Get Caught? Or Not!? Simple Ways to Kill Time During Class
Have you ever felt like time was crawling during class? You might be tempted to reach for your phone, but getting caught would be a big problem.
The truth is, there are clever ways to pass the time that won’t disrupt the lesson and are hard for the teacher to notice.
In this article, we’ll introduce ideas you can do quietly at your desk and tricks that make use of your notebook—safe options even during class.
They’re a great way to refresh your mind too, so it’s a win-win.
Give them a try!
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Handwork you can do during class (1–10)
Magic practice
The “magic practice” you can secretly do even during class is a popular way to pass the time—you just quietly move your hands and have fun.
The method is to hide a pen in one hand and an eraser in the other; with a smooth motion of your hands, the pen seems to vanish, and then the eraser appears.
By adjusting the order in which you show them and the angle of your hands, it looks as if the objects have swapped places in a mysterious way.
It takes not only dexterity but also a bit of acting and timing, so it’s a good workout for your brain, too.
Since you can practice quietly without drawing attention and it serves as a nice change of pace, it’s perfect for a quick break during a long class.
Once you get the hang of it, you might even surprise your friends!
Rubber band skipping
@aiue_omitu Ping-pap-bon-ban-bon-pap-bee-nhair tieKilling time during class
♬ original sound – Zoya
Let me introduce a silent, classroom-friendly idea called “Rubber Band Relay.” It’s a simple game where you move a rubber band from finger to finger in sequence, but it gets much more fun when you play an internal rhythm in your head.
Match your movements to your favorite song or a trending melody—move on every beat, speed up just for the chorus, and more—so you can play at your own timing.
It’s discreet, perfect for a quick mental reset, and as you focus on your fingertip movements, you might find your mind feeling clearer too.
Give it a try!
Make a flipbook
Perfect for passing the time in class, flipbook-making is a great pastime.
This activity, where you draw a series of illustrations with slight changes in movement on the edge of your notebook or on used pages, requires concentration.
Even simple motions—like a stick figure running or a heart bouncing—become addictive once finished, because flipping through them is so fun.
Even if you’re not confident in your drawing skills, focusing on gradual changes works well.
Drawing in the corner of your notebook keeps it low-profile and less noticeable to those around you.
It’s an idea for secretly completing an animation while pretending to pay attention in class.
Eraser stamp making
For the ultimate time-killer, how about trying your hand at making eraser stamps? A person named Nancy Seki became the world’s first eraser print artist, and in recent years the craft has been getting attention on TV shows and gaining popularity! Since you use an eraser that’s almost certainly on your desk, it’s probably not something that will be easily noticed.
Start by carving your own name! If you press the eraser onto your name written with a marker, it’s easy to create the reversed lettering.
Once you get the hang of it, try tackling drawings too!
Draw the floor plan of the house you want to live in
A great way to pass the time using your imagination is to sketch floor plans of the house you’d like to live in.
Use the margins of your notebook to design your own ideal home.
Piecing together a layout with a spacious living room, a dream island kitchen, or even a secret-base-style room is a lot of fun, and time flies by.
Graph paper lets you draw more realistically and deepens your immersion.
Since you’re just moving your hand quietly, it’s hard for others to notice, and you can even make it look like you’re taking serious notes.
If you pay attention to shapes and measurements, it might also help boost your skills in arts and crafts or math.
Odd one out quiz creation
@sorarukaaaa Killing time during classClass
♬ Bling-Bang-Bang-Born – Creepy Nuts
A perfect quiet activity during class is “Odd-One-Out Quiz Making.” Fill a page of your notebook with lots of W’s, and secretly mix in just one M.
It’s hard to spot at a glance, so it really tests focus and observation skills.
It’s fun to decide where to sneak in the M, and making it yourself is a good brain workout.
If you give it to a friend as a challenge, you can’t help but smile as they ask, “Is there really one?” and “Where is it?” It’s easy to prepare and completely silent, so it’s great for a discreet in-class game or a quick mental break.
Draw trick art
@mozu_studios I tried drawing a rainbow in my notebook! I’ve posted a tutorial on YouTube, so please give it a try too!Trick art
♬ Hello – OMFG
Here’s an idea you can quietly focus on even during class—and that’ll make you grin when you finish: drawing trick art.
The fun part is how things like cubes, staircases, and rainbows start to look surprisingly three-dimensional just by playing with shadows and angles.
You can use your everyday stationery—no special tools needed.
It’s perfect for sneaking in a little fun, since you can work on it bit by bit in short free moments.
When you show your finished notebook, you’ll have your friends asking, “How did you do that?” It’s a quiet yet eye-catching bit of hand-drawn art.