Skip to the main content
PeabodyMake a free story

Classroom and teaching supplies

First grade classroom must-haves: 15 supplies

First grade is where reading starts to click. These supplies support decodable books, early addition and subtraction, and first sentences.

Chosen from Lakeshore Learning's own category navigation and the makers' sites, checked Oct 2026. Prices are about, Oct 2026, and move with sales. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.

  1. Decodable readers and book boxes

    Scholastic · Ages 6-7

    Short, phonics-controlled books help beginners succeed on their own.

    Watch for: About $4-8 per book or $20-60 per set.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

  2. Word-building tiles and phonics games

    Lakeshore Learning · Ages 6-7

    Blends, digraphs and word families practised hands-on.

    Watch for: About $10-35.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

  3. Sight word games

    Lakeshore Learning · Ages 6-7

    Bingo and card games for fast recognition.

    Watch for: About $10-25.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

  4. Base ten blocks

    Learning Resources · Ages 6-9

    Show tens and ones, the foundation of place value.

    Watch for: About $20-40 for a student set. Teacher demo set about $40-80. Small cubes; not for under 3.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

  5. Two-color counters

    Learning Resources · Ages 6-9

    Flip red and yellow to show addition and subtraction facts.

    Watch for: About $8-15 per 200.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

  6. Linking cubes

    hand2mind · Ages 5-9

    Count, build patterns, measure and graph; the most versatile first-grade manipulative.

    Watch for: About $10-25 per 100.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

  7. Student whiteboards and markers

    Expo · Ages 6-12

    Every child writes the answer at once; quick for assessment.

    Watch for: About $15-40 per class set.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

  8. Primary journals and writing paper

    Carson Dellosa · Ages 6-8

    Half-lined paper with a picture box for first stories.

    Watch for: About $5-12.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

  9. Rulers and measuring tapes

    Lakeshore Learning · Ages 6-8

    First measuring in inches and centimeters.

    Watch for: About $5-15 per set.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

  10. Play money and clocks

    Lakeshore Learning · Ages 6-9

    Coins and analog clock models for money and time skills.

    Watch for: About $8-25 each.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

  11. Pencils and erasers

    Ticonderoga · Ages 6-8

    Standard #2 pencils; many first-grade teachers prefer a thicker barrel.

    Watch for: About $3-8 per dozen.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

  12. Scissors, glue, crayons

    Crayola · Ages 6-8

    Daily-use art and craft basics.

    Watch for: About $2-8 per item.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

  13. Classroom library bins

    Lakeshore Learning · Ages 6-8

    Sort by level, topic or author.

    Watch for: About $20-60.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

  14. Social-emotional learning cards

    Lakeshore Learning · Ages 6-8

    Name feelings and try calm-down strategies.

    Watch for: About $15-35.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

  15. Sentence strips and pocket chart

    Lakeshore Learning · Ages 6-8

    Build and read sentences together.

    Watch for: About $15-40.

    Buy: Amazon · Walmart

More lists

All 348 lists →