What Are Your Most Hilarious Art Room Stories From This Year?

Are you ready to be tickled pink with some gigglesome stories? Put down your paintbrush and get ready to laugh as we dive into the comedy gold of our art rooms this past year! From taste-testing art supplies to impromptu face tattoos, these hilarious stories will leave you doubled over with laughter, and you will be reminiscing about your own student-prompted silly antics. So sit back, relax, and let the chuckles commence!

Let’s look at some of the funny things art teachers recalled from this past year!

We asked art teachers for hilarious stories from the year, and you delivered! Keep reading for some of the silliest things that kept us going.

Kids do, in fact, say the funniest things.

What comes out of our students’ mouths is so surprising and unexpected. Sometimes, all we can do is laugh!

Here are some very quotable moments:

• “I’m allergic to secondary colors.” @Mrsnewburysartclass
• “Glue is made from cows.” (As they looked at an Elmer’s® glue bottle.) @artwithsusan
• “I really like PiCostco.” @rodenbaughart
• “Hi, Mrs. Art!” @lydiakrichardson
• “I made this using temprapedic.” @thenewfoodnstuff
• “What’s a kill room?” (Also known as a kiln room!) @rstauffer535
• “I love crayons. Yellow tastes the best!” @artingsonja

Is it the art room or the buffet line?

There are some things you never thought you’d have to say to students. And there are some things you never thought you’d wonder, like why so many of them want to eat art supplies.

Here are some goofy examples:

• “Glue has no nutritional value.” @joehox
• “Do not lick that paintbrush!” @janemckenziestudios
• “Don’t drink the paint water.” @mohillart
• “This paint doesn’t taste like strawberry.” @petite_felicita
• “Paper is not food.” @flwrpwr_1
• “Clay is not flavored.” @bgreenarted
• “It’s magenta, not margarita!” @eringreenart

Art students are experts… Or so they think!

We spend a lot of time and effort ensuring our students feel safe in our art rooms. So when students feel comfortable and confident, it’s a good feeling! We love seeing students have the confidence to take risks even if they don’t have all the answers. Kendal Reynolds, an elementary art teacher, had a student who was working with clay. The student energetically said, “I was BORN to do this!”

And sometimes, we have students who exhibit a little overconfidence which can lead to some funny interactions. Eric Gibbons, a high school art teacher, shared how they were about to start a new unit on Abstract Expressionism. When he got to Edvard Munch’s The Scream, one student blurted out, “Oooh, oooh, I know it! It’s by that Picasso guy who cut off his ear.”

Material mishaps can make our day.

Students get the opportunity to try out new materials all the time in our classes. Sometimes, with those new experiences come mishaps. These accidents can leave us breathless with laughter when we realize what happened. Chelsea Solano, a secondary art teacher in Texas, had one student on the pottery wheel. His thumb got stuck in a lump of clay he was trying to open. He pulled so hard to get his thumb out that the bat popped up and flew off the wheel! Plus, the clay lump was still stuck on his thumb!

There are bound to be embarrassing moments too.

With the many interactions we have with students, there are bound to be some embarrassing moments. Seeing humor while showing kindness can help build relationships with our students. What are some embarrassing moments from your classes?

Frank Kreacic, a middle school art teacher, had a potentially embarrassing situation for the sake of art! A student was called for early dismissal for an orthodontist appointment. Unfortunately, the student had just plastered his hand to make a mold. So what did they do? The student left class early and went to his appointment, “white clubbed hand” and all!

Expect the unexpected. 

The best we can do is plan and have a backup. However, there is only so much preparation we can do for our classes. There will always be a certain amount of uncertainty when we open our doors and begin to teach. This unknown factor forces us to be flexible and resilient! We can choose to be flustered and stressed or allow it to teach us to slow down and just laugh.

Monica Moore, an elementary art teacher, planned a drip painting unit with third graders. All of the cups of watered-down tempera paint were filled up and ready to go. One student with special needs was so inspired by the action painting video that he took the cups of paint and threw them around the room! Students (and the room) were covered in paint. Everyone helped clean up the mess amidst lots of laughter about the passionate artmaking!

Now that we’ve looked at some funny art room antics, let’s look at the benefits of finding the funny in our classes every day.

There are many benefits to finding humor within our classrooms. Let’s look at the good things that come with using humor and discovering funny moments within our art rooms.

Humor:

• Acts as a much-needed break from the stress and monotony of teaching every day.
• Lightens the mood, boosts morale, and fosters a positive and relaxed environment for students and teachers.
• Stimulates the release of good chemicals in the brain, like endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, which improve overall well-being.
• Reduces stress hormones and increases immune cells.
• Fosters stronger relationships between students and teachers by breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive environment.
• Promotes a love of learning, as students are more likely to be engaged and motivated in an enjoyable atmosphere.

So there you have it, folks: the case for bringing humor into the classroom. It’s not just about the giggles and grins. It’s about creating a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere to help everyone feel at ease and ready to learn. Finding humor in the classroom has numerous benefits for both the individual and the whole classroom. From boosting morale and reducing stress to fostering stronger relationships, the advantages are endless. Whether you overhear goofy conversations or answering unbelievable questions, teaching art is undeniably hilarious. So, next time you find yourself in the middle of a silly moment in the art room, don’t be afraid to embrace it! Not only will it bring a smile to your face, but it may just turn out to be the highlight of your year.

What are the most memorable laughs you had in your class this year?

How does looking at a situation through a lens of humor help you?

What grade is your funniest group?