with a few teachers who hung them up and kids went crazy over them. Thanks!
Awesome, CWE! Thanks for sharing the joy. 🙂
Just started at a new school district and I hung these just outside my door. I can’t keep refilling them fast enough. The kids love them.
I love this so much! Glad to hear the slips are popular. 🙂