Ain’t It Funny,

Learning Goals

• Identify the main character’s feelings in a selected passage from Ain’t It Funny and explain which words or actions reveal those feelings.
• Explore how humor can express feelings, connect people, or help someone respond to a difficult situation.
• Use details from the text to explain whether a moment is funny, serious, or a mixture of both.
• Create a short illustrated scene that uses kind humor while showing a character’s feelings.

Activity Steps

1. 1.Introduce Ain’t It Funny by Margaret Gurevich. Examine the cover and title, then ask: “Can something feel funny and difficult at the same time?” Record students’ predictions without confirming them.
2. 2.Read aloud a teacher-previewed excerpt that highlights the main character’s feelings and use of humor. Provide enough context to make the passage understandable. For K–2, use a brief passage with frequent pauses; for grades 3–5, provide a longer excerpt for partner reading.
3. 3.Make a two-column chart labeled “What the character says or does” and “What the character may feel.” Students contribute details from the passage and explain their interpretations. Younger students may draw feeling faces or dictate responses.
4. 4.Discuss one humorous moment: “What makes this funny? What else might the character be feeling? How does another character respond?” Distinguish humor that builds connection from humor that hurts someone.
5. 5.Have students create a three-panel scene inspired by the passage: a character faces a challenge, responds with kind humor, and shows or shares a feeling. K–2 students draw and dictate captions; grades 3–5 add dialogue and a sentence explaining how their scene connects to the book.
6. 6.Invite students to share their scenes. Finish with an oral or written exit response: “In Ain’t It Funny, humor and feelings connect when ___.” Ask students to include one detail from the excerpt.