What School Supplies Do I Need?

A common question we receive 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 want for the upcoming school year. You will likely find a few extra supplies will 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 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 whiteboard with dry-erase markers
  • computer printer or copier
  • paper cutter
  • laminator
  • rolling 3-tier cart
  • bins or shelves
  • audio CD player
  • DVD player
  • computer
  • smartphone or tablet

Grade Specific Needs

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

(Please note: Included supplies may vary if you customize your kit. In particular, Spelling You See comes with colored pencils. If you remove Spelling You See from a kit, it will no longer include colored pencils.)

Tiny Tots

No extra supplies are needed.

Preschool

PreK

  • Standard Elite kit includes pencils, colored pencils, pencil sharpener, and Meori Mini box.
  • May want to add paper and more craft supplies

Kindergarten

  • Standard Elite Kit includes pencils, colored pencils, pencil sharpener, meori Mini box.
  • May want to add paper and more craft supplies
  • Will need DVD player or device with internet access for Math-U-See

1st Grade

  • Standard Elite 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 DVD player or device with internet access for Math-U-See

2nd Grade

  • Standard Elite 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 a computer or device that can play videos and view PDFs for Have I Got a Story for You! (+ internet access to download the files)
  • Will need DVD player or device with internet access for Math-U-See

3rd Grade

  • Standard Elite 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 a computer for Typing Instructor
  • Will need a computer or device that can play videos and view PDFs for Have I Got a Story for You! (+ internet access to download the files)
  • Will need DVD player or device with internet access for Math-U-See

4th Grade

  • Standard Elite kit includes colored pencils
  • Will need basic school supplies
  • May want to add assorted craft supplies
  • Will need AA batteries for OLLO Spark
  • Will need a computer or device with internet access that can play videos and view PDFs for Have I Got a Story for You! and Sketching Made Easy
  • Will need DVD player or device with internet access for Math-U-See

5th Grade

  • Standard kit includes colored pencils
  • Will need basic school supplies
  • May want to add assorted craft supplies
  • Will need AA batteries and smartphone or tablet for OLLO Excel
  • Will need computer for StopMotion Explosion (install via CD or download)
  • Will need a computer or device that can play videos and view PDFs for Have I Got a Story for You! (+ internet access to download the files)
  • Will need DVD player or device with internet access for Math-U-See

6th Grade

7th Grade

  • Will need basic school supplies
  • Will need DVD player or device with internet access for Math-U-See
  • Will need internet access and a video camera (a smartphone is fine) for Intro to Filmmaking
  • Will need computer with DVD drive for Simply Draw
  • May want a set of artist's drawing pencils

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 or device with internet access for Math-U-See
  • Will need DVD player for General Science 101

9th Grade

10th Grade

11th Grade

  • Will need basic school supplies
  • Will need DVD player or device with internet access for Math-U-See
  • Will need a computer with DVD drive for Physics 101
  • Will need a computer with internet access for Java Programming

12th Grade

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