When a student says... Can we do something fun today?

They file in as ordinary as always, and you are gearing up for the lesson: tidying, locating papers, taking attendance, having a mild panic attack, what have you.  A student plops down in her seat and before class even begins she says, "Can we do something fun today?"

And this runs through your mind: Something fun? Really? I stay up late and spend way more time than I'm paid for to find interesting, engaging activities for your young minds to thrive on every day. I cut paper. I use markers. I go through index cards like they're toilet paper trying to organize 'fun' things for you all every day. Every. Day.  And this is the thanks I get?

This phenomenon might come from a place of exasperation, boredom, insensitivity, or it may be a completely insignificant comment altogether.  Who knows? Perhaps we should ask one day. But maybe they don't even know.
There are two facts which we all must face if we shall live on in such trying conditions (read: sarcasm):

Numero Uno: Students, no matter their grade level, will always want to learn by having fun.  Note that I did not say, 'will always want to play games' because that is not the case.  Although they may not admit it, students want to be stimulated, they just don't want to know they are being stimulated.  They want it to be sneaky.  They want to be able to exercise their minds and use them; this is why meaningless games of Hang Man and Seven Up does not always pacify them.

Numero Dos: Alas, 'tis but too true. Learning is NOT always fun.  Perhaps its the way I was raised but I think this is more the rule than the exception.  Don't get me wrong, the old days of a teacher standing at the front of the room and talking at the class should be over.  But think of some of the most important things you've learned - did you learn them in a fun environment? How to talk? How to walk? How to do CPR? How to say "I'm sorry"? How to accept discipline in a mature way, call your insurance company, know when you're being taken advantage of, buy a car, etc?   Did you do any of those things while laughing hysterically, having a party, or throwing confetti in the air? Probably not.

Life lessons are not always learned in a fun way.  But that doesn't mean that we as teachers should not try to put a new spin on things in our day-to-day classes.  We keep trying.  And when a student asks, "Can we do something fun today?" maybe we'll be able to say, You know what, I'd like that.