Third grade: the year of greater independence, reading to learn, and fractions! Each year when my new third graders enter the classroom, I want them to be able to access all the supplies they need to begin to lead their own learning and keep themselves (and our classroom) organized. Here is my ultimate checklist of the top 3rd grade classroom supplies that every teacher needs to encourage kids to become active, engaged learners during the school year. (Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. Thank you for your support!)
1. Dry erase markers
Step right up to the whiteboard and get ready to make your mark with a rainbow of dry-erase markers. We’vegathered the top ones(recommended by teachers) here!
2. Magnetic whiteboard erasers
Keep your whiteboard erasers handy! These easily stick to the board or any magnetic surface.
3. Dry-erase whiteboard cleaning spray
Keep your whiteboard in tip-top shape. This convenient spray removes stubborn marks, shadowing, grease and dirt.
4. Push pin whiteboard magnets
One of these colorful pin magnets can easily hold up to 11 sheets of paper on any metallic surface!
5. Stapler
Keep it together with a sturdy stapler! This one is jam-resistant, making sure you’re not stuck taking it apart on repeat throughout the day.
6. Astrobrights colored paper
This out-of-this-world paper is 20% thicker than regular paper and boasts vivid assorted colors for documents and projects. Plus, printing on Astrobrights gives you all the benefits of color without the high cost and extra time of printing with colored ink. Just add black ink!
7. Pencils
Because every third-grade classroom needs an endless supply of pencils.
8. Pencil sharpener
Keep all those pencils sharp! We put together a list of the bestpencil sharpenersas reviewed by teachers!
9. Pencil top erasers
Mistakes happen! Erase third-grade mistakes away with colorful pencil top erasers.
10. Wireless Speaker
Third graders love music, and it can actually help with relaxation, focus, and mood. Keep the music going for up to 20 hours with this portable classroom speaker.
11. Highlighters
Using color can help students learn and remember information. Arm them with highlighters and encourage them to better examine and understand texts.
12. Pop up pods
Hear me out. Our third graders love using FlipGrid (check out some great ideas for using Flipgrid in the classroom) to explain their learning, but they often are uncomfortable speaking into the camera in front of their peers. Enter pop-up pods! Put one or two in your classroom as a “Recording Studio” to give students the privacy they need. Seriously, one of my favorite 3rd grade classroom supplies!
13. Glue sticks 30 pack
Non-toxic, easy to use, and washable with soap and water, glue sticks make it easy to put two and two together.
14. Scissors
Precision tip design and large finger loops make these scissors perfect for the third-grade classroom.
15. Laminator
Reinforce documents or make instructional items tear and spill-proof. We’ve gathered the top laminator picksso you can easily save those third-grade projects to take home. Don’t forget to stock up on laminating pouches, too.
16. 3-hole punch
Easily three-hole punch up to 12 sheets minus the usual jams. Perfect for adding papers to student portfolios!
17. Loose-leaf binder rings
Keep it all together with loose leaf binder rings. Use them for vocabulary, picture cues, or even hanging anchor charts on easels!
18. Flashcards
Flashcards make memorizing fun!
19. Plastic folders
Heavy-duty folders with double reinforced edges will withstand a year of third-grade learning. Colorful and moisture and tear-resistant, these folders each hold up to 135 sheets of letter-size paper.
20. Composition notebooks
Let’s journal! 100-page composition books in a range of colors make it easy to take note of what’s happening in the third-grade classroom and beyond. Try a different color for each subject; green for math, orange for reading, blue for science.
21. Multicolor sticky notes
Because you can never have enough sticky notes on hand in the classroom. Check out teacher hacks for post-it notesin the classroom.
22. Pop Its Fidget Toys
For our third-graders, these are all the rage right now! By third grade, they are over stickers but will do anything for Pop Its. Motivate and reward with these fun, safe, and durable fidget toys. They also relieve stress and are great for kids with sensory needs.
23. Bulletin board paper
Once you give Better Than Papera try, you won’t go back to traditional bulletin board paper. This magic material is stronger and easier to work with than paper, and it lasts for years. Plus, you can write on it and wipe off the writing later, like a whiteboard!
24. Bulk classroom headphones
Whether virtual or in-person, headphones are a must for the third-grade classroom. Unlike earbuds, these are comfortable, durable, and functional. They also have noise-reducing technology that helps students stayed focused while working on a device.
25. Self-adhesive dots
Wondering how to stick the poster on the wall without drilling the wall? Self-adhesive dots to the rescue!
26. Tape
Tape is a necessity for a variety of things! We suggest the following:Masking tapeis great to have on hand as it’s safe for walls and easy to tear and remove. Painter’s taperemoves easily from drywall and can be placed on whiteboards for neat handwriting!Clear tapeis also key for taping ripped papers and for craft projects.
27. Math posters
Introduce third graders to more multiplication and division of numbers up to 100 with colorful posters that encourage learning.
28. Growth Mindset posters
Teach third graders to define success differently with these growth mindset posters for the classroom.
29. Storage pocket chart
Thirty pockets keep your individual student files and documents neat and organized. Easy hanging on the wall.
30. Classroom clock
This clock is clear to read, colorful, and the minutes are clearly marked so students can master the third-grade standard of telling time.
31. Giant sticky paper packs
The giant-sized sheets on these easel pads peel off like a traditional sticky note. Plus, the premium white paper is thick enough to prevent marker bleed-through but thin enough that it’s easy to handle.
32. Permanent markers
Write on paper, plastic, metal, and most other surfaces with these brilliant colors to create eye-popping text.
33. Heavy-duty sheet protectors
Save yourself from endless photocopying by putting activities and worksheets in sheet protectors. Students can use dry-erase markers and wipe them off when complete! Use over and over again.
34. Clipboards
Encourage note-taking and observation in third grade with handy, individual clipboards. Also, check out our resources forways to use clipboards in the classroom!
35. Disinfectant spray and wipes
No teacher wants sticky messes—or worse—to linger on classroom surfaces. Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Disinfecting Wipes kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria.
36. Tissues
Runny noses and tears happen. Keep tissues at the ready!
37. Storage caddies
Keep 3rd-grade classroom table supplies organized with durable rectangular plastic caddies featuring three small compartments on one side and one large compartment on the other.
38. Dry erase paint
Turn your tables into dry erase surfaces! This paint creates a washable, erasable finish with an easy one-step process. No need for students to get out portable whiteboards when they can write directly on the table! Use on metal, plastic, glass, painted surfaces, wood, and more.
39. Fraction Cubes
Fraction cubesare a must in third grade! Build out your third-grade math classroom supplies with board games, manipulatives, dice, and more from ourmath supplies for the classroom.
40. Giant Jenga
Build active teamwork skills in the classroom with a game of giant Jenga! Try using it to practice math skills with this template.
41. Presentation clicker
So you’re walking around the classroom monitoring students and you need to change slides on your presentation. With a presentation clicker, you can click through slides, modify the volume and move to/from full-screen mode from anywhere in the room! It’s easy to use. Just plug in the USB and press the “on” button. Game changer.
42. Charger cord holders
Keep your cords in line and organized with handy, (and cute!) adhesive charger cord holders.
43. Desk organizer and phone/laptop charger
Is anyone else’s phone always dying in the middle of the school day? Keep your teacher desk organized and your phone or laptop charged and ready to go with this combo desk organizer and charger.
Looking to add some fun new activities to your third-grade classroom this new school year? Check out our long list of teacher-tested tips, tricks, and ideas for teaching third grade.
Are we missing one of your favorite 3rd-grade classroom supplies? Head over to our WeAreTeachers Facebook Dealspage to share your faves!
