15 ’80s School Activities That Kids Today Wouldn’t Believe
Take a nostalgic ride back to the 1980s with these unforgettable school activities that would leave today’s kids in total disbelief.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
The 1980s were a wild and wonderful time to be a student. From smoking areas on campus to dodgeball rules that bordered on brutal, school life back then was a different universe. This list will make you laugh, gasp, and maybe even miss the chaos of simpler times.
1. Smoking Areas on School Grounds
Sean Foster on Unsplash
Yes, schools actually had designated smoking sections — sometimes for students! As wild as it sounds, many high schools permitted teens to light up during lunch breaks.
2. Filmstrip Days with Actual Projectors
Rockclaw1030 on Wikimedia Commons
Before smartboards, we had clunky filmstrip projectors that clicked through frames at a snail’s pace. Students took turns advancing the film with a beep cue, which felt like a big responsibility.
3. Playing Dodgeball with No Mercy
Picryl
Dodgeball in the ’80s was borderline warfare. There were no soft foam balls — just rubber missiles that could leave welts. Getting nailed in the face was a badge of honor.
4. Riding Without Seatbelts on School Trips
Stocker LL on Unsplash
Bus safety in the ’80s? Practically nonexistent. Kids freely bounced around the back of the bus, playing games, shouting, and even wrestling. There were no seatbelts and no real supervision.
5. Typing Class on Loud Typewriters
Daniel McCullough on Unsplash
Typing class was a staple, and it was noisy. Students sat at giant, clunky typewriters, hammering away at metal keys while trying to hit a certain words-per-minute goal.
6. Passing Notes with Spelling Errors
RDNE Stock project on Pexels
Sharpened pencils weren’t just for homework — they doubled as tools to fold secret notes. These memos often featured cringeworthy misspellings and doodles.
7. Recess Kick-the-Can Marathons
How can I recycle this on Flickr
Recess wasn’t just playtime — it was an extended session of kick-the-can that could last the entire break. Entire playgrounds were transformed into capture zones.
8. Encyclopedia Cart Treasure Hunts
Clay Banks on Unsplash
Research meant battling with dusty volumes on a rolling cart. Librarians quizzed you: “What volume’s on parrots?” You raced to grab the right tome and flip pages manually.
9. Schoolwide Poster-Making Projects
Kaboompics.com on Pexels
Craft days involved glue, glitter, and poster boards that smelled like freshly cut cardboard. Projects tackled topics like solar systems or ancient civilizations.
10. Passing a 3-Minute-Long Filmstrips with Teacher Narration
Toy Polar Bear on Wikimedia Commons
Long before YouTube, teachers queued educational filmstrips on a projector. Each click was synced to a monotone narration — miss one, and you’d rewind.
11. Peace Corners for Smoking Teachers
Rasheed Kemy on Unsplash
Teachers held secret smoke breaks behind the building or in hidden corners. Students sometimes stumbled upon clouds of cigarette smoke floating behind classrooms.
12. Using Slide Rules in Math Class
ArnoldReinhold on WIkimedia Commons
Calculators weren’t common, so students learned slide rules to compute logarithms and powers. It took dexterity, estimation skills, and cool confidence with sliding scales.
13. Outdated School Announcements on Bulky PA Systems
Chris Tan on Wikimedia Commons
Morning announcements blared over noisy speakers connected to massive PA systems. Muffled voices reminded students about the field day or lost library books.
14. Band Class with Real Brass Instruments
Melanie Alvarado on Unsplash
Band class meant hauling heavy trombones or trumpets. Students learned complex scales, endured ear-piercing rehearsal sessions, and tidied spit valves daily.
15. Yearbook Signing with Permanent Markers
ChalkbeatNY on Flickr
End-of-year tradition: signing yearbooks with unwashable ink. Classmates scribbled inside jokes, doodles, and heartfelt messages you’d revisit for years.