20 Everyday School Supplies Kids Used in the 1960s

Step aside, tablets and smartboards. Classrooms in the 1960s ran on pure hands-on magic. Kids did not swipe or tap. They measured with heavy wooden rulers, scribbled with fountain pens that sometimes leaked, and carried textbooks that could double as workout equipment. The air smelled faintly of mimeographed worksheets, and the clang of a metal lunchbox closing marked the end of the school bell chaos. Every object had a role and every tool told a story. This list takes everyone through 20 iconic school supplies that shaped a generation. It is a peek into a world where learning was as tactile as it was unforgettable.

1. The Classic Wooden Ruler

Back in the ’60s, a wooden ruler was way more than just a boring tool for measuring. It was a staple in every student’s arsenal, crafted from sturdy maple or birch. Its key feature was the thin metal strip along the edge, and it was designed to keep the pencil lines straight and prevent the wood from splintering. In addition, these rulers often smelled faintly of pine and varnish. Beyond academics, they served as perfect makeshift swords during recess or makeshift percussion instruments when the teacher turned her back. These wooden rulers were tough, reliable, and essentially indestructible to survive the absolutely chaotic journey in a backpack for years on end.

2. Metal Lunchboxes

Nothing signaled personal style in the ’60s like the metal lunchboxes that students carried to the cafeteria. They weren’t just containers for peanut butter sandwiches; they were massive status symbols featuring popular television shows, space missions, or cartoon characters. Each box also came with a matching thermos held in place by a tricky wire clip. The clatter of dozens of metal boxes opening at noon was the universal soundtrack of lunchtime. While they were definitely prone to rusting if you didn’t dry them out thoroughly, they were tough enough to withstand any playground scuffle or accidental drop down the stairs.

3. Fountain Pens

For students who learned to write in the 1960s, the Big Chief tablet was their best friend. This wasn’t just any notebook; it was a massive, newsprint paper staple known for its iconic American Indian chief on the cover. The lines were huge, designed specifically to help young hands master penmanship without going out of the lines. The paper had a distinct texture, and the smell was unmistakable. It was the training ground for every cursive letter you learned. Running out of paper meant a quick trip to the school store, but nothing felt quite as satisfying as turning that last page of a completed tablet. By the time you finally got a clean, smudge-free page, it felt like a small victory worth celebrating.

4. Blue Horse Notebooks

Students couldn’t walk into a classroom without seeing the Blue Horse brand logo on a notebook or tablet. It was the go-to brand for school supplies, offering everything from theme folders to graph paper. The brand was known for its durability and affordability, making it a favorite for parents and teachers alike. The notebooks were simple, featuring a sturdy cover and high-quality paper that could handle a fair amount of erasing. For a 1960s kid, holding a Blue Horse notebook meant the students were ready to take notes and conquer the world, one subject at a time. Flipping through its pages, they could almost feel the promise of learning and the excitement of a brand-new school day.

5. Mimeograph Copies

Long before photocopiers became mainstream, teachers relied on the mimeograph machine to create worksheets. Going to school in the ’60s meant knowing the exact smell of purple ink on fresh paper. It was intoxicating and unique. The machine used a master stencil, which meant the ink could sometimes be smudged if the paper was handled too soon. The text was never perfectly crisp, but that was part of the charm. Getting a fresh stack of mimeographed math problems meant the teacher was serious about her lesson plans, and you better be ready to work. Something was thrilling about holding those imperfect, purple-stained sheets as if you had just been handed a secret mission.

6. Pink Erasers

No school supply list in the 1960s was complete without the classic pink eraser. These chunky, rectangular erasers were tough enough to get rid of pencil mistakes but gentle enough not to tear the paper. They were often used until they were just tiny nubbins. Students would sometimes carve their initials into them or try to snap them in half, though they were surprisingly flexible. The smell of the rubber was unmistakable, and finding one in your desk was always a relief when you made a big error in your spelling test. Holding a fresh, unused eraser felt like having a tiny superpower ready to fix any mistake.

7. Yellow #2 Pencils

The undisputed king of the classroom was the yellow #2 pencil. It was cheap, reliable, and essential for everything from taking tests to doodling in the margins of your notebook. The wood was easy to sharpen, and the graphite was the perfect hardness for writing and erasing. Kids knew that if their pencil got too short, it was time for a new one, but not before using every single bit of it. These pencils were also prime candidates for being chewed on during nervous moments or held by the eraser end during long lectures. There was a certain thrill in sharpening a pencil perfectly, knowing it was ready for whatever the day would throw at you.

8. Hardcover Textbooks

Textbooks in the 1960s were not light. They were thick, hard-covered, and built to survive years of abuse. Carrying a stack of these in your arms was a daily workout. They often featured detailed illustrations and dense text that demanded real focus. Kids were required to keep them covered in paper bags to prevent damage, often personalizing their covers with drawings. While they were heavy, these books were packed with knowledge and served as the primary source of information before the internet. They were durable companions that taught students the value of taking care of their resources. Opening one felt like unlocking a treasure trove of facts, stories, and lessons waiting to be discovered.

9. Pencil Sharpeners

Walking up to the front of the room to sharpen your pencil was a classic 1960s classroom experience. The heavy-duty, wall-mounted sharpener was a loud, mechanical wonder. Students would insert their pencil, crank the handle, and listen to the satisfying grinding noise as it produced a perfectly sharp point. Sometimes, if unlucky, the pencil would break inside, causing a minor crisis. It was also a perfect excuse to get out of the seat and scan the room. These sharpeners were tough, surviving the constant use of 30 kids every single day. By the time their pencil was ready, they felt like they had earned a small victory and a moment of triumph.

10. Composition Books

With its distinctive black and white marbled cover, the composition book was the go-to for journaling and taking notes. It was durable, compact, and fit easily into any desk. The pages were sewn in, not just glued, making it incredibly robust. Kids used these for everything from science experiments to creative writing assignments. The marbled pattern was iconic, and writing your name on the blank white label on the front was an important task. These books were meant to be filled from cover to cover, capturing a semester’s worth of work in one place. Flipping through the pages later revealed a personal record of ideas, doodles, and lessons, almost like a time capsule of the school year.

11. Scissors

Art class required the right tools, and for a 1960s student, that meant a solid pair of metal scissors. They were often quite sturdy, with sharp blades that required a careful hand. Younger kids used safety scissors, but older students handled the real thing with care. They were used for cutting construction paper, creating collages, and meticulously trimming science projects. The satisfying snap of the blades was a staple sound of creative time. While they were prone to getting lost, having your own pair of scissors meant being ready for any project that the teacher threw. Carrying them in your pencil box felt like holding a tiny instrument of creative power.

12. Crayon Boxes

A fresh box of crayons was a magical sight for any 1960s kid. The smell of the wax and the vibrant colors offered endless possibilities for creativity. The box itself was iconic, and keeping your crayons organized inside was a daily challenge. Kids would often have favorite colors, leading to some being used down to the nub while others remained pristine. The crayons themselves were prone to breaking, but that didn’t stop anyone from coloring outside the lines. They were the essential tool for art projects, geography maps, and simply bringing a little color to a school day. Kids spend hours peeling back the paper wrapper just to get every last bit of color out of a prized red or blue crayon.

13. Inkwells

In some older schools during the early sixties, desks still had built-in holes for inkwells. This was a throwback to a different era, but it was still a part of the school experience for many. Students had to be incredibly careful not to spill the ink, as it would cause a major mess. The inkwell was a constant reminder of the effort required to write with precision. Filling it was a task for the teacher or a trusted student. It was a tactile, high-risk supply that demanded respect and careful handling, unlike the easy convenience of modern pens. If you were lucky, you never had to experience the agonizing panic of tipping one over during a silent study hall.

14. Glue Pots

Before glue sticks and squeeze bottles, there was the glue pot. This was a small container filled with white, thick glue, complete with a small brush for application. Using it was a messy, sticky business, and it was easy to get glue on your clothes or your desk. The brush often got dried out, requiring a quick rinse. It was a slow, methodical way to paste things into your notebook or construct a project, but it was effective. The smell of the glue was distinct, and the stickiness was a part of the fun of working on projects. People would often spend the rest of the afternoon peeling the dried, thin layers of white film off their palms like they were shedding a second skin.

15. Chalkboards

The chalkboard was the absolute center of the 1960s classroom. It was huge, green or black, and occupied the entire front wall. Teachers used it for everything from writing daily schedules to demonstrating math problems. The sound of chalk against the board was a constant background noise. Students would volunteer to clean the board, which involved banging two erasers together to remove the dust, creating a massive cloud of chalk in the process. It was a low-tech way to display information, but it was incredibly effective and demanded the attention of every student in the room. You can still hear the rhythmic tapping of chalk and feel the gritty dust settling in your hair after a particularly vigorous cleanup session.

16. Rubber Cement

For projects requiring a strong bond, rubber cement was the go-to adhesive. It came in a small jar with a brush attached to the lid, and it had a very distinct, chemical smell. Unlike other glues, rubber cement was great because it didn’t wrinkle the paper, making it perfect for scrapbooks and art projects. The downside was that it was messy and could be difficult to clean up if you got it on your clothes. However, the satisfaction of making a perfectly smooth collage was worth the effort. It was a staple in every teacher’s desk. The unique satisfaction of rubbing away the excess dried glue from the edges of the paper and watching it roll into little rubbery balls felt nostalgic.

17. Wooden Pencil Boxes

To keep their tools safe, students often used wooden pencil boxes. These boxes were small, durable, and featured a sliding lid that could sometimes be a bit tricky to open. They were the perfect size to hold a few pencils, a ruler, and an eraser. Some kids would decorate them with stickers or carvings, making them uniquely theirs. The wooden box was a quiet organizer in a bustling classroom, ensuring that when it was time to work, you had everything you needed right at your fingertips. It was a simple solution for staying organized. You could always tell when someone accidentally dropped one because of the distinct clattering sound that sent pencils flying across the hardwood floor during a quiet study period.

18. Construction Paper

Art class would not have been the same without a stack of colorful construction paper. This paper was thick, textured, and came in a rainbow of vibrant colors. It was used for everything from making holiday decorations to crafting complex collages. The texture allowed glue and crayon to adhere well, making it perfect for creative projects. Students would spend hours cutting and pasting, creating colorful masterpieces to hang on the classroom walls. The paper was durable enough to withstand a fair amount of handling, making it a reliable choice for young artists. There was nothing quite like the smell of that paper when you pulled a brand-new sheet from the shared classroom stash.

19. The Stapler

The stapler was an essential tool for keeping papers together. These were often heavy, metal machines that required a bit of force to operate. They were reliable and could handle a decent stack of papers without jamming. Using the stapler was a task usually reserved for the teacher or a trusted student assistant, as the staples could be sharp and dangerous for younger children. It was a simple, effective way to organize homework, reports, and art projects, ensuring that no page was lost in the chaotic environment of a 1960s school desk. That distinct, heavy ’thunk’ sound signaled that your book report was finally finished and officially ready to be turned in.

20. Blue Books

For high school and college-bound students in the late sixties, the blue book was synonymous with anxiety. These thin, simple notebooks were used for taking essay exams. You would walk into a silent room, receive a prompt, and fill the pages with as much knowledge as possible in a limited amount of time. They represented a major step up in academic intensity. The smell of the paper and the pressure to write fast made them memorable. Finishing a blue book meant you had successfully poured out everything you knew onto those lined pages, hoping for a passing grade. The sight of a fresh blue book on your desk was enough to make your heart skip a beat right before the teacher said, “You may begin.

• Tags:
• 1960s
• Nostalgia
• vintage
• Education
• School
• school supplies