How to write a riddle

Today I helped students write riddles after a homophone lesson. It was challenging, and that's one reason I like teaching!

Here were the steps I used.
1. Think of two homophones. (My students chose "turn" and "play").

2. Think of a phrase or word that uses the homophone and could use either of the homophone's meanings. This phrase or word is the ANSWER to the riddle.

3. Think of someone or something that would say that phrase. Who would they say that to?

4. Using the info in #3, form a question.

Here were their riddles:

What did the spinning top say to the child? "It's my turn!"

What does a musician say to his son? "Let's go play!"