Third- through Fifth-Grade: Back-to-School Supply List

Here's a basic list if you don't have one from your child's school yet.

By GreatSchools Staff

Before you shop for back-to-school supplies, it's best to get a list of what's required from your child's school or new teacher. If the school list isn't available yet, you can still take advantage of back-to-school sales by sticking to the basics that you know your child will need.

Basic Writing Supplies

No. 2 pencils (Parents should stick to the basics here, advises Nicola Salvatico, Pennsylvania's 2005 Teacher of the Year. "When they get fancy pencils, it becomes a 'that's mine' event.")

Don't Waste Your Money on These

"Feather pencils, light-up pencil sharpeners, pretty erasers that don't work," says Salvatico.
Expensive folders "with many pockets and zippers are basically useless - especially in K-5 - and are often times too big to fit in desks," says Robertson.

Colored pencils

Pencil sharpener (hand held with a top to collect shavings)

Large pink eraser ("These good old ones do the best erasing," says Salvatico "The fancy ones look good but don't erase well.")

Ballpoint pens

Box of crayons (16-pack for younger kids, more for older ones, says Salvatico. "Parents need to think how their child can organize and care for their supplies before buying them the mega box of things.")

Water-based markers

Spiral bound or composition notebooks

Loose-leaf notebook paper
Note: Teachers can be picky about paper. Schools usually supply specially ruled handwriting paper to help younger children with letter formation. Older children use wide-ruled paper.

Basic Organizational Supplies

3-ring binder

Pocket folders

Box for storing supplies

Highlighters

Index cards, ruled and unruled (for making flash cards)

A sturdy, supportive backpack
Note: Some schools do not permit rolling backpacks because of space considerations, so check with your school before considering this option.

Basic Craft Supplies

Drawing paper

Construction paper

A ruler with English and metric measurements

Glue sticks

4-oz. bottle of white glue

Scotch tape

Stapler

Scissors (blunt end for younger kids, pointy for older ones)

Water color paints

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Comments from GreatSchools.net readers

08/11/2009:

"thanks for a great service"

07/15/2009:

"why do 3rd graders need staplers and what kind!"

07/15/2009:

"Can you seperate for each grade level. Not all schools need that much stuff."

07/7/2009:

"what if you need these school supplies and cant find them?"

08/28/2008:

"This was very helpful to my parents and I. I've been looking all over the internet for a fifth grade shopping list. I thought I'd never find one! Then I clicked this link and found it!! I had to think for a minute because I thought that I had no choise, I thought I HAD to print it. But I thought for a minute and then I started just writing it all on a peice of paper! Now I just have to go to the store and I'll be ready for school!"

08/25/2008:

"This is so helpful to younger minds and there parents! This gets them on the right track! You should mention that 2 weeks after school starts it will be half off!"

08/25/2008:

"These children need to learn self respect and for see that putting them in school colors will give them the self respect. It is to expesive to buy clothes for more them one child, where buying them uniforms It is much cheaper and they look good in unigorms. Less clothes will be missing or stolen. Lets bring uniforms back to school."

08/19/2008:

"Thank you for some very helpful suggestions. You people are priceless."

08/19/2008:

"I was very happy to see that this site was available. My child has been attending the same school for five years and I was disappointed to see that they had no information available for supplies or a schedule of events. Nothing! I want to let you know I am grateful for having this site to help. Thank you! "

08/14/2008:

"I am Having a difficult time paying for my kids supplies, and my community center said that they ran short this year and can not help. My husband died in May, and I am riddled with expenses, and on disability. The sschool said they will waive my tuitions, but cant help with supplies. Do you have any ideas. I have one 10 year old going into 5th grade, and a 12 year old going into 7th. Regards, Krisit Doll"

08/13/2008:

"this is a great site for parents and teachers"

07/29/2008:

"This is a great site to keep parents up to date. Finding out important information online for our kids is great knowing its only a finger tip away."

07/28/2008:

"great job!"

07/25/2008:

"I teach 3rd grade and noticed that on your list of supplies you recommended hand-held pencil sharpeners. I do not allow my students to use these because they spend way too much time sharpening and re-sharpening during class. I also find the shavings all over the classroom. I bought 5 good electric sharpeners instead and the whole class can sharpen 2 pencils in less than 2 minutes. Thanks for your consideration."

07/24/2008:

"My kids school has supply lists available in the school office. For some reason they will not respond to the local stores that have requested them. All schools are different and need different items.This list is helpful and is a great starting point, My son's list is huge and has crazy requests on it. "

07/24/2008:

"School boxes are nice, but as a teacher I really do not like them. They are really noisy and can be a distraction. The pouches are much better. "

07/23/2008:

"Our school doesn't like school boxes - they ask that we buy pouches instead as they are more flexible and fit in crowded desks more easily."

07/23/2008:

"The back to school supply list was very helpful since my sons will be entered a new school system that I'm not familar with. Thanks for the tips."

07/18/2008:

"This is a really good site to look at whenI dont know what I need."