Reminiscing about childhood is a weird yet fun pastime. It is also a great way to fill the awkward silence when you run into an acquaintance at the CVS who you haven't spoken to since the 8th grade, but with whom you feel obligated to strike up a great conversation with because you technically grew up with them. "Oh, Jesse, is that you?" "Rebecca. It's been ages." "Yes, so, uh how have you been?" "Uh, good. So... Remember trapper keepers?" "OH GOD YES!" See? Instantly, a boring conversation revitalized. Here is some more nostalgia fodder for you.
1. Taking standardized tests like The Iowas and the PSSAs.
And the number 2 pencils they mandated you to bring, which usually looked like this by the time you were finished.
2. Getting these crayons instead of Crayola was the worst.
We live so close to the Crayola Factory, is it really that difficult to get the good stuff? Come on.
3. Lisa Frank EVERYTHING.
Folders, pencil cases, pens, backpacks, stickers, jewelry. I'm just a Lisa Frank girl living in a Lisa Frank world.
4. These weird erasers.
They crumble pretty much the second you look at them and have the structural integrity of a piece of tuna, but for some reason everyone used them anyway.
5. Gel Pens!
All the cool kids had gel pens. And the really cool kids had glittery gel pens.
6. Playing four square everyday at recess.
I'll kick your ass at four square.
7. Or, hopscotch, if you preferred that.
Yeah, hopscotch is boring.
8. Making these origami frog things.
I couldn't fold one of these today if you paid me $5 million. Back in the day, though, every index card I got my hands on soon turned into an amphibian.
8. Learning what your future holds thanks to cootie catchers.
The most fun part was coming up with weird things to write on the inside.
10. And telling your friends' futures thanks to MASH.
According to this, I will soon be married to Jesse McCartney, and we will be living in an igloo with 100 children.
11. Show and tell.
If you were lucky, you got the kid in your class who would convince the teacher to let them bring their dog.
12. Bringing Beanie Babies with you to school.
Back in the day when we had a spare moment/ lick of energy to think about fun, we would carefully select a beanie baby to accompany us to school for the day.
13. Passing notes with your friends in class or in the hallway.
This particular note is somewhat sad, but that comes with the territory. You take the sad with the glad. It's more sincere than a text, anyway.
14. Mavis Beacon taught you everything you know about typing.
Somewhere that woman is looking down upon me with a beaming smile of pride as I type this at, like 5 million WPM.
15. Sitting through D.A.R.E.
A sobering experience. It really turned my life around.
16. When your teacher rolled this out, you knew it was going to be a good class.
Either that or excruciatingly boring.
17. Watching Muzzy in Spanish class.
Or whatever language class you happened to take. I hope you were lucky enough to experience Muzzy. He was so weird, yet so wonderful.
18. Reading Goosebumps books and then not being able to sleep at night.
Boo! I never actually read them, but I know that a lot of people did. So here you go.
19. Aesthetically perfect bulletin boards.
Do all elementary school teachers have to earn a certificate in bulletin board decorating? Not only were they always gorgeous, but they changed every month. Amazing.
20. Giving the coolest Valentine's Day card to your crush.
If you were feeling brave, you'd write a suggestive message. Like, "Do you like me? Y/N/Maybe"
What else do you remember from grade school? Share in the comments below.
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