April fools' fun: readers shake out their sleeves and reveal the best tricks they've played on students.Squirmy Snack One April Fools' Day April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day First day of April, named for the custom of playing practical jokes on that date. Though it has been observed for centuries in several countries, including France and Britain, its origin is unknown. , I took my students outside for an earthworm earthworm, terrestrial, cylindrical segmented worm of the class Oligochaeta. There are 2,200 earthworm species, found all over the world except in arid and arctic regions and ranging in size from 1 in. (2.5 cm) to the 11-ft (330-cm) giant worms of the tropics. science lesson. They were ready to dig up the playground to search for worms, when I suggested we head inside because I had heard a rumor there were worms in the kitchen! The lunch staff greeted students with bowls of "dirt" chocolate pudding with gummy gummy an old sheep that has lost all of its incisor teeth. worms inside.--Rachel Potts, Danville, IL [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Twin Trouble It's fun being a twin. One April Fools' Day, my sister greeted my class instead of me. Many children didn't notice--even though our hair was quite different! After we revealed our joke, my sister spent the day with us as an assistant. The kids loved it and my sister had a ball.--Denise Jett, Jeffersonville, IN Frozen In Time I still remember a joke the teachers played when I was in school. They asked us to meet in the gym, where they announced the pipes were frozen and classes were cancelled. We began to cheer, until we saw the teachers laughing. All at once they gave a great big "April Fools'!"--Beth Teeple, San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , CA Pokey Prank I once told my fourth graders that we were going to try to break the record for the largest round of Hokey hok·ey adj. hok·i·er, hok·i·est Slang 1. Mawkishly sentimental; corny. 2. Noticeably contrived; artificial. hok Pokey. I brought a camera to "document" the event, and in the middle of the goofy dance, unfurled a banner that read "April Fools'!"--Carol Davison, San Jacinto San Jacinto, river, c.130 mi (210 km) long, rising in SE Texas as the West Fork and flowing S to Galveston Bay. Its chief tributary is Buffalo Bayou, and both the bayou and the lower river are used for the Houston ship channel. , CA Christmas in April Years ago, my own fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Ciolli, walked into our classroom wearing clip-on earrings. The entire class howled with laughter! I think of that moment each April 1 when I greet my students wearing a Christmas sweat-shirt and earrings.--Nancy Karpyk, Weirton, WV Unsweet Treat Some years ago, I finished teaching my chocolate unit on April 1. As a final activity, I gave kids small chocolate squares to taste. After many "ewwws!" I revealed my joke--I had given students unsweetened chocolate. We discussed that this is what chocolate tastes like before sugar is added, and then enjoyed a sweeter snack.--Tanya Wright, Golden Valley, AZ Bogus Board As a student teacher, I stayed late the night before April Fools' Day to create a special new bulletin board. When the kids came in the next morning, they noticed the new "rules" right away: No work! No quiet! Recess all day! It took them a little longer to see my "April Fools' Day!" message in tiny letters at the bottom.--Vickie Witt, Bluefield, WV Pop Secret One year I gave students a pop quiz Noun 1. pop quiz - a quiz given without prior warning quiz - an examination consisting of a few short questions . The questions could have appeared on a high-school geometry test, so my third graders were squirming in their seats! The last question asked for the "equation for a practical joke," then read "April Fools'!"--Jonathan Awe, Freedom, WI RELATED ARTICLE: Love TO Laugh? Check out these new books guaranteed to tickle your students' funny bones. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sidesplitters: Seriously Silly School Jokes Illustrated by Tony Trimmer Tony Trimmer (born 24 January, 1943 in Maidenhead, Berkshire) is a British former racing driver from England, who won the Shell British Formula Three Championship in 1970. (Kingfisher, 2005) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] School Kidders: A Book of School Jokes By Mark Ziegler (Picture Window Books, 2005) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tripping Over the Lunch Lady: And Other School Stories By Nancy E. Mercado (Dial Books, 2004) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Whether you're a teaching veteran or a newbie A first-time user. A newbie may be a novice in anything; using a computer, a video game, a particular operating system, the Internet, etc. Also called a "newb," "noob" or "nub." (jargon) newbie , it's normal to have an off teaching day. Do you have a funny classroom blooper to share with us? SENT IT TO INSTRUCTOR@SCHOLASTIC.COM (1) (Computer Output Microfilm) Creating microfilm or microfiche from the computer. A COM machine receives print-image output from the computer either online or via tape or disk and creates a film image of each page. ! |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion