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Christmas Cracker Joke Maker: Free Printable Craft Activity for Year 3
- ForYear 3
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Christmas Cracker Joke Maker is a free printable craft activity for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8). Children think of a Christmas word, write their own question and answer joke about it, test it on a grown-up and make it better. Then they make a paper cracker to put the joke in. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas and a stretch task.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. For the writing you need paper and a pencil. For the cracker you also need scissors, an empty kitchen roll tube, tape and some string or ribbon. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children start by choosing a Christmas word, such as snow, tree or sleigh. They write a question joke about it, with the question on the first line and the answer on the second. Then they try it out on a grown-up and improve it. Finally they cut a paper strip, write their best joke on it, wrap a tube to make a cracker, slide the joke inside and give the cracker to someone to read together.
- Think of a Christmas word, like snow, tree or sleigh.
- Write a question joke about it. Put the question on the first line.
- Write the answer on the second line.
- Test your joke on a grown-up. Make it better.
- Cut a strip of paper and write your best joke on it.
- Roll a kitchen roll tube in paper and tape it closed.
- Slide in your joke strip. Tie both ends with string or ribbon.
- Give your cracker to someone and read the joke together.
How the cracker comes together
Write the joke first
Children choose their best joke before they touch any paper for the cracker. Writing it neatly on a strip makes it easy to read aloud later.
Wrap the tube
Roll the empty kitchen roll tube in paper and tape the paper closed. Plain paper is fine. Children can decorate it with pencils or crayons.
Slide in the joke
Put the joke strip into the tube so a little of it can be seen or pulled out. Check that it fits before tying.
Tie both ends
Tie string or ribbon at each end of the paper. Leave a little space so the cracker looks like a cracker. Then give it to someone and read the joke together.
Why write jokes at Christmas?
Christmas crackers are a familiar part of many British Christmas tables. Two people pull one together, and most contain a paper hat, a small gift and a joke. The jokes are usually short question and answer riddles, and people read them out for everyone to groan or laugh at. Children in Year 3 know them well, so they already understand the shape of a cracker joke.
Writing a joke is a real writing task. Children have to think about what words can mean, choose the right words and put them in a useful order. A joke only works if the answer surprises the reader, so children have to think about their audience. Reading it aloud and watching someone's reaction shows them straight away whether it worked.
An adult should do any cutting that is tricky, such as trimming a tube. Check that scissors are suitable for the child's age. Use a clean, empty kitchen roll tube and keep the activity at a table, away from the kitchen.
Cracker and joke facts
- A cracker is usually pulled by two people, one at each end.
- Many crackers hold a paper hat, a small gift and a joke.
- Wordplay is when a joke uses the way words sound or what they can mean.
- A pun is a joke that uses a word with two meanings, or two words that sound alike.
- Many cracker jokes are in two parts: a question, then an answer.
Skills and curriculum link
- Writing jokes
- Wordplay
- Question and answer form
- Reading aloud
- Improving your own writing
- Making
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | English | Writing: composition | Year 3 |
What children will be able to do
- I can write a question and answer joke.
- I can use wordplay.
- I can read my joke aloud.
Ideas that help with joke writing
- Start with a wordPick one Christmas word first. Then list other words it makes you think of. Jokes often come from the link between two ideas.
- Think about soundsSome words sound like other words. Say your word out loud and listen for a word that sounds close. That can be the start of a joke.
- Think about two meaningsSome words mean more than one thing. A joke can work by letting the reader expect one meaning and then showing the other.
- Make the answer shortThe answer is the surprise, so keep it short. A long answer can spoil the joke. Cut out any words you do not need.
Key words
- JokeA short piece of writing that is meant to make people laugh.
- WordplayPlaying with what words sound like or what they mean.
- PunA joke that uses a word with two meanings, or words that sound alike.
- QuestionThe first part of a question joke. It sets up the idea.
- AnswerThe second part of a question joke. It is the surprise.
- AudienceThe people who read or listen to your joke.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has notes and ideas for you.
- Gather paper, a pencil, scissors, an empty kitchen roll tube, tape and string or ribbon before you begin.
- Let your child pick a Christmas word and write their joke. Read it aloud together and talk about how to make it funnier.
- Help your child make the cracker. An adult should do any tricky cutting. Slide the joke strip in and tie both ends.
- Give the cracker to someone and read the joke together. Come back another day and write a new joke for a different word.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Show an example joke and swap one word to make a new one. Read the joke aloud and point out which word was changed. Let your child pick a different Christmas word and try the same trick. Say the question and answer out loud before writing.
To stretch confident children
Write a joke that uses a pun. Choose a word that has two meanings or sounds like another word. Ask your child to explain to you why the joke is funny. Then try writing a second joke with the same pun idea.
Make it a game
Hold a joke show. Each child reads their cracker joke aloud, and the audience votes for the one they like best. Give every joke a clap. Then swap crackers and read someone else's joke out loud.
Talk about it
- Which Christmas word did you choose, and why?
- What makes a joke funny?
- Which word in your joke does the most work?
- How did the grown-up react when you tried it out?
- What did you change to make it better?
- Who would you give your cracker to?
Take it off the page
Joke show
Gather family or friends and take turns reading jokes. Ask each person to say what made them laugh. Keep it friendly and let everyone have a go.
Decorate the cracker
Use pencils or crayons to decorate the paper on the tube with patterns. Think about colours and shapes that feel like Christmas.
Word hunt
Look at Christmas cards or a book and find words that have two meanings. Say each meaning out loud and talk about them.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Laugh at the jokes, even the odd ones. Ask them to explain why each one is funny, and help with the cutting and tying.
Teachers
Use it as a class party task, a Christmas starter, an early finisher activity or a table activity. Have scissors, tubes, tape and ribbon ready. Children can read jokes aloud to a partner before making the crackers.
Home educators
Pair it with a trip to the library for joke books and riddles. Make crackers for brothers, sisters or grandparents. The sheet can be printed again whenever you want a new set of jokes.
Where this fits
Before this sheet, children enjoy reading and sharing riddles, jokes and rhymes. They talk about what words mean and notice when words sound alike. These habits give them the ideas they need to write a joke of their own.
After it, children can go on to write with more control, using puns, building sentences with extra detail and reading their work aloud with expression. Fronted Adverbial Cards is a good next step in English for the year above.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What is the wordplay in your joke?
- How did you think of the answer?
- Which joke would you put in a cracker?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Christmas Cracker Joke Maker for?
It is written for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can join in with help, and older children can try the stretch idea on page 2.
- What will children practise?
They practise writing simple question and answer jokes using wordplay. They also read their jokes aloud, improve them after testing and make a paper cracker to hold the best one.
- What do I need to make the cracker?
You need paper, a pencil, scissors, an empty kitchen roll tube, tape and string or ribbon. An adult should help with any tricky cutting. Gather everything before you start.
- What if it feels too hard?
Show an example joke and swap one word to make a new one. Let your child say the joke out loud first. Then write it down once they are happy with it.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another class.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. The writing needs only paper and a pencil, and the cracker is made by hand. It works well for quiet time, rainy days, class parties and school holidays.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add their own colour when they decorate the cracker.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.