MOOKS school supply help?

[dochas]

My son is going into 5th grade. He's going to a new school and our old one provided all the school supplies, so this is my first time buying them.   I'm sure my questions are stupid, but I'm asking anyway! My son is on the less mature side and would happily use a shark or minecraft backpack and pokemon water bottle forever, and things like that. Since it's a new school I don't really want him to stick out like a sore thumb. I also think he needs things to be a little more durable.

-What kind of backpack would be good? I don't think he'll carry tablet or laptop, but I think he will be carrying a lot more books back and forth. 
-Lunchbox? He can probably still use his current ones, but is just a zippered case thing still good?
-Water bottle? Now we just have and use whatever we've gotten as party favors or character things. He drinks a lot of water and I'll splurge if there's something "cool" THAT DOESN'T LEAK.
-For scissors would they still use the small 5 inch ones? 
-Calculator? 
-There's a 6 pocket accordian folder on the list. Is there anything that won't make him look like a jr. accountant?!?
-A handheld pencil sharpener. I hate when they don't work. Is there a good one?

I'm going off the list the teachers sent but I still feel like everything is going to be wrong. Why are there so many different notebooks?!? I LOVED getting new school supplies when I was a kid. He could not care less so I'm doing it online, but at least I'm having fun.

[mysteriouswife]

DD didn’t need a sturdy back pack until 6th. We made sure there were wide straps for weight distribution. We aren’t picky on water bottles and buy the multi-packs from Sams/Costco as needed. Supplies are going to depend on the teacher.

[circa1978]

My son is also going into fifth grade. The school supplies most of the stuff but we bought a Jansport backpack this year and he uses a Hydroflask 24 oz water bottle (spendy but he did manage not to lose it last year and it's still in perfect shape. No leaks.) His main request for the backpack was that it have a water bottle holder.

For a lunch box, we use a Bentego adult size. Again, not cheap but has held up amazingly well. We have one shell and three inserts.

[whitemerlot]

I'm a teacher and have an 11 and 9 year old. My 11 year old uses a solid black Land's End backpack in the largest size. He has their black lunch box too. He likes sport style, large water bottles but really students seem to use a mix and nobody cares. There are mid size 6" big kid scissiors made by Fiskers for example that most of my older student prefer (sold on target website). I buy the cheap up and up pencil sharpeners but buy a couple so if they get lost or break, I have extra. I also do an initial sharpening of the pencils in an electric sharpener. I prefer Ticonderoga pencils. For calculator, we bought a TI-30 for middle school. It's $9 at Target.

[silvercrayon]

Popular here with that age group.

Nike or Under Armour backpack
32oz or 40oz Hydro Flask Water Bottle

[pierogigirl]

LL Bean backpack. It will probably last at least through high school.

My kids usually use a Gatorade water bottle because I don't care as much if they lose it. But they do leak.

[formerlyak]

The Simple Modern water bottles on Amazon are much cheaper than hydroflask and hold up well.

Jansport backpacks are great. My older son got his in 6th grade and it’s going strong heading into 10th grade.

[BicycleBride]

We have these pencil sharpeners and they work really great. Highly recommend.
Bostitch Office Twist-N-Sharp Manual Pencil Sharpener www.amazon.com/dp/B07D7NVWVR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_G1VZF2WA4Y5K6B668FGQ

[dochas]

Thank you everyone! I have a Jansport that I've had forever, I'm so glad they're still around. I think I'll look at those and LL Bean. And check for those scissors since they're a little bigger. He's a lefty so it's harder to find, and the scissors are definitely different. I ordered that calculator too. I like that water bottle, but I think he'll lose it so maybe I'll wait and see if we can get something nice but cheap at homegoods. He's like me - any expensive mug or waterbottle is lost immediately, the cheap ones we have forever!! I'm liking the idea of these book sox things. We always made book covers out of brown paper grocery bags!!

It's so hard when they grow up.

[rockymtngirl]

]

DS is going into 7th this year. In grade 4 we upgraded his backpack to a more “mature” one. His previous one had a shark on it and he had one incident of teasing. His current backpack is Quiksilver and going into the 4th year of use and has held up amazing.

Lunchbox he has been using a flat style zippered case for a while now. Just bought a new under Armour one because his old one wore out. Now that he’s in middle school with a cafeteria I’ll let him buy lunch a couple times per week but he’s happy with the lunch box otherwise.

We’ve used under armour water bottles for a few years and have been happy with them. They are pricey which sucks because my son loses his often.

For scissors he’ll probably need bigger ones. They typically give age ranges on the package. It have him hold a few to see what feels best.

Calculator, unless specified that it has to be special can just be basic in a colour he likes.

Accordion folder we haven’t needed so I’m not much help but I’d bet that staples has youthful looking ones with cool designs or fun colours.

Last year we bought staples brand pencil sharpeners that were round and have a screw on lid that worked really well. They still usually just use the electric sharpener in the classroom though.

[mcppalmbeach]

I think in 5th grade they can still do whatever backpack they like, but if you want it to last into middle school then I would look at Nike, Under Armour, Vans, Jansport. My son didn't want just a plain solid color, but he got something a little more "mature" in pattern than the Lands End he carried in 4th/5th (ironically they are both a camo pattern lol, but his new one does look more mature). I got him a Nike lunchbag going into 7th, but I'm hearing now in middle school the thing to do is to carry a plastic grocery bag filled with all disposable ziplocs which tears at my environmentalist heart so we're going to try and resist that. He has a Simply Modern water bottle. Most any water bottle will do. I got my DS2 in 4th grade 7" kids scissors. I would probably just get the TI scientific calculator because he'll need it by 6th or 7th or for any advanced math. We have this one www.staples.com/Texas-Instruments-TI-30XIIS-Scientific-Calculator-Blue/product_382647?back=true I've never had to buy an accordion folder, but I've seen the plastic ones in better colors... kind of like this but it's a 7pocket. www.staples.com/Globe-Weis-7-Pocket-Poly-Expanding-File-Letter-Red/product_86777?back=true. I bought a pencil sharpener I liked at Staples and Walmart that were a little better than the cheapo ones, but still not expensive -- they got banned in my kid's class last year because the kids were spilling shavings everywhere.

[minzy]

We just bought supplies for my fifth grader tonight, too. As for most of the supplies, we usually seem to drop them off at the open house night. The supplies are all mingled in for communal use so no one really knows who bought the index cards in the wrong size or whatever.

She has a Lands End backpack from kindergarten; I bought it in her favorite color and that hasn’t changed. The thing is still is great shape so she’s not getting a new one. We use Contigo water bottles and sharpie our last name on them. I don’t know if that’s the cool thing but my kid currently does not care so I’m not going to get a Hydroflask just yet.

[dutchgirl678]

My kids have had their LL Bean backpacks for a few years now. They hold up great. For lunch, my son brings a Costco lunch bag. We bought the water bottles at Costco too. I forgot the brand. They are just plastic see-through bottles in different colors that come in a set of 3.

He doesn't have a calculator. The last few years we have had a school supply list where we could just order the whole packet for him and it was delivered to the school. Made it so easy. I don't even remember all that was in it.

[redheadbaker]

I think Lands End is having a backpack sale right now. I have a coupon code & PIN combo if you want it. DS has used an LL Bean backpack for the past two years (as well as over summers for day camp and weekend trips to Grandma's) and it still has many years of life left, so I don't need the coupon.

[heygrey]

Check TJMaxx for backpack and lunch box. Herschel is a popular brand among the grade 4-5s at my school and I’ve seen them for $40. Jansport is popular again. Nike, Adidas, Under Armour for the sports brands. My son is going into grade 2 and has two Herschel lunch boxes that he and I share. (My gr 3 students get a kick out of me using a construction or space themed lunchbox.) They have held up really well for the 2 years we’ve used them. I fully expect another year or two, which seems good for the ~$15 each I paid.

I really love our Hydroflasks for insulated water bottles, but a lot of the boys use those large Gatorade sports bottles. You could find that at Dick’s or a sporting goods store. They don’t keep water cold, but they are cheap and durable.

[penguingrrl]

My oldest has a Jansport that they got in 7th and will continue using for a long time (they’re going into HS). We also see a lot of LL Bean and Hershel in our middle school. My middle has a cute black one they found at Marshall’s when their old one broke mid year in 5th. For lunch boxes we usually find non babyish ones at Marshall’s. My younger one carries an addidas one, the older gets whatever they feel drawn to when a new one is needed. Both have hydroflask water bottles because my step sister splurged for Christmas a few years ago. They have held up really well.

[cjcouple]

My boys (10th and 7th) have Nike and Under Armour backpacks and lunch boxes. They are super durable and the backpacks lasted years so far.

They prefer lighter plastic water bottles. so they use Gatorade or UA.

Supply lists are often based on the teachers needs. I don't buy anything until after day 1 and we get a list unless we get a list mailed before hand. :-)

[WOT?*]

I'm a Costco fan for a lot of things. They have backpacks for $20 that will last several years that are suitable for late elementary/middle school (and even high school.) They will hold books, supplies, and laptops. I don't know the current brand but they've had Jansport there in the past. We still have my granddaughter's purple one from middle school, now that I think about it. (We've upgraded to "this Vans one with the skulls is so cool!" from her boring berry Jansport, lol.) In fifth they don't really need fancy or heavy duty, at least not in our district. The kids don't do travel between classes until middle school, which is when they'll need the backpack that can hold stuff and is balanced.

Ditto Costco for the water bottles, or discounters like TJ Maxx/Marshall's/Burlington/Ross. Mine lose theirs and leave them places so I won't go Hydroflask but Costco sells Thermos, Coleman, ThermoFlask, Contigo and other brands that are suitable and less expensive (and plenty of kids have them because hey, it's Costco.) I've used their lunch bags/boxes in the past as well. I like their current ones with the plastic container inserts.

I get a lot of school supplies at Staples. They have really good sales as school is starting. For the accordion file folders, I've found them at our local Fred Meyer (a Kroger store) and at Staples in plastic in colors or clear with a colored flap that are more "cool" than the brown fiberboard type things.

Scissors you can go up a size with the Fiskars. There's a mid-range for older kids.

In fifth grade, any calculator will work; we went for looks over function. They started using Casio and TI-30 in sixth and in 7/8 they moved up to a graphing TI-83 or TI-84 for algebra and beyond. The type of calculator was mandated by the teacher by middle school, so they would be able to teach functions and equations unilaterally to all students without having to learn different styles of calculator. It was a lot easier to just "the button is located here..." when all the calculators are the same.

I always buy Ticonderoga pencils. I like them better than the store brands. (Although I just bought some fancy $25 for a pack of 12 at Anthropologie for younger granddaughter because they had special erasers or some such.) But if you're going communal (our elementary school did) nobody is going to know if you bought the cheapies. I always buy the huge pack of Ticonderogas at Costco because some parents can't afford to bring in the full list.

(Mine are currently grandkids that are a senior and sophomore in high school so I've got a few years past fifth grade of doing this. I've also done the same/similar for my kids and they survived. lol.)

[expectantsteelerfan]

I haven't read the previous responses so this might have been covered, but the zippered binders often have the accordian style folders built in, and that is what my ds has used from 5th on (we have a 5th and 6th middle, and a 7th and 8th middle, so 5th is when they start having a different teacher/classroom for each class, so his big zippered binder is what he lugged around all day with ALL his stuff in it).

Water bottles at that age started to be Hydroflasks. Luckily my kids are happy with the TJ Maxx knock-offs that are still metal insulated bottles.

And we like Jansport backbacks.

[ellipses84]

My son is going into 5th grade (top grade at our elementary, not a secondary school for 5/6/7) and he still wants to use his Pokémon backpack. I think that will be ok but I told him we aren’t buying a new one this year. I may buy him a non-character backpack to grow into because I was concerned about the same thing. I think a lot of kids will use theirs from the past 2 years if they barely attended in person school. His BFF has a minecraft backpack. I’d worry less about things like character water bottles or lunchboxes. My DS decorates all his water bottles with Pokémon, minecraft, star for wars and mario stickers.

There are some PB Teen backpacks he liked that were a little more mature than the PBK ones.

I’m not much help on school supplies because we don’t have to provide ours. Pencils, mechanical pencils, pens, colored pencils, scissors, ruler? Our teachers need donations of stuff like Kleenex, sanitizing wipes, stuff for their prize bin, etc.

[revolution]

My 4th grader asked for an Adidas or nike backpack (all black) and an owala water bottle, because he knows he can get that water bottle in all black and it won't leak.

[dochas]

I'm so glad I posted, thank you all for the info and suggestions! My friend told me about the zippered thing, but since I was searching for accordion it wasn't coming up anywhere. I love that thing. Cool like the Trapper Keeper I loved so much. LOL My son's current backpack has a shark on it too. He's too fiscally responsible I guess - he thinks it's silly to waste money on a new backpack! Since we're getting a new one now I think we might as well go with what will work for middle school. I will definitely make sure it has an outside water bottle pocket. It would be so annoying to not have one. I am happy to report that I did know to go with the Ticonderoga pencils. We have approximately 5 billion holiday/fancy pencils and they are HORRIBLE to sharpen. I don't know if supplies are communal. Everything is on sale so I got good brands and extra of everything. He didn't even have a notebook last year and this year he needs 6. It's going to be an interesting adjustment!

[dochas]

Aug 5, 2021 21:55:46 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

I think Lands End is having a backpack sale right now. I have a coupon code & PIN combo if you want it. DS has used an LL Bean backpack for the past two years (as well as over summers for day camp and weekend trips to Grandma's) and it still has many years of life left, so I don't need the coupon.

If you're sure you don't need it, that would be great! If he doesn't see one he likes I'll let you know so it doesn't go to waste. Thanks!

[katfco]

I would hold off on the calculator, unless the teacher specifically says he'll need one. We don't use calculators in my class.

[dochas]

Aug 6, 2021 10:56:15 GMT -5 katfco said:

I would hold off on the calculator, unless the teacher specifically says he'll need one. We don't use calculators in my class.

I was surprised by the calculator, but the list is from the 2 5th grade teachers. So much stuff! 

[pinkdutchtulips]

Jansport backpacks got me and now dd through middle/high school. 

Mead makes some 6 pocket expander files that don't look like you're going to your CPA's office.
 
Hydroflask make sturdy bottles that don't leak but I find them pricey. If you get one, provided it doesn't get lost, it should last all of middle/high school. 

The other supplies - I get middle of the road ones. Nothing too expensive or too cheap. I don't want to freak out if something gets lost or have to constantly replace something. 

[whattheheck]

I like this type of six pocket folder bc my kids can look through the papers in it without having to pull them out.

www.officesupply.com/school-supplies/student-teacher-supplies/basic-school-supplies/pocket-folders/pocket-poly-folders-letter-size-assorted-colors-pack/p784889.html?ref=pla&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=&scid=scplp784889&sc_intid=784889&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3caEsoud8gIVQ-TICh2z8QFhEAQYBiABEgJBFPD_BwE

www.staples.com/10-pocket-poly-portfolio-with-write-on-tabs-clear-w-assorted-color-tabs-letter/product_2692649?back=true

www.staples.com/staples-8-pocket-portfolio-assorted-colors-12-bx-18118-us-bx/product_24375041?back=true