What School Supplies Do I Need?

A question we are commonly asked this time of year is: "What school supplies do I need to get for my Timberdoodle curriculum kit?"

The simple answer is you wouldn't actually have to have much beyond your basic pencil and paper, maybe a pair of scissors and some glue or tape for most of our kits.

However, school supplies are always on sale in August so that's the time to stock up on anything you might want for the upcoming school year. Chances are you will likely find a few extra supplies do come in handy, so we are compiling this list to help you with your planning and back-to-school shopping.

The Basics

For most kits you will want to have the following on hand:

• pencils
• erasers
• pens
• crayons or colored pencils (included in some kits, see grade specific notes below)
• age-appropriate scissors
• unlined white paper
• lined notebook paper
• glue sticks
• 3-ring binder with dividers or pocket folders
• spiral notebooks
• pencil sharpener

Office Supplies

Chances are you have some of these items already. You may find they come in handy for school as well:

• Sharpies
• highlighters
• scotch tape
• index cards
• white out
• sticky notes
• ruler
• paper clips
• brads
• stapler and staples
• file folders
• hole punch
• page protectors

Craft Supplies

Some of the activity books in our kits suggest crafts, but they are pretty open-ended so you can use what you have on hand. Here are a few suggested items to get you started on stocking a craft bin or cupboard:

• cardstock paper
• colored copy paper or construction paper
• washable markers
• white glue
• assorted acrylic paints (red, blue, yellow, black, white)
• paint brushes or sponges
• clothes pins
• pipe cleaners
• yarn
• googly eyes
• pom poms
• stickers

Equipment

The equipment you choose is totally optional and a matter of personal preference. Many families have found items on this list useful:

• magnetic white board with dry erase markers
• computer printer or copier
• paper cutter
• laminator
• rolling 3-tier cart
• bins or shelves
• audio CD player
• DVD player - especially if you are using Math-U-See
• computer with CD drive for certain products (see grade specific list below)

Grade Specific Needs

Here is a quick overview of what supplies are included or might be needed for each grade level:

• Tiny Tots
• No extra supplies needed.
• Preschool
• Kit includes Crayon Rocks, Kwik Stix, and meori Mini tote.
• Will need preschool scissors for Kumon Cutting Skills books.
• May want to add paper and more craft supplies.
• PreK
• Kit includes pencils, colored pencils, pencil sharpener, and meori Mini tote.
• May want to add paper and more craft supplies.
• Kindergarten
• Kit includes pencils, colored pencils, pencil sharpener, meori Mini tote.
• May want to add paper and more craft supplies.
• Will need DVD player for Math-U-See.
• 1st Grade
• Kit includes colored pencils.
• Will need basic school supplies.
• May want to add assorted craft supplies.
• Will need mini brads and a mini hole punch for Famous Figures.
• Will need 2 AA batteries for Robotis Play 600 Pets.
• Will need audio CD player for Story of the World audiobook.
• Will need DVD player for Math-U-See.
• 2nd Grade
• Kit includes colored pencils.
• Will need basic school supplies.
• May want to add assorted craft supplies, particularly paint or markers for the Knight on Horseback project.
• Will need mini brads and a mini hole punch for Famous Figures.
• Will need audio CD player for Story of the World audiobook.
• Will need DVD player for Math-U-See.
• 3rd Grade
• Kit includes colored pencil and sketching set.
• Will need basic school supplies.
• May want to add assorted craft supplies.
• Will need mini brads and a mini hole punch for Famous Figures.
• Will need 3 AAA batteries for Circuit Maze.
• Will need audio CD player for Story of the World audiobook.
• Will need DVD player for Math-U-See.
• Will need computer with CD drive for Typing Instructor and Complete-a-Sketch.
• 4th Grade
• Kit includes colored pencil and sketching set.
• Will need basic school supplies.
• May want to add assorted craft supplies.
• Will need audio CD player for Story of the World audiobook.
• Will need DVD player for Math-U-See.
• 5th Grade
• Kit includes colored pencils.
• Will need basic school supplies.
• Will need DVD player for Math-U-See.
• Will need computer with standard USB port for Code Rocket.
• Will need computer with CD drive for StopMotion Explosion.
• 6th Grade
• Kit includes colored pencils.
• Will need basic school supplies.
• Will need DVD player for Math-U-See.
• Will need computer with CD drive for Typing Instructor and Complete-a-Sketch.
• 7th Grade
• Will need basic school supplies.
• May want a set of artist's drawing pencils.
• Will need DVD player for Math-U-See.
• Will need computer with internet access for Intro to Filmmaking.
• Will need computer with CD drive for Simply Draw.
• 8th Grade
• Will need basic school supplies.
• Will need computer with internet access and an inexpensive joystick for Intro to Aviation. (The joystick we recommend is the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro. See product listing for required computer specs.)
• Will need DVD player for Math-U-See.
• Will need a smartphone or tablet with data for Cupixel Bundle.
• 9th Grade
• Will need basic school supplies.
• Will need DVD player for Math-U-See.
• Will need a computer with CD drive for Biology 101 and Professor Teaches Office.
• 10th Grade
• Will need basic school supplies.
• Will need 3 AA batteries for V8 Model Engine.
• Will need DVD player for Math-U-See and Roadworthy.
• Will need a computer with CD drive for Physics 101 and Chemistry 101.
• 11th Grade
• Will need basic school supplies.
• Will need 3 AAA batteries for Engino Robotics.
• Will need DVD player for Math-U-See.
• Will need a computer with internet access for Engino Robotics and Python Programming.
• 12th Grade
• Will need basic school supplies.
• Will need drawing supplies for Drawing Realistic Portraits from Photographs:
• 2-ply Smooth Bristol Board
• 0.5mm Mechanical Pencil
• 2B Soft 0.5mm Lead
• Blenders
• Kneadable Eraser
• Ellipse Template
• Soft Paint Brush
• Will need DVD player for Math-U-See and Drawing Realistic Portraits.
• Will need a computer with internet access for Cognifit and Bioloid STEM Standard.
• Will need a computer with CD drive for Philosophy Adventures.

Tips from Our Blog Team

Lastly, here are some helpful tips from members of our Blog Team:

Jeni @ Cosmic Montessori School: "Get twice as many pencils, colored pencils, glue sticks, markers, scissors and notebooks as you think you will need and stash them away for halfway through the year. You’ll thank yourself in 6 months!"

Dana @ The Art Kit: "Mini brads for the kits that include the famous figures paper dolls! And extra glue sticks, scissors, construction paper, printer paper, cardstock paper, markers, tape, pencils, and large erasers. Oh and an electric pencil sharpener. Your wrists will thank you!"

Paula @ Thanks Mommy: "I have a pre-k and kindergartener. Some of the things we use: Wide-ruled spiral notebook, binder and dividers, printer paper, printer ink, cardstock paper, construction paper, safety scissors, colored pencils, crayons, markers, pencils, erasers, sharpener, glue, paint, highlighters, pencil boxes, magnetic letters and numbers, magnetic dry erase board, dry erase markers, stickers."

Heather @ Heather O'Steen Photography: "I would say the top things would be - pencils with an electric pencil sharpener, spiral notebooks, art supplies for younger ones. The fun things were always little manipulatives to keep hands busy while listening to read alouds - like blocks, play dough, pattern blocks, sticker books, LEGO’s, etc. Kids listen soooo much better if their hands are busy!"

Betty @ Mombrite: "My kids are in preschool and first grade. There are already many things mentioned above. I would also recommend getting really good erasers or else you will be getting so many shavings everywhere. We love our big white, magnetic board, white erase markers and eraser. 3 ring binders (and 3 ring hole punchers) are great for keeping organized. We have lots of stickers for chore charts and progress charts. We use scissors and glue sticks everyday. Lots of construction paper of different colors, different colored markers (I recommend getting the artist ones with thinner tips as the kids get older), color pencils, crayons. For parents, I would invest in a good printer because you will be printing a lot! Besides regular white printer paper, we also have different colored card stock paper for projects. We also use the laminator (and laminator sheets) for a lot of DIY lessons."

Michele @ Family, Faith, and Fridays: "For 8th grade: pencil, notebooks, and lots of prayer! I am a HUGE advocate for keeping it simple. That being said, I love having a printer/copier, and a binding machine for all those loose papers!"

Daisy @ One Luckey Wife: "I think I compiled everything extra needed here for when we did preschool, PreK and kindergarten. Some things came with our Timberdoodle kit but I put on the list and just noted it came with it."