"Creativity is intelligence having fun." -Albert Einstein
Too often, we forget that intelligence and creativity are related. That means that anytime we use our brains, we can have fun too! Humor in math can be a great way to bring fun back to a challenging subject.
More importantly, studies have shown that we actually learn better when we are laughing. Math jokes might lighten the mood, but they can also open the door to some serious learning!
Do math jokes sound as irrational to you as the square root of 2? Don't worry — in this guide, we'll break down why math jokes are such a powerful learning tool, how to use math jokes to help your child learn. We'll even add a bundle of jokes to get you started, so you can multiply the fun.
So what makes math jokes funny?
Every comedian knows that a joke is funny when it uses the pieces of information you already have, but puts them together in an unexpected way. You'll laugh the hardest when a joke is right on the boundary between what you know and don't know.
Sound familiar? That same concept applies in education too, where it goes by the technical name "the zone of proximal development." It means children learn best when they're taking in information that's just a little outside their comfort zone.
Math students are always taking in new ideas. And when you tell a joke that sparks a new understanding of that information, it's not just funny, it's hilarious. Even better, a joke that gets them to think about math concepts in a new way could be the "Aha!" moment to help them break through a math block.
That's why math jokes are a prime (get it?) way to help kids lock in the math knowledge they already have and play with the concepts they're still struggling with.
How do you teach math with jokes?
Just like playing math games, using humor in math can be an effective teaching tactic. When learners put concepts together in new ways, they understand them better.
Here's a great example:
A man walked into a restaurant and ordered a pepperoni pizza. "Certainly, sir," said the waiter. "Would you like me to cut it into eight pieces for you?"
"Oh no, I could never eat all that!" the man replied. "Just cut it into six."
Did this joke make you chuckle? It might seem a little corny to an adult, but to your elementary schooler who is just learning about fractions, it's comedy gold.
Fractions are a notoriously tricky concept, but jokes like this make it approachable. Use them to introduce a topic so that your child knows what to expect, or at the end of a lesson to lock the learning in. Some jokes will be great "memory hooks" to help your child remember the material
Another way to use jokes in math is to lighten the mood. Laughter is proven to physiologically defuse the anxiety that might build up when students feel stressed about math, breaking up math anxiety before it happens.
Ok, enough theory. Let's get to the laughs!
Math jokes for preschoolers
Preschoolers are learning to count, getting to know math numerals, and learning to subtilize (understand that math numerals refer to real groups of objects). Get a giggle from them with jokes that play with counting and numerals.
Why was six afraid of seven? Because seven eight nine.
What are ten things you can always count on? Your fingers.
Why didn't two fours eat their lunch? Because they already eight.
What did the zero say to the eight? I like your belt!
If I had six oranges in one hand and four apples in the other, what would I have? Really big hands.
There are only three types of people in the world. Those who can count, and those who can't.
Math jokes for elementary school
In early elementary, children learn basic adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Later on, they will master more advanced concepts like decimals and fractions.
Why did the math teacher like subtracting best? Because she wanted to make a difference.
A math teacher bought a giant multiplication symbol to decorate her classroom. Then she realized she could use it as an addition symbol too. That's a big plus.
How do you make seven an even number? Remove the s.
Do you know what seems odd to me? Numbers that aren't divisible by two.
Why did the student do his multiplication problems on the floor? The teacher told him not to use his tables.
How did the surgeon know who to operate on first? He followed the order of operations.
What's the difference between a numerator and a denominator? Well, there's a fine line between them.
Why did 1/5 get a massage? Because he was two-tenths.
Which king loved fractions? Henry the 1/8.
Math jokes for middle school
In middle school and beyond, math gets into advanced topics like geometry, graphing, exponents, and more. Besides being funny, most of the jokes for this age group double as pneumonics to help students remember math facts.
What's the difference between English and math class? In English, a double negative is bad. But in math, it's a positive.
Why should you never trust a math teacher holding graph paper? Because they're probably plotting something.
What did the triangle say to the circle? "You're pointless."
I argued with a 90° triangle. But it turns out he was right.
Why did 4's friends tell him to loosen up? Because he was too squared.
Why can't atheists use exponents? They don't believe in higher powers.
Why did seven eat nine? He needed a square meal.
Math fun and more!
Did these math jokes challenge your brain and tickle your funny bone? If so, find more insights on our blog to help your child reach their full learning potential.
Sawyer has a range of online and in-person classes that bring fun and challenge to your little one's learning. Have questions? Contact us to get your child started on their learning adventure.
