35 Hilarious 'Anything But a Cup' Ideas for Teachers

Somewhere between spirit week chaos and caffeine dependency lies one of my favorite school traditions: “Anything But a Cup” Day. The rules? Show up with your drink in literally anything except a normal cup. As a teacher, this gives me the perfect excuse to lean into creativity, chaos, and classroom-appropriate absurdity. Here are 35 funny, functional, and totally classroom-friendly ideas that’ll surprise your coworkers and confuse your students—in the best way possible.

Baby Bottle: Few things say “I’m barely surviving the week” quite like sipping iced coffee from a tiny baby bottle. It’s absurd, strangely satisfying, and guaranteed to get a laugh in the teacher lounge. Bonus points if you burp dramatically afterward.
Beaker or Test Tube: For science teachers, this is your moment. Pull out a lab beaker or a comically oversized test tube, label it “Caffeine Formula,” and watch students whisper about whether it’s an actual experiment.
Flower Pot (Lined): There’s something poetic about drinking coffee from a clean flower pot. Especially if you add a fake plant to make it look like you’re hydrating your philodendron and your soul at the same time.
Measuring Cup: You already use one for baking stress-relief cookies. Now bring it to school. Nothing screams “accurate dosage of caffeine” like holding up a 1-cup or 2-cup measuring container in the middle of a staff meeting.
Lunchbox: Take your childhood nostalgia and turn it into a hydration vessel. Flip it open, insert a straw, and confidently sip away while walking the halls like it’s completely normal.
Pencil Holder: That desk caddy you’ve had since your first year teaching? Dump the pens, clean it out, and raise it to your lips. There’s something beautifully ironic about turning an organizer into a source of chaos.
Plastic Paint Palette: Art teachers—this is your time to shine. Plug one of the little wells with a straw and sip your latte while looking like a walking Pinterest board. Just please, make sure it’s unused.
Old Coffee Pot: Why pour your coffee into a mug when you can just carry the whole pot around? Walk into class, pour a little into your hand, and take a dramatic sip. Office-style efficiency meets unhinged energy.
Teapot: Want elegance with your eccentricity? Walk into your room sipping from a porcelain teapot like you’re hosting a Victorian tea party in between periods. Bonus if you serve yourself with a flourish.
Lysol Wipes Container (Cleaned!): Remove the label, thoroughly clean it, and watch your students do a double take as you sip your juice from a glorified disinfectant tub. Sanitation chic is in.
Frisbee (Held Like a Bowl): If you’re feeling bold and don’t mind precarious balancing, pour a shallow drink into a frisbee and sip from it delicately like a Victorian pigeon. Not very practical, but absolutely on-brand for spirit week chaos.
Plastic Toy Bucket: Whether it’s a mini beach pail or an old sandbox bucket from your classroom supplies, you’ll look both nostalgic and slightly unhinged. Add a mini shovel spoon for flair.
Watering Can: This one’s for the plant parents. Fill it with tea and pretend you’re about to hydrate a peace lily while secretly sipping for survival.
Pet Bowl: Use a new one (please). The visual of a teacher kneeling down to slurp coffee from a dog bowl during passing period is the kind of energy this tradition was made for.
Mini Trash Can: Your drink of choice might not be garbage, but the symbolism is real. Stuff it with tissue paper for insulation, then sip with dramatic resignation.
Hollowed-Out Book: A hidden compartment in an old textbook becomes your undercover coffee stash. Perfect for English teachers who like their caffeine with a side of secrecy.
Slipper (New and Lined): Find a fluffy slipper, line it with plastic, and sip from the heel like it’s fine wine. Slightly gross, mostly brilliant.
Cookie Jar: Open the lid, stick in a straw, and enjoy your drink surrounded by crumbs of happiness. Bonus points if you hide actual cookies inside and snack between sips.
Roll of Paper Towels (Center Removed): Take out the tube, plug one end, and turn it into a tunnel of caffeine. It’s a conversation piece and a metaphor for how your day’s going.
Large Syringe (No Needle): School nurse? This one’s for you. Fill a plastic, oversized syringe with something colorful and go full medical drama meets midday hydration.
Empty Tissue Box: Line it with a cup or drink pouch and sip with an air of emotional vulnerability. Every time someone asks how you’re doing, just point to the box.
Mini Whiteboard Tray: Pull it off your board, rinse it well, and sip carefully. Great for math teachers who love dry erase AND a dry martini aesthetic (but like…apple juice).
Binder Clip Caddy: What once held paper clips now holds your sanity. It’s the office supply upgrade you didn’t know you needed.
Graduation Cap (Upside Down): Flip your cap, fill it with juice, and sip with senior-year swagger. Extra points if you say “I’m graduating… from regular cups.”
Kitchen Ladle: Serve yourself with elegance or sip straight from the scoop like it’s soup for the soul. Bonus points for dramatic slurping.
Plastic Toy Dinosaur: Hollow it out, add a straw, and sip from its back. It’s strange, a little chaotic, and totally unforgettable—just like your Monday morning.
Upside Down Umbrella: Catch real rain or pretend it’s a novelty bowl. Either way, you’ll look like you’re prepared for anything—including leaks and laughter.
Snow Globe (Hollowed): For the overachievers with crafting skills, turn a decorative snow globe into a hydration moment. Shake it for dramatic effect.
Cat Litter Scoop (New!): Clean it thoroughly, line it if needed, and prepare to horrify your coworkers in the best way. It’s a strong opening to any staff room conversation.
Bongo Drum: Hollow out the top, pour in some punch, and drum your way through the day. Music class has never been so hydrated.
Ziplock Bag: Simple, strange, and effective—if slightly squishy. Seal it tight and sip through a straw like a kid at summer camp.
Paper Mâché Project: Grab an old student sculpture, turn it into a cup, and enjoy their horror (and admiration) as you drink from their creation.
Hat (Upside Down): Baseball cap, cowboy hat, or beanie—flip it over, line it, and sip your mocha like you’ve never seen a cup in your life.
Mini Globe: Drink from the world, literally. Geography teachers, this is your new signature move.
Plastic Trophy: Because when you’re surviving a school week with style, you deserve to drink from a symbol of your own greatness. Go ahead, champ.

The best part about “Anything But a Cup” Day isn’t just the wild looks from your coworkers or the endless questions from your students—it’s the chance to break the routine, embrace the absurd, and drink a little joy into your day (literally).

So go ahead—be ridiculous. You’ve earned it. Just maybe bring a backup straw.