Anything but a cup day has become a very popular school spirit week theme. On this day, students are encouraged to drink beverages out of anything that is not a traditional cup or water bottle. This is also a common party theme. It encourages people to be creative and offers a great conversation starter!
What is Anything But a Cup Day at School?
“Anything But a Cup Day” is a day where students bring unusual containers to drink from at school. The idea is to use something that is different from your usual water bottle or cup. It has become a popular spirit-week theme at many middle schools and high schools, similar to “anything but a backpack day”.
What is an Anything But a Cup Party?
At an “Anything But a Cup Party”, guests will show up with their own containers to drink from. At these parties, you’ll usually have a communal beverage such as a punch bowl where your guests can fill up the containers that they brought in. These parties are lots of fun because people get a good laugh at the containers that the guests bring!
Anything But a Cup Ideas
- Watering can: Bring a clean watering can and sip your drink like you are taking care of a garden.
- Teapot: A small teapot feels fun and a little fancy during the school day.
- Cleaned peanut butter jar: Rinse out a peanut butter jar and use it to drink out of
- Ketchup bottle: If your bottle of ketchup at home is nearly empty, then empty it out and clean it to use as a cup!
- Flowerpot: Bring a clean flower pot to drink from! Make sure that it does not have any filtration holes at the bottom
- Cereal bowl: Drink from a cereal bowl! Bonus points if it’s one of those cereal bowls with a built in straw
- Juice carton: Wash out an old juice carton, like an orange juice carton, and use it as a cup.
- Sippy cup: Bring a toddler style sippy cup to drink from
- Beach bucket: Those beach buckets in the shape of a castle would make an excellent cup for anything but a cup day at school.
- Measuring cup: Bring a measuring cup from your kitchen. Grab the largest one your can find!
- Thermos food container: Use the food container part of a thermos instead of the usual drink cup.
- Plastic mixing bowl: You probably have an assortment of mixing bowls in your kitchen. This would be perfect to use for anything but a cup day.
- Craft supply bin: A small storage bin, like the ones used for art supplies, makes for a great container.
- Pitcher: The best part about this is that they’re already designed to hold liquid. You just need to drink out of it
- Baby bottle: You probably haven’t drank out from a baby bottle in many years, consider using one if you have one at home!
- Travel soap container: A brand new and empty soap container can work as a mini drink holder.
- Plastic storage jar: An empty plastic jar used for snacks or pantry items can be washed and reused for a drink.
- Thermos lid: Some thermos lids double as tiny bowls, which makes them a simple option.
- Mason jar: Many people like drinking out of Mason jars. This makes them a perfect choice for anything but a cup day.
- Tupperware cup: Use the container from a reusable food storage set for a practical choice.
- Ice cream container: Clean out a small ice cream tub and sip from it for a sweet themed container.
- Salsa jar: Try drinking from an emptied and cleaned out salsa jar.
- Blender Pitcher: The blender pitcher without the base works as a tall and sturdy drink holder.
- Popcorn bucket: A plastic movie popcorn bucket should be able to store liquids to use as a cup.
- Gallon Milk Jug: Bring in an empty gallon milk jug to drink from. Simply rinse it out and reuse it for another beverage!
- Coffee carafe: The pot from a drip coffee maker works great once it is cleaned.
- Gravy boat: Gravy boats are usually only used on Thanksgiving. Give it a second life by using it as a cup.
- Olive jar: A long, tall olive jar makes for a unique drinking vessel.
- Snack container: Use a clean container that usually holds pretzels or crackers.
- Lunch soup container: A reusable soup container normally used for hot food can hold cold drinks too.
- Large yogurt cup: An empty family size yogurt cup can be washed and reused for a wide drink holder.
- Rice cooker bowl: The inner bowl from a rice cooker can hold a drink after it has been washed.
- Squirt gun: Fill a clean squirt gun with your drink and sip from the opening for a funny twist.
- Spray bottle: Use a clean spray bottle set to stream so you can take neat and steady sips.
- Gas can (brand new only): A brand new gas can would make for a hilarious cup at an anything but a cup party
- Vase: A clean vase works as a tall and stylish drink holder. You can also keep fake flowers in it if you’d like.
- Fish bowl: A small fish bowl gives you plenty of room and always gets attention.
- Flask: If you have a flask at home, it would make for a great cup!
- Chemistry beaker: A plastic or classroom safe beaker adds a fun science theme to your day.
- Dog bowl (new): A brand new pet bowl makes a silly and playful drink container.
- Shampoo bottle: If you clean it very well, you could use a shampoo bottle to store liquids. Make sure to clean it out very well, or use a liner.
- Trophy: A trophy cup can hold a drink and makes you look like you won something big.
- Piggy bank: A lightweight plastic piggy bank can be emptied and used as a quirky drink holder.
- Balloon: A large balloon filled with liquid can be opened for careful sipping and makes a humorous choice.
- Bell pepper: A hollowed out bell pepper can be turned into a colorful drink container.
- Plastic pumpkin bucket: A Halloween style pumpkin bucket gives your drink a fun seasonal look.
- Hollowed out pineapple: A pineapple becomes a tropical themed cup once the inside is removed.
- Coconut: A coconut can be opened and used as a natural and beach inspired container.
- Rain boot (preferrably new): A brand new rain boot creates a funny and memorable drink holder for anything but a cup day.
- Cookie tin: A clean cookie tin adds a cozy and festive touch to your drink.
- Pyrex container: A small Pyrex dish works well and feels sturdy and practical.
@mrs_obryant 4.5 school days left! Getting to the end by keeping ourselves entertained🥴😆 #UndergroundSpiritWeek #TeacherTok #AnythingButACup
What are the Rules for Anything but a Cup Day?
The main objective of anything but a cup day is to simply use unusual containers to drink water from. Basically anything except for a normal cup or water bottle. Any other type of container is fair game! If you’re attending an Anything But a Cup party, the point is to choose something fun. Look through the things you have at home that would make for entertaining cups and choose one of those!
Remember to be safe
You should never consume liquids out of contaminated containers of any sort. Do not use any containers that previously had hazardous materials in them. While some of them might seem like really funny ideas for anything but a cup day, you don’t want to ingest anything that could harm you. Additionally, you don’t have to drink out of your container. You can simply add a straw and pretend to be drinking from it.