Notes for teachers These resources were developed by computer scientists at the University of Aberdeen, as part of a public engagement grant provided by the EPSRC. The resources are available for use without charge for educational purposes. They are designed for use with children aged 9-13, to assist in understanding language (especially homonyms and homophones) and ICT. Slides 2-27 are intended to be delivered by an adult as a presentation to children. Slides 28 – 33 should be printed off as worksheets for the children. Print them off double-sided, so that the hints are on the back of each work sheet. If you have any questions or comments about these materials, do get in touch! Our address is

The Joking Computer

What is it? It is a computer that makes up jokes. It uses: Dictionary 1.A very large dictionary 2.Some recipes for making jokes Joke Recipes

What sort of jokes? Riddles : question and answer What do you call a puppy that is wet? A soggy doggy!

Why create a Joking Computer? Some children have trouble with speaking - e.g. if they have a disability such as cerebral palsy The Joking Computer helps children like this to explore language… …and to make up jokes of their own.

Why create a Joking Computer? Computers dont normally understand jokes. We are trying to teach the Joking Computer what is funny, so that it can behave a bit like a real person. This is called Artificial Intelligence. ?? ? ?

Can you think like a computer? You can use our recipes to make funny jokes too ! Heres an example….

Joke recipe 1 What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) means roughly the same as Copy

Joke recipe 1 What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) means roughly the same as Copy

Joke recipe 1 What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) means roughly the same as Copy bear bare

Joke recipe 1 What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) means roughly the same as Copy barebear

Joke recipe 1 What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) means roughly the same as Copy barebear

Joke recipe 1 What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) means roughly the same as Copy barebear naked

Joke recipe 1 What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) means roughly the same as Copy barebear naked

Joke recipe 1 What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) means roughly the same as Copy barebear nakedteddy

Joke recipe 1 What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) means roughly the same as Copy barebear nakedteddy This is my joke question

Joke recipe 1 What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) means roughly the same as Copy barebear nakedteddy

Joke recipe 1 What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) means roughly the same as Copy barebear nakedteddy bare

Joke recipe 1 What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) means roughly the same as Copy barebear nakedteddy bare

Joke recipe 1 What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) means roughly the same as Copy barebear nakedteddy bear bare

Joke recipe 1 What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) means roughly the same as Copy barebear nakedteddy bearbare This is my joke answer

Joke recipe 1 So heres my great gag…. What do you call a naked teddy? A bare bear!

Now make your own jokes Fill in a Joke Recipe worksheet step- by-step Work with a friend or by yourself There are 3 different recipes to try Make up as many jokes as you like!

If you get stuck… There is an example on the left of each Joke Recipe worksheet. There are examples of words to use on the back of each joke recipe. Try using a Thesaurus to find words that mean the same as each other.

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WHAT DO YOU CALL A DINOSAUR THAT KNOWS LOTS OF WORDS? A THESAURUS! And finally…

Joke Recipe 1 An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) What do you call a wittyrabbit ? A funnybunny ! means roughly the same as What do you call a ? A ! means roughly the same as Choose 2 words that sound the same My joke Your joke An adjective (describing word) A noun (naming word) Copy means roughly the same as means roughly the same as Copy Choose 2 words that sound the same funnybunny Your name

Joke Recipe 1: Some words you can use yummy / mummy mad / dad round / hound drunk / skunk lather / father loose / moose airy / fairy runny / honey limp / shrimp smelly / telly The authors give permission for these worksheets to be reproduced for educational purposes.

End of Word2 Joke Recipe 2 A hairoplane ! means roughly the same as My joke Your joke means roughly the same as Copy Word1 Copy end of Word2 Choose 2 words. Word1 should sound like the start of Word2. What do you get when you cross a furjet ? with a Start of Word2 aer oplane Word1 hair End of Word2 A! means roughly the same as means roughly the same as Copy Word1Copy end of Word2 Choose 2 words. Word1 should sound like the start of Word2. What do you get when you cross a ? with a Start of Word2 Word1 - - Your name

Joke Recipe 2: Some words you can use smelly / elephant juice / goosebump trick / ticket ham / handbag moose / museum van / vampire fang / fantastic eye / ice-cream sock / chocolate mum / marmalade harm / homework The authors give permission for these worksheets to be reproduced for educational purposes.

End of Word2 Joke Recipe 3 A ! is a kind of My joke Your joke Copy Word1 Copy end of Word2 Choose 2 words. Word1 should sound like the start of Word2. What do you call an animal noise ? that is a Start of Word2 ba nana Word1 baa fruit is a kind of baa - nana End of Word2 is a kind of Choose 2 words. Word1 should sound like the start of Word2. What do you call a ? that is a Start of Word2 Word1 is a kind of A! Copy Word1 Copy end of Word2 - Your name

Joke Recipe 3: Some words you can use jelly / elephant wine / dinosaur bat / catapult horse / hospital moo / movie sock / chocolate mum / marmalade boy / toilet jelly / helicopter The authors give permission for these worksheets to be reproduced for educational purposes.