April Fool’s Day Ideas

Looking for a couple of cute April Fool’s Day pranks to play on your students?

First, try a test- taking prank!

We just finished our last day of PARCC testing this week. To say that my students (and the teachers!) are all tested out is an understatement! However, this scenario did give me an idea for a cute, little prank.

Project this page onto your Smartboard, or print it and post it in your classroom:

Important Announcement: We have a very important test today!

Photocopy the “Really Important Test” worksheet below and place it on their desk:

Tell your students they will be having a math/spelling/social studies/you name it test and it is IMPERATIVE that they do their absolute best. By now, I almost always have a student ask, “Is this going on the report card?” or “Is this for a grade?” I tell them yes. :)

I then proceed to read the test directions and ask the students the first question. I am very serious and nonchalant when I read the questions, so they do not initially suspect anything suspicious! This is where you are creative with your own students! What questions will you ask them?

These are some of the examples I asked my third graders:
1. What is the square root of 25?
2. What is 25 x 55?
3. What is 25% of 80?
4. What is 1/2 x 8/9?

You can also turn it into a spelling test!
1. Spell the word “hilarious?” Write the definition.

Or a social studies test!
1. What is a major landform in the midwest?

You get the gist! After the first few questions, they will start to understand that it is a joke and you can then tell them “April Fool’s Day!” You can then finish the test questions just for fun :)

You can get these FREEBIE by clicking on the picture below:

Second, pretend that you broke your funny bone!

********A couple of years ago, I posted about this idea . The part below is a repost from my original post.*******

I was reading the April issue of Family Fun magazine, where there were a ton of cute ideas for April Fool’s day pranks. Even though April Fool’s Day is on Sunday, I could not resist this cute prank!

I followed the directions step by step- covered two paper towel rolls with plastic baggies and plastic wrap to create the cast form, slid the tube sock over the form, and covered it with glue. For more detailed direction, click here.

When the students walked into class this morning, they were immediately asking what happened to my arm. I tragically explained that while walking my dog yesterday night, I fell into a crack on the sidewalk and broke my wrist. If only my shoe laces were tied!!!

I had to be rushed to the emergency room where the doctors immediately took an X-ray and put my arm in a cast.

Just devastating.

My fan club was very sympathetic and signed my cast with their well wishes. They were very careful not to press down too much on my sock cast. Anybody who thought that my cast was fake sure changed their mind when they went to go sign it- “Oh yeah, this feels exactly like how my cast did” or “Wow, you must be in a lot of pain with this cast on.”

I got lots of hugs, cards, and letters. Some of the other teachers even thought my cast was real! (And I am NOT fooling with that one!!!)

After lunch, I broke the news to my students, Happy (EARLY!) April Fool’s Day!!!! There were lots of confused looks until I took the cast (sock!) off my arm! They couldn’t believe it!!! They really were shocked! I showed them the article in the magazine and explained how I made the cast- they were very impressed!