Joke-Off Contest
February 14, 2006 - In the Library
If a man is American outside of the bathroom, what is he inside the bathroom?
European!
The inspiration for this program came again from the Chase's Calendar of Events. Everyone knows that Valentine's Day is all about love, not really something middle school students are into, but according to Chase it is also "Love makes the world go round, but laughter keeps us from getting dizzy" Day. So I felt like a great way to celebrate V-day without getting too mushy would be with a joke contest.
Teens had to tell jokes at a rapid fire pace, without reading from their notes, stumbling over the words, or laughing themselves. Contestants also couldn't repeat jokes or interrupt another person's turn without loosing their turn. I taped off a "Joke Box" with masking tape on the floor. Teen contestants had to be inside the Joke Box for their joke to count and they had to start their joke within 5 seconds of the person before them finishing. As teens finished with their joke for that turn, they went back to their seats and had about a minute to look over notes or joke lists at their seat before they had to be back in the joke box for their next turn. Many of the teens had studied and memorized jokes, but this format also allowed teens who hadn't to have a chance. There are many great joke books in the library collection; I pulled a bunch and had them on a table for the teens to browse during the program.
I had three teens compete at this program. We went for thirty five rounds of jokes before a teen missed a joke or passed. At the end of the contest about 170 jokes had been told and I had awards for original jokes as well as most jokes told.
I've scheduled to repeat this program during the summer when more teens will be able to attend. This program will also be recorded and then podcasted through The Loft website, www.libraryloft.org, so that teens around the library system can listen to the show.
If a man is American outside of the bathroom, what is he inside the bathroom?
European!
The inspiration for this program came again from the Chase's Calendar of Events. Everyone knows that Valentine's Day is all about love, not really something middle school students are into, but according to Chase it is also "Love makes the world go round, but laughter keeps us from getting dizzy" Day. So I felt like a great way to celebrate V-day without getting too mushy would be with a joke contest.
Teens had to tell jokes at a rapid fire pace, without reading from their notes, stumbling over the words, or laughing themselves. Contestants also couldn't repeat jokes or interrupt another person's turn without loosing their turn. I taped off a "Joke Box" with masking tape on the floor. Teen contestants had to be inside the Joke Box for their joke to count and they had to start their joke within 5 seconds of the person before them finishing. As teens finished with their joke for that turn, they went back to their seats and had about a minute to look over notes or joke lists at their seat before they had to be back in the joke box for their next turn. Many of the teens had studied and memorized jokes, but this format also allowed teens who hadn't to have a chance. There are many great joke books in the library collection; I pulled a bunch and had them on a table for the teens to browse during the program.
I had three teens compete at this program. We went for thirty five rounds of jokes before a teen missed a joke or passed. At the end of the contest about 170 jokes had been told and I had awards for original jokes as well as most jokes told.
I've scheduled to repeat this program during the summer when more teens will be able to attend. This program will also be recorded and then podcasted through The Loft website, www.libraryloft.org, so that teens around the library system can listen to the show.
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