April Fools Day Worksheets are popular educational resources for teachers and homeschoolers to tie the April Fools' Day holiday in to various curriculum areas. This Mahalo page has links to many worksheets and ideas for making your own worksheets.
April Fools Day History
April Fools Day is also known as All Fools Day. It is celebrated on April 1 in most countries, however, in Iran, it is celebrated on April 3. Historical tradition points to France as the birthplace of the holiday.
Until the time of Charles IX of France, the new year had been celebrated in conjunction with the vernal equinox, which happens sometime between March 25 and April 1. With the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, King Charles decreed in 1564 that the new year would henceforth be celebrated on January 1.http://www.searchforancestors.com/utility/gregorian.html http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/Hoaxipedia/April_Fools_Day_-_Origin/
News traveled slowly in those days. People who hadn't switched over to the new calendar yet were known as "April Fools". They became the butt of jokes, pranks, hoaxes, and "Fool's Errands" by those that had adopted the January 1 New Year. http://www.searchforancestors.com/utility/gregorian.html http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/Hoaxipedia/April_Fools_Day_-_Origin/
April Fools Day Paper Pranks:
- Immobile Mouse: Place a small self-stick note on the bottom of a computer mouse covering the roller ball. When the user turns it over to find out why the mouse won't work, they'll find your "April Fool!" note.
- Perplexing Pop Quiz: Use the "Mirror Image" or similar feature on your printer's settings to print a quiz or test backwards. The students will have to hold the test paper face-up to the light to read the test.
- Quirky Quiz: Develop an elaborate test that begins by telling the student to read the entire test before doing anything. Test "questions" could include folding the top right corner of the paper, writing your name on the bottom of the paper, or circling each test question number. End the test with "If you have not written any answers, you have followed directions very well. Do not write any answers. Turn your paper over and read silently. Do not tell anyone your discovery. Have a fun April Fool's Day!"
- In 2007, GMail offered to print users' e-mails, stack them, and ship them as one of their famous April Fools Day hoaxes.
Featured Video: Student Prank on Teacher Backfires
These students at Olathe Northwest High School tried to prank one of their teachers, Joel Branstrom, into thinking he had made a blindfolded half-court shot. They had planned to fake applause. Much to their surprise, their teacher made the shot. Queen's We Are the Champions plays in the background. Some of the students can be seen crying, they are so affected.
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Celebrated April 1
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Traditionally a day of jokes, pranks and hoaxes
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Celebrated by young and old alike
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Started in France with the change to the Gregorian Calendar
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Is perhaps the only day that teachers can get away with playing practical jokes on their students.
