How to Pass Notes in Class

Last Updated: March 28, 2023

Sometimes, your friends want to know your rumors or what you did for one day, but without distracting the teacher. A set of notes that you write on can make your classmates happy silently! This wikiHow article will tell you how to pass notes in class, although each method listed should only be used in the direst of situations.

Warning: It is a major distraction from your work and you should encourage yourself not to participate in note passing. Please enjoy but if you do get caught, it's your fault. But you can do it if your teacher isn't too strict. This article can help prevent you from getting caught, so... onwards!

Steps

1
Write the note. Keep your note as small as possible. Close it into a square as small as it will go, and keep your handwriting tiny. Remember, you are trying to be inconspicuous.
2
Stretch your hand over the edge of the receiver's desk and let the note drift down. A simpler way to pass the note is to place your hand on the receiver's desk as if steadying yourself and let the note slide out. Or if your neighbor has a purse or bag that is slightly open, you can drop the note in there.

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3
Watch the teacher. If your eyes are focused on them, it will be much easier to tell when to hide.
4
Plan ahead. If you know you'll have a class together with the receiver try to sit in front of, or behind them, instead of next to each other or rows apart. It's less obvious to pass notes over your shoulder than across rows.
5
Write your notes in a notebook. If you have notebooks for the class (the study for a test type), write your note with the paper inside the notebook. It will look like you're writing down and sharing notes about what the teacher was going on about - not what a cute guy just said to you.

Method 1

Method 1 of 20:

The Pen Pass

1
Get a friend to ask you to borrow a pen. Write the note on a piece of paper small enough to fit inside the cap of a pen. Roll the paper and place it inside of the pen. Pass it to the receiver. After that, just wait for them to pass the pen back! They can replace your note with another note and pass it back. Just remember to watch the teacher!
2
Put your note on a certain page in a textbook. Take tiny post-it notes and stick them inside the textbook. Write different notes to direct the receiver like, turn to page 3, turn to page 66, until they find the note. It will look like you or the receiver is studying instead of reading the note.

Method 2

Method 2 of 20:

Decoy Method

1
Keep a spare note handy. Just in case your teacher sees you and asks to bring the note up, have an extra note handy that is about something relating to class but not cheating. For example: "Is the project due on Thursday or Friday?" or "Did you understand the last chapter?"
2
Make sure the note looks similar. It should be the same version that the teacher has already seen. If you don't do this, they'll know you switched it.
3
Toss the note. It can be in a pocket, purse, or back of a book with the fake note pretending that it was impulsive so no one will know.
- If you've already been called up, you should have both notes handy to make the hiding obvious.

Method 3

Method 3 of 20:

Notebook Method

1
Keep a notebook. This is especially if you pass notes with a particular person.
2
Use a one subject spiral notebook to write your notes. Instead of using individual pages, just pass the notebook.
- Some advantages include:
  - A spiral notebook can look like you are sharing notes about the class.
  - It doesn't tempt others to read or intercept it.
  - It's bigger so passing it long distances isn't wise.
  - It's easy to pass to someone sitting close. It doesn't scream "note".

Method 4

Method 4 of 20:

Trash Method

1
Start with a small piece of paper. This can be an index card, or anything else. Then, rip it as much as you can without ripping it into multiple pieces
2
Write your note naturally. Then, fold your index card with the torn parts so it's about a 1x1 inch square with folds on the edge. It should look like a bit of ripped paper going to the trash.
3
Walk up to the trash can. Next, throw it close to the trash can but not in.
4
Let your friend grab the note. Have your friend afterward walk up the trash can, and pick up the note as if it was just a random piece of paper. When they get up, switch the note with any piece of paper they have that looks like the note you threw away.
5
Know what happens if the teacher notices. The teacher may have seen the note, but would not have realized it.

Method 5

Method 5 of 20:

Gum Method (For Classes That Allow Gum)

1
Find a gum wrapper.
2
Write what you want on the wrapper.
3
Pass it to a friend.
4
Have a friend give a wrapper back with a note on it.

Method 6

Method 6 of 20:

Pencil (and Mechanical Pencils)/Pen Method

1
Write your note. Do it on a small piece of paper.
2
Roll the note up around your pencil.
3
Drop the pencil. This is better if your friend sits behind or near you, and if they pick your pencil up.
- If you have a mechanical pencil, take off the top part (where you usually put in the lead) and put your note in there. Then put the top back on and pass it to your friend. It will seem like you were just lending them a pencil.
- Alternatively, this also works with pens with caps and removable grips. Just follow the same steps as for mechanical pencils, but keep hold of the removed grip, and pass the pen holding the cap to cover the note.

Method 7

Method 7 of 20:

Glue-stick Method

1
Twist the glue in the glue-stick.
2
Write your note on a small piece of paper.
3
Put the note inside the lid of the glue stick.
4
Pass the glue stick to your friend.

Method 8

Method 8 of 20:

Walking Past Method

1
Get your note. Then, get out of your seat as if you're getting a drink of water.
2
Walk past your friend's desk. You should give them a note.
3
Go to your seat.
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4
Make it realistic. Instead of just giving your friend the note, then coming back to your seat, go and get a drink of water. You'll seem inconspicuous and more natural.

Method 9

Method 9 of 20:

Tissue Box Method

1
Go and get a tissue.
2
Get a tissue. However, you should put a note in the tissue box.
3
Have your friend walk up and take the note.
- REMEMBER: Always tell your friend that you are using this method before the class, so they will remember to go and get a tissue.

Method 10

Method 10 of 20:

Origami Method

1
Learn to make simple origami shapes.
2
Write your note. You should fold the paper into the origami shape of your choosing.
3
Know what the teacher does. The teacher will only think you are making an origami shape and will not be so suspicious.

Method 11

Method 11 of 20:

Ball Method

1
Tear off a teeny bit of paper from your notebook (approx. 1 in by 1 in).
2
Write what you want to say.
3
Crumple up the paper into a ball.
4
Carefully flick the ball on to your friend's desk while the teacher isn't looking.
- This method works the best when they are sitting near you but if they're not, the ball has enough weight for throwing but is small enough to not make a noise.

Method 12

Method 12 of 20:

Book Pass

1
Get a hard cover book.
2
Write the note.
3
Stick it in the front or back cover.
4
Put the book on the ground and pass it with your feet. Try not to hit other desks.
- This works best if the person is near you. You might want to do the decoy note with this as well.
- If the teacher asks why you are sliding a book, tell them that it was their book. If the teacher checks it and sees that it is yours, then tell them you got confused.

Method 13

Method 13 of 20:

Lip Balm

1
Get a tube of lip balm.
2
Empty the tube. Then, wind it down.
3
Write a note on a long but narrow piece of paper. You should roll it as tight as you can.
- A ripped paper of a notebook is recommended.
4
Put the note on the empty tube. Next, raise the note so it looks like lip balm at a glance.
5
Pass the note.
6
Lower the note. To lower the note, wind the twist part so the base goes down to push the note, so it won't lower independently.

Method 14

Method 14 of 20:

Crayon Method

1
Get a thick crayon.
2
Hollow it out. You might want to carve the inside with a crayon.
3
Make the hole wide, but not too wide. It should be just big enough for you to fit a note inside. Put your note inside the crayon, and you're ready to go!

Method 15

Method 15 of 20:

Pencil Sharpener Method

1
Have a small pencil sharpener. Make sure it can hold pencil shavings, and that you can close and open.
2
Write your note. Fold it up as small as you can, and put it inside the pencil sharpener. Make sure the sharpener has no pencil shavings in it first!
- It helps to use a post-it, as a full-size piece of paper may not fit.
3
Toss the sharpener to your friend. Or if you want, walk over and hand it to them.
- If your friend sits close to the teacher, they may want to actually break their pencil to avoid suspicion.
- If your teacher asks what you're doing, tell them that you're letting your friend borrow your pencil sharpener.
4
Let your friend write a note. You should then put it in the pencil sharpener and hand your sharpener back to you, pretending to return it.

Method 16

Method 16 of 20:

Foot Passing Method

1
Write your note and place it on the floor.
2
Step on the note.
3
Slide the note over to your friend.
- If your friend is on the right, drop and pick something up from the left. While you bend down to get it, flick your foot and raise your leg slightly. This should also be used on the right side.
4
Have your friend step on the note.
5
Finished!

Method 17

Method 17 of 20:

The Reach Method

1
Write your note. Then, fist it up in your hand.
2
Stretch with your hands out. It should be like you are waking up for the day.
3
Let your friend do the same. They should grab the note.

Method 18

Method 18 of 20:

The Helping Method

1
Write a small note.
2
Have a school period where everyone works on their desks.
3
Get your friend to call you over. Or, you can randomly go over to their desk.
4
Say you're explaining something on their sheet. Then, secretly leave the note on their desk.
5
Whisper that you left the note there. It should be in a quiet manner to avoid being caught.
6
Make a quick response. If the teacher asks what you are doing, you say, "Sorry. I was just explaining something to him/her/them."

Method 19

Method 19 of 20:

The Messy Desk Method

1
Put random bits of paper. It should be all over the inside of your desk.
2
Write something on a piece of paper. Then, leave it in between you and your friend.
3
Wait for them to give you back a note.
4
Repeat. This method is particularly useful if you are having a note conversation.

Method 20

Method 20 of 20:

Simple Method

1
Hand the note to your friend when your teacher isn't looking! This should be done if you are near to the friend.
- If your friend sits farther away, you could crumple the note up into a ball and throw it to him/her/them.
- Or, you could pass it to another classmate that sits closer to your friend than you do and tell them to give it to your friend. Make sure your friend is trustworthy to not throw the note or tell the teacher.

Warnings

If people have to pass it down a row to get to your friend, be aware that people may open or read it as they pass it down.

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Helpful 108 Not Helpful 12
Please remember, passing notes could also get your friend in trouble! Often a teacher will punish both the giver and receiver.

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If you need someone to give it to your friend and they look like they gossip a lot don't do it.

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Make sure you think about passing notes before you do it. If your teacher is strict, you should not pass notes or else if caught, you could get in very big trouble.

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If you decide to pass notes, remember that what you write can be seen by anyone near you unless written in code.

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Throwing notes is a bad idea.

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Some people will try to intercept it, so try not to pass it to a friend so far away that 3 or more people are separating you.

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Remember if you're gossiping, bad-talking, or talking about people's boyfriend/girlfriend and they're in that class, don't pass it. The teacher might catch you and read the note out loud and embarrass/anger the person you wrote it about.

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Don't pass notes containing phone numbers, email addresses, social media names, or information on your evening plans or private issues. Anyone can intercept the note and the teacher could read it out to the class if you get caught.

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Consider the consequences. Is writing your friends a note about tacos worth possible detention? On top of that, you will miss a very important lesson. If you must write a note, do it but most talk can wait until the bell rings.

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