15 Things Every Kid Remembered About Going to School in the ’70s
School in the ’70s was a wild mix of chalk dust, polyester, and unforgettable moments that every kid still laughs about.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
The 1970s classroom was a place where rules were looser, snacks were sugar-packed, and fashion was fabulously funky. It wasn’t perfect, but it was full of charm and chaos in equal parts. These 15 memories stick like glue on a Trapper Keeper.
1. Metal Lunchboxes
Tima Miroshnichenko on Wikimedia Commons
You weren’t cool unless your lunchbox had The Fonz, Wonder Woman, or Scooby-Doo on it. It doubled as a food container and a weapon in the hallway. The thermos inside always leaked, but we brought it anyway. It smelled like warm SpaghettiOs and childhood dreams.
2. Filmstrip Days
Luriko Yamaguchi on Wikimedia Commons
When the lights dimmed and the reel clicked on, it felt like movie magic—even if it was about dental hygiene. The teacher would forget to beep, and we’d yell “NEXT!” in unison. Half the class would fall asleep. The rest would stare at the dust in the projector light.
3. Trapper Keepers
Yortizsoto16 on Wikimedia Commons
They were loud, neon, and practically impossible to close once full. Every kid had one, and stuffing it with notes, stickers, and folded-up doodles was a daily ritual. They snapped shut with a satisfying Velcro rip. It was like having a briefcase, but cooler.
4. Overhead Projectors
Swadim on Wikimedia Commons
The teacher’s handwriting looked 10 feet tall and somehow still unreadable. They drew on those clear plastic sheets with squeaky markers. If they forgot to clean them, the students would get last week’s math mixed in with today’s spelling—low-tech, high-drama.
5. Dodgeball
Soo C. Kim on Wikimedia Commons
Played with red rubber balls that stung like bee slaps. Getting hit in the face was common—and totally legal. The gym class turned into a survival game. The tough kids ruled, and everyone else dodged for their lives.
6. Pencil Sharpeners
Qdajet22 on Wikimedia Commons
Mounted on the wall and loud enough to wake the dead. It took five minutes, and you shredded your pencil into a toothpick. Still, we loved the excuse to get up and make noise. Bonus points if the shavings spilled everywhere.
7. Scratch ’n Sniff Stickers
Barbara Olsen on Pexels
Teachers gave them out like gold stars, and we’d sniff our way through math class. Pizza, popcorn, root beer—some smelled great, others smelled like lies. Collecting them was serious business. Trading was more intense than Monopoly night.
8. TV on a Rolling Cart
Christiano Sinisterra on Pexels
If you saw that wheeled-in TV, you knew it was going to be a good day. The class would cheer like it was the Super Bowl. Half the time, the VCR didn’t work, and someone had to adjust the tracking. It was still better than spelling quizzes.
9. School Fire Drills
Staff Sgt. Kevin Frazier on Wikimedia Commons
The fire drills were sudden, loud, and totally disorganized. We’d file outside in crooked lines, hoping it wasn’t a real fire. Someone always took their sweet time grabbing their coat, but hey, anything that got us out of class was a win.
10. Playground Mayhem
Adam on Wikimedia Commons
Concrete jungle gyms, metal slides hotter than lava, and no helmets in sight. We climbed, jumped, fell, and somehow survived. The only rule was, “Don’t bleed on the teacher’s shoes.” Safety was a suggestion.
11. Milk in Cartons
Skånemejerier on Wikimedia Commons
You got chocolate if you were lucky and warm white if you weren’t. The cartons never opened right—you’d tear one side and spill it all. It tasted weird, but you drank it anyway. Calcium was mandatory.
12. Bulletin Boards
DanTD on Wikimedia Commons
The bulletin board was covered in construction paper, crooked borders, and uneven cutouts. Teachers thought they were artists. You’d secretly judge their color choices. Still, seeing your work up there made you feel like a star.
13. The Paddle
Joel Bradshaw on Wikimedia Commons
Yes, some schools still use it. It hung on the wall like a threat and had a name like “The Persuader.” Even if you never got paddled, the fear was enough. Discipline came with sound effects.
14. Cursive Writing
Nikimerlyn on Wikimedia Commons
Taught like it was the language of royalty. We practiced loops and curls until our hands cramped. Teachers were serious about those capital Qs. Today, most of us can barely read our signatures.
15. Weekly Readers
Internet Archive Book Images on Wikimedia Commons
Those little newspapers brought world news to the classroom, ’70s style. Stories about pandas, presidents, and spacewalks felt very important. The paper smelled like ink and wonder. It was basically our internet.