13 School Assignments That Sound Absurd Now
These old-school assignments might have made sense back then, but today, they sound completely ridiculous.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
School used to be full of odd projects that would raise eyebrows today. Teachers once thought these tasks helped us learn, but many now feel more like strange rituals. Here are some of the weirdest school assignments we were actually graded on.
1. Creating a Family Tree You Had to Share With Everyone
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It seemed harmless, but having to chart out your entire family for classmates to see was a little intrusive. Not every kid felt great explaining complicated family situations. These days, teachers are more aware of how personal that kind of assignment really is.
2. Bringing in “Something From Your Culture” Without Help
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Kids were expected to explain their heritage like they were cultural ambassadors. Many students had no idea where to start or felt like they had to invent something just to have something to show. Teachers rarely gave enough support to make this feel anything but awkward.
3. Dissecting a Frog in Middle School
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For some reason, peeling apart amphibians was considered essential science. Many students were traumatized by the smell alone. Today, virtual dissection tools have mostly taken its place, and few people miss the real thing.
4. Making a Diorama of a Scene From a Book
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You had to turn a shoebox into a literary scene using cotton balls and construction paper. It was more about craft skills than understanding the story. Somehow, your grade depended on how well you glued tiny figures in place.
5. Dressing Like a Historical Figure for the Day
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This sounded fun until kids showed up in bedsheets pretending to be togas or paper beards taped to their faces. Many students had no clue what their historical figure actually did. It often turned into a weird fashion show more than a history lesson.
6. Reenacting a Trial Like the Salem Witch Trials
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Turning a dark chapter in history into a classroom performance was odd at best. Accusing your friend of witchcraft in front of the class felt more like a skit than a serious lesson. Looking back, the tone rarely matched the content.
7. Keeping a Food Diary for Health Class
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You had to write down every bite you took, even if lunch was just chips and a juice box. Kids often felt judged or embarrassed by what they ate. It taught more anxiety than nutrition for some students.
8. Making a Volcano That Had to Actually Erupt
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Baking soda and vinegar became your science grade. Some kids ended up in tears when their volcano just fizzled. Others flooded the classroom, trying to make theirs too dramatic.
9. Pretending to Be a Pioneer for an Entire Week
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You churned butter, wore bonnets, and wrote with feathers like it was 1845. The goal was to “experience history,” but it usually just meant you were itchy and confused. Teachers got into it more than the students ever did.
10. Being Graded on Your Handwriting
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Penmanship was once an actual subject with its own grade. You could ace every test and still get marked down for how your letters looked. Cursive was the main focus, even though almost no one uses it now.
11. Recording Yourself Reading Out Loud
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Teachers wanted to check your fluency, but listening to your own voice was pure horror. Some kids refused to play their recordings back in class. It felt more like public speaking torture than reading practice.
12. Writing Letters to Future You That Got Mailed Years Later
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It was supposed to be meaningful, but usually ended up as a mix of cringey dreams and awkward doodles. When the letter showed up years later, most people forgot about writing it. It was a strange mix of time capsule and classroom prank.
13. Creating a Resume at Age 13
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Middle schoolers were told to draft resumes despite having no job experience. Some kids filled theirs with babysitting or being “line leader” in first grade. It was more confusing than helpful and rarely made sense at that age.