We use questions from Trivial Pursuit Junior, and we put up a row of signs with the dollar amounts on it, and someone holds an arrow at the current amount being pursued. Using a simple child's bowling set, we attach questions and speech tasks to the bottoms of the pins. When a pin is knocked down, the tasks are read from the bottom of the pin and then completed. They are generally clean and appropriate. We separate into small groups and practice the jokes, and then come back together to tell them to the whole group.
Jokes provide special challenges in timing and inflection, which can be excellent practice.
Many times the kids tell the jokes to their friends at home, creating a nice carryover task. This activity is always helpful, and it often brings out spontaneous sharing from the kids. We talk about the types of teasing they encounter, and then we brainstorm responses. The responses they come up with range from serious to funny. One girl used elaborate hand motions and finger snapping with someone who picked on her, which was cute and sophisticated, and diffused the teaser.