Top 30+ School supplies from the ’60s & ’70s we fondly remember

Before laptops, tablets, and smartboards, classrooms in the ’60s and ’70s ran on the basics: pencils, notebooks, chalkboards, and a lot of imagination. From metal lunchboxes to those unmistakable scented stickers and pencil cases, school supplies were as much a part of childhood as recess and report cards. Here’s a look back at 30 classic school supplies that defined student life in the ’60s and ’70s.

1. Pee-Chee Folders

Bright yellow Pee-Chee folders became an essential for students in the ’60s, decorated with athletes playing sports. Kids often doodled all over them, giving each one a personal touch that was half school supply, half art project.

2. Metal Lunch Boxes

From superheroes to The Beatles, metal lunch boxes were the must-have cafeteria accessory. Durable and decorated with pop culture icons, they were as much a fashion statement as a way to carry a sandwich and thermos.

3. Bic Four-Color Pens

Clicking through the red, blue, green, and black inks became a classroom pastime after Bic launched its four-color pen in 1971. Teachers might have hated the noise, but kids adored the novelty.

4. Mr. Sketch Markers

Introduced in the mid 1960s, Mr. Sketch markers added a burst of scent to art projects. Every kid had a favorite flavor like grape, cherry, or mint, and the whole classroom smelled like a fruit salad after art time.

5. CliffsNotes

In the 60s, CliffsNotes were the shortcut every student dreamed of. With their iconic black and yellow stripes, they distilled classic literature into quick summaries that saved many kids who had not finished the book.

6. Big Chief Tablets

Thick red Big Chief writing tablets were standard on classroom desks across the 60s and 70s. Simple and sturdy, they were where kids learned their first letters, numbers, and doodles.

7. Pop-a-Point Pencils

These plastic pencils with cartridge tips were the pencil version of a magic trick. When one tip wore down, you popped it into the back and a new one slid into place. They were as fun to play with as they were to write with.

8. Slide Rules

Before calculators took over in the late 70s, students relied on slide rules for math and science. These wooden or plastic tools looked intimidating, but once mastered they became the secret weapon of serious students.

9. Paste and Rubber Cement

Art class in the 60s and 70s smelled faintly of paste and rubber cement. Whether spreading glue with a brush or rolling dried bits between your fingers, these supplies were a messy but unforgettable part of projects.

10. Satchels

Before backpacks took over in the late 70s, most students carried satchels made of canvas or leather with a flap and buckle. They were not always comfortable but were durable enough to hold a mountain of books.

11. Dick and Jane Books

Generations of kids learned to read with the simple “See Spot run” lines in Dick and Jane readers. By 1970, they had been used by 85 million students, making them one of the most iconic early reading tools of the mid century classroom.

12. Chalkboards and Chalk

No classroom in the '60s or '70s was complete without a giant chalkboard. Teachers snapped chalk sticks as they scribbled notes while kids fought over who got to clap the dusty erasers clean outside.

13. Overhead Projectors

By the late 60s, overhead projectors were making their way into classrooms. Teachers wrote on clear plastic sheets called transparencies, and the glowing projector beam made even the dullest lesson look futuristic.

14. Mimeograph Machines

If you remember the purple ink smell, you grew up with mimeographed worksheets. Teachers cranked out handouts on these machines, and kids often sniffed the freshly printed papers before starting the assignment.

15. Pencil Sharpeners

Mounted on the classroom wall, the hand crank pencil sharpener was both noisy and satisfying. Every kid knew the joy of walking to the sharpener just to escape their desk for a moment.

16. Wooden Rulers

Sturdy wooden rulers with a metal edge were classroom staples. Some even had multiplication tables printed right on them, turning math tools into sneaky study aids.

17. Fountain Pens

While ballpoints were becoming common, many students in the early 60s still learned penmanship with fountain pens. The ink could smudge everywhere, but mastering one felt like a rite of passage.

18. Pencil Cases

Hard plastic or zippered vinyl pencil cases were a must-have. Some came with built-in sharpeners or hidden compartments, making them the treasure chests of school desks.

19. Compasses and Protractors

Geometry sets were standard issue in the 70s. Students carefully drew circles with compasses and measured angles with protractors, though the sharp point of the compass often doubled as a toy.

20. Three-Ring Binders

Before Trapper Keepers came along in the 80s, plain three-ring binders ruled the day. Packed with lined notebook paper and divider tabs, they were the backbone of school organization.

21. Loose-Leaf Notebook Paper

Stacks of loose-leaf notebook paper filled desks and binders. Nothing was worse than the sound of fragile paper ripping out of the binder rings mid class.

22. Index Cards

Flashcards made from plain index cards were a study tool every kid knew well. They also doubled as the perfect medium for writing secret notes to pass along the rows of desks.

23. Crayola Crayons (64 Box with Sharpener)

The holy grail of art supplies was the giant 64 box of Crayola crayons, introduced in the late 50s but a true 60s and 70s classic. The built-in sharpener in the back made it even better.

24. School Glue (Glass Bottle)

Before plastic squeeze bottles, glue often came in glass containers with a rubber applicator. It was sticky and messy, and many kids used it just to peel it off their hands like fake skin.

25. Construction Paper

No art project was complete without stacks of brightly colored construction paper. It tore easily and left your hands dusty, but it was the foundation for every cut and paste masterpiece.

26. Globes

Every classroom had a big globe standing proudly in the corner. Spinning it to randomly point to a country was both a game and a quick geography lesson rolled into one.

27. Filmstrip Projectors

Teachers dimmed the lights and rolled out the filmstrip projector to play educational reels. A beep signaled when to advance the frame, and students secretly hoped the teacher would mis time it.

28. Flashcards for Math

Multiplication and division flashcards were a staple of 60s and 70s math drills. Parents often used them at home too, turning study time into a competitive race.

29. Spiral Notebooks

Cheap and endlessly useful, spiral notebooks filled every desk. The metal spirals were handy for doodling but they also had a nasty habit of snagging on clothes and paper.

30. Slide Carousels

For special lessons, teachers sometimes brought out a Kodak slide carousel to show photos. The whirring sound of the projector and the click of each new slide made class feel almost like a movie theater.