School Supplies: 40+ Essential Words for Students

Before a new school year begins, students usually need to prepare a variety of school supplies. In this lesson, you’ll learn common English vocabulary for school supplies, grouped by category, with clear and natural example sentences used in real classroom situations.

List of School Supplies

Must-have Writing & Drawing Tools

• Pen
• Pencil
• Eraser (U.S.) / Rubber (U.K.)
• Pencil sharpener
• Highlighter
• Marker
• Crayons
• Colored pencil
• Gel pen
• Mechanical pencil

Notebooks & Organization Items

• Notebook
• Folder
• Paper
• Paper clip
• Binder clip
• Stapler
• Clipboard
• Post-it note
• Pencil case

Math & Geometry Tools

• Ruler
• Protractor
• Compass (drawing tool)
• Set square
• Calculator

Art & Classroom Supplies

• Paintbrush
• Watercolor
• Paint palette
• Glue
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Chalk
• Board

General School Items

• Backpack
• Lunch box
• Water bottle
• Computer
• Desk
• Map
• Globe
• Flashcard
• Correction fluid

Example Sentences for School Supplies

• Pen: Please write your answers in pen, not pencil.
• Pencil: I always use a pencil when I do math homework.
• Eraser: She used an eraser to fix her spelling mistake.
• Pencil sharpener: I need a pencil sharpener because my pencil is too dull.
• Notebook: He takes notes in his notebook during every lesson.
• Folder: Keep your worksheets in a folder so they don’t get lost.
• Paper clip: Use a paper clip to hold these pages together.
• Binder clip: A binder clip is useful for organizing thick stacks of paper.
• Ruler: Measure the line carefully with a ruler.
• Protractor: Use a protractor to measure the angle accurately.
• Compass: Use a compass to draw a perfect circle in your geometry notebook.
• Set square: A set square helps you draw straight and right angles.
• Calculator: We are allowed to use a calculator in math class.
• Paintbrush: Clean your paintbrush after art class.
• Watercolor: She painted the picture using watercolor paints.
• Paint palette: Mix your colors on the paint palette.
• Glue stick: Use a glue stick to attach the picture to your project.
• Scissors: Be careful when using scissors in class.
• Backpack: My backpack is heavy because of all my books.
• Lunch box: He keeps his sandwich in his lunch box.
• Water bottle: Bring a water bottle to stay hydrated at school.
• Flashcard: She uses flashcards to memorize new English vocabulary.
• Correction fluid: Use correction fluid to fix small writing mistakes neatly.
• Map: The teacher showed the countries on the map.
• Globe: We learned about continents using a globe.

Last Updated on January 28, 2026