Let’s Have Some Pun!

« A very punny lateral thinking gamefor the English classroom. »

By Chris Yukna

Science General

School of Mines

Paronomasianoun Rhetoric . 1. the use of a word in different senses or the use of words similar in sound to achieve a specific effect, as humor or a dual meaning; punning.

2. a pun.

Visualadjectiveadjective: visual1. of or relating to seeing or sight."visual perception"synonyms:optical, optic, ocular, eye; Morevision, sight"visual defects"visible, perceptible, perceivable, discernible"a visual indication that the alarm works"nounnoun: visual; plural noun: visuals1. a picture, piece of film, or display used to illustrate or accompany something.

Nota bene: groaning is allowed

Visual Pun WordsHere’s is the game: First person who shouts out the word(s) gets a point for their

team. Or you can set a time for each slide and players write down the two solutions.

Examples

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Hope you had pun…

• All these images were found by simply typing visual puns in googleimages. (to see their pages click on the image)

• Feel free to make your own presentation and pun away.

• Or contact me at yukna(at)emse.fr with the understanding that I have already been contacted by beautiful Russian girls seeking marriage, won a strange lottery in the Bahamas, and several relatives that I never knew I had, have left me money…

• This is obviously a pun game to get your divergent neurons firing in English class. Certainly, as a teacher you can explain to the pun-challenged whateach image and word actually mean. (if you don’t know see the commentswith each slide or the answer key on the last slide.)

• One salient point, this somewhat cerebral game can be played by illiterates.

Answer key• Examples: fire drill & french fries

• 1. Navy Seals and loafers

• 2. Brainstorm & light beer

• 3. Bonehead & Ipod

• 4. Unicorn & four head

• 5. Knight owl & onion ring

• 6. Holey cow & bookworm

• 7. Pigeoned toed & brainwash

• 8. Head in the clouds & eyeball

• 9. Butterfingers and spitting images

• 10. Clownfish & Cereal Killer

About the author:Chris Yukna was bornin the antediluvian 50s, had a paper route at 9, sold Christmas cards doorto door at 11, and washeddishes at 14. All theseenriching work experiences convinced him earlyon that he was totally unsuited to working and therefore should become a space cadet, madscientist, or teacher.He has three websites that he tries to update periodically:Science General (fun with science)Business Emporium (Esl business lessons & quizzes)Totally Unorthodox (where he puts everythingelse)