1. Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers
If you went to school in the ’70s, you probably remember the thrill of peeling off a scratch-and-sniff sticker. Teachers used them as rewards, and kids collected them like treasure. Some smelled like fruits, others like root beer, and a few were downright strange. Kids would line them up in sticker albums, showing them off to friends like they were precious gems. The scents never seemed to last forever, but the memory of sniffing your way through a homework assignment sure did.
The stickers also sparked mini-trading sessions during recess. If you had an extra pizza-scented one, you might score a rare grape soda sticker from a classmate. They weren’t just school supplies, they were tiny status symbols. Having the coolest sticker sheet meant you were instantly popular, at least until the smell faded away.
2. Trapper Keepers
Even though they really hit their stride in the ’80s, some kids got their first Trapper Keepers in the late ’70s. These binders weren’t just about organization, they were a whole personality. Covered in wild designs like rainbows or geometric shapes, they snapped shut with a satisfying flap of Velcro. Suddenly, regular binders looked dull in comparison.
For many kids, opening up a Trapper Keeper was like revealing a secret world. It had pockets for notes, spots for pens, and dividers that made everything feel important. If you had one, you probably doodled all over the inside and slipped in photos of your favorite band or TV star. It was more than a binder, it was a portable clubhouse.
3. Pee-Chee Folders
These classic tan folders, decorated with sports figures, were everywhere in the ’70s. They weren’t flashy, but every kid ended up personalizing theirs. The original drawings practically begged to be doodled on, and kids covered them in mustaches, sunglasses, or speech bubbles. Even teachers weren’t surprised when they saw the folder covered in doodles instead of the original art.
What made Pee-Chees iconic was their durability. They could survive being stuffed into a backpack, sat on, or spilled on. Kids crammed notes, assignments, and even secret messages inside. The folder almost told the story of a whole school year, with frayed corners and fading ink showing how hard it worked.
4. Scented Markers
Nothing could make note-taking more fun than a set of scented markers. The big, bold colors were great for posters and projects, but it was the smell that hooked kids. You had cherry, grape, blueberry, and even some questionable ones like black licorice. The markers left your fingers stained, but you didn’t care.
Everyone knew at least one kid who couldn’t resist sniffing them directly, even if the teacher warned against it. Art class turned into an olfactory experience, with the whole room smelling like a fruit stand. Having a full pack of scented markers made you the envy of the class. You might even loan one out, if your friend promised to give it back.
5. Pencil Toppers
A plain yellow pencil was boring, but slap a topper on it and suddenly you had flair. Pencil toppers in the ’70s came in all kinds of shapes, from animals to smiley faces. Some even had fuzzy hair you could style while pretending to do math. It gave kids a chance to show off their personalities right at their desks.
The toppers also made pencils harder to lose. If your eraser was topped with a glittery star or a tiny monster, you’d recognize it instantly. Friends sometimes swapped toppers, which made each one feel even more special. They were cheap, cheerful, and a tiny way of making schoolwork a little less dreary.
6. Metal Lunch Boxes with Thermoses
School supplies weren’t just pencils and paper, they included what you brought your lunch in. In the ’70s, metal lunch boxes ruled the cafeteria. They came emblazoned with everything from The Brady Bunch to Star Wars, making lunchtime a pop-culture showcase. The clink of those metal latches is something every kid from the era remembers.
Inside was usually a matching thermos, often filled with milk or soup. The thermos wasn’t always leak-proof, but kids carried it proudly anyway. A well-loved lunch box had scratches, dents, and stickers slapped on for good measure. For many kids, their lunch box said just as much about them as their notebook.
7. Bic Banana Pens
Bright yellow with a playful name, Bic Banana pens became a must-have in the ’70s. They were smoother to write with than a regular pencil and made kids feel a little more grown up. The catchy name alone was enough to make them stand out in the classroom.
Owning a pack meant you’d be lending them out constantly. Friends would ask to borrow one “just for today,” and somehow you’d never see it again. Writing with a Bic Banana felt special, almost like signing an autograph instead of doing homework. It’s no wonder they became a classroom favorite.
8. Mood Rings
Technically more of an accessory, mood rings often ended up in kids’ pencil cases. The color-changing stones fascinated students who swore they revealed real emotions. Blue meant calm, green meant normal, and black usually meant the ring was just cold. Kids wore them to class and showed them off like science experiments on their fingers.
Teachers didn’t always approve, since they could be distracting, but that didn’t stop anyone. Sometimes kids even tried to test the ring by holding it against warm cups or freezing windows. Whether or not they really worked didn’t matter. What mattered was that everyone wanted one.
9. Mechanical Pencils
Before they became mainstream in later decades, mechanical pencils in the ’70s felt futuristic. No more sharpening, just click and write. The thin lead made writing neat and precise, though it snapped easily if you pressed too hard. Kids loved the clicking sound almost as much as the writing.
Some pencils even had colorful barrels that looked far cooler than wooden ones. Having one instantly made your supplies feel upgraded. You’d guard it carefully, since losing it meant going back to regular pencils. It was a small piece of modern technology in an otherwise old-school classroom.
10. Spiral Notebooks with Funky Covers
Spiral notebooks have been around forever, but in the ’70s the covers got funky. Designs ranged from psychedelic swirls to peace signs and rainbows. Writing notes inside felt more fun when the outside was this bold.
The spirals themselves became toys, too. Kids bent them, pulled them apart, or linked paper clips through them. The notebooks didn’t always survive the abuse, but they were cheap enough to replace. Still, there was pride in picking out the “coolest” one on the first day of school.
11. Smiley Face Erasers
The bright yellow smiley face became a symbol of the ’70s, and erasers were no exception. Tiny, round, and cheerful, they sat on top of desks like little happy companions. Kids loved them not just for erasing, but for trading and collecting.
They didn’t always erase well, leaving smudges instead of clean pages. But no one really cared, because they looked so fun. Some kids stacked them like coins, while others just kept them in a special pencil case. They were less about practicality and more about joy.
12. Chalk Holders
For kids lucky enough to have teachers who let them near the chalkboard, chalk holders were magical. They turned a plain piece of chalk into something sleek and less messy. Sliding the chalk in and clicking it into place felt oddly satisfying.
Even students sometimes carried them, especially if they liked doodling during free time. It made chalk feel like a “real” writing instrument, closer to a pen. Plus, it saved your hands from the dreaded chalk dust. In a way, it was an early version of making learning just a little cleaner and cooler.
13. Stencil Rulers
Rulers in the ’70s often doubled as stencils, filled with cutouts of letters, numbers, and shapes. Suddenly, your math homework could be decorated with stars or your name spelled perfectly. Kids spent more time tracing than measuring, but it felt productive enough to pass as real work.
The rulers were usually made of clear plastic, easy to slip into a folder or desk. They became a favorite for kids who loved doodling. Teachers didn’t always appreciate the decorated margins, but kids couldn’t resist. A good stencil ruler was part tool, part toy.
14. Glue Pens
Before glue sticks took over, the ’70s had glue pens. These slim tubes dispensed glue like ink, making it easier to control. Kids used them for projects, though sometimes they leaked or clogged. The novelty of “writing with glue” made them feel extra special.
Of course, not everything stuck as well as promised, and papers sometimes peeled apart later. But using a glue pen felt high-tech compared to the messy paste jars from earlier years. Even if it wasn’t perfect, kids loved showing off their glue pen skills. It turned simple crafts into something more exciting.
15. Book Covers from Grocery Bags
Textbooks were precious, and kids had to cover them. The most common cover? A grocery bag turned inside out. Parents showed kids how to fold and tape it so it fit snugly. Once the plain cover was on, it was like a blank canvas just waiting to be decorated.
Kids doodled, wrote band names, or covered them with stickers. Some even made them look like works of art. The covers didn’t just protect books, they showed off personalities. By the end of the year, the bag might be tattered, but it was filled with memories.
