Do you like to keep inexpensive gift ideas for students on hand to celebrate holidays, birthdays, or special accomplishments? Do you like to have small rewards to serve as incentives for good behavior or good work? Then look no further! This big list is full of fun, affordable little things (most are less than $1) your students will flip over.
FREE PRINTABLES
Student Gift Tags
These printable gift tags are perfect for attaching to simple and inexpensive DIY student gifts to make them extra special. Grab our free printable bundle of 10 tags.
1. Scratch-and-Sniff Bookmarks
Not only do these humorous bookmarks look good, they smell good too!
Buy them: Scented Bookmarks
2. Rainbow Fluffy Pens
Your students will be scrambling to do their best work to earn one of these super-fun pens.
Buy them: Rainbow Fluffy Pens
3. Glitter Gel Pens
Wow, these pens pack a punch! They’re gel, they glitter, and best of all, they’re fruit-scented.
Buy them: Scented Glitter Gel Pens
4. Balloon Animal Erasers
Erasers your students actually may not lose: tiny balloon animals!
Buy them: Balloon Animal Erasers
5. Origami Paper
Put together mixed sets of sheets of these colorful rainbow origami papers in zipper bags and add them to your treasure box. Purchase includes a free e-book tutorial for creating all kinds of shapes.
Buy them: Origami Paper
6. Glowing Neon Bracelets
These colorful neon tubes can be formed into bracelets, necklaces, tiaras, etc. Plus, they glow in the dark!
Buy them: Glow Stick Bracelets
7. Paint-Your-Own Wooden Magnets
These adorable wood magnets make a great DIY paint project.
Buy them: Wooden Magnets
8. Mini Stuffies
Give your students their own little lovies to read with and take care of.
Buy them: Mini Stuffed Animals
9. Invisible-Ink Pens
Want to encourage your students to write? Gift them these invisible-ink pens with built-in black light, and they’ll be motivated to compose secret messages.
Buy them: Invisible-Ink Pens
10. Assorted Card Games
Give each of your students a fun card game to pass the time at home over a holiday break. This set of 24 decks comes with an assortment of games, including Old Maid, Go Fish, and Monster Hearts.
Buy them: Boredom Buster Card Games
12. Pop Fidget Key Chains
Love ’em or not, Pop-Its are still the reigning king of fidget toys. You can grab a pack of 30 on Amazon for less than a buck apiece.
Buy them: Pop Fidget Key Chains
13. Pop Fidget Bracelets
How about a fidget toy that doubles as a fashion accessory? Your students will love these push-pop bracelets, and you’ll love that these inexpensive gifts for students are only about 50 cents apiece.
Buy them: Pop Fidget Bracelets
15. Magic Scratch Paper Notes
These adorable craft sets come in a variety pack of 24, featuring four different themes: Secret Clubhouse, Unicorn House, Butterfly House, and Space Center.
Buy them: Magic Scratch Notes
16. Hand Sanitizer Bottles
Hand sanitizer is a must-have, so give your students a whimsical way to carry theirs around. Grab a set of these refillable bottles for a fun and useful gift for students.
Buy them: Refillable Hand Sanitizer Bottles
17. Colorful Lanyards
These bright-hued lanyards include a safety breakaway mechanism, so they’re even safe for younger kids. It’s the perfect way for them to wear their school ID.
Buy them: Colorful Lanyards
18. Tic-Tac-Toe Games
This fun little game kit comes with the board and all the pieces in their own little storage bag. All for less than $1 per game!
Buy them: Tic-Tac-Toe
19. Bubble Wands
Bubbles are another one of those little treats that will make any kid’s day. These are a fun little pocket-sized version.
Buy them: Bubble Wands
20. Hand Clappers
These are so fun to use in the classroom! Give them to each student so they can show their appreciation during presentations or book reports.
Buy them: Hand Clappers
21. Make-a-Face Stickers
One of the best things about these cute sticker pages is that you can pop them in the mail with a card or note.
Buy them: Make-a-Face Sticker Sheets
22. Puffy Stickers
Kids love stickers and they really love 3D puffy stickers. With themes of food, animals, hearts, and more, there’s sure to be a sheet every one of your students will love.
Buy them: Puffy Stickers
23. Motivational Stickers
These laptop stickers are fun inexpensive gift ideas for students. This set of 250 motivational stickers costs less than $15.
Buy them: Motivational Laptop Stickers
24. Light-Up Tops
Sometimes it surprises adults how much fun kids have playing with classic toys. These light-up tops add some extra excitement to an old-school toy.
Buy them: Light-Up Tops
25. Cartoon Gel Ink Pens
These adorable gel ink pens are less than a dollar each when you buy a set of 24.
Buy them: Cartoon Gel Ink Pens
26. Mini Puzzles
Help your students build fine motor and problem-solving skills with these adorable mini puzzles that feature an assortment of wild animals. Best of all, they cost less than a dollar each.
Buy them: Wildlife Mini Puzzles
27. Inexpensive E-books
Amazon has lots of terrific children’s e-book options for a dollar or two each, and they make it easy to send a selection to a large group. Plus, check out our big list of free e-books.
Buy them: E-Books
28. DIY Bookmarks
These printable (and mailable!) bookmarks are FREE, so all you need is a printer and some card stock.
Get them: Printable Bookmarks
29. Mini Puzzle Books
Puzzle books will keep kids entertained (and thinking) when they have some free time.
Buy them: Mini Puzzle Books
30. DIY Motivational Cards
Sometimes all you need is a reminder that you’re special to make the day better.
Get them: Motivational Cards
31. DIY Kindness Posters
If you’re looking for an even more inexpensive way to spread kindness, you’ll love these free printable posters!
Get them: Printable Kindness Posters
32. Animal Bookmarks
These animal bookmarks are cute and a real bargain! You can get 30 animal bookmarks for a great price.
Buy them: Animal Bookmarks
33. Emoji Bookmarks
Yes, more bookmarks! Such a good gift idea and so useful.
Buy them: Emoji Bookmarks
34. Book Lover Pins
Looking for inexpensive gift ideas for students who love to read? These cute buttons have clever slogans that any bibliophile will appreciate.
Buy them: Book Lover Pins
35. Slap Bracelets
These fun bracelets are a fad that never gets old! Just be sure to set down some guidelines for appropriate use in the classroom.
Buy them: Slap Bracelets
36. DIY Calm-Down Jars
Have you seen our calm-down jars? These are such a good experiment, and they can also make a good gift for students. You can use miniature jars to save money.
Buy the supplies: Miniature Jars
38. Stress Balls
You can find lots of options for stress balls on Amazon, and these globes are some of our favorites.
Buy them: Globe Stress Balls
39. Flying Discs
Here’s a great playground toy that makes a perfect student gift.
Buy them: Rubber Flying Discs
40. Beaded Fidget Toys
DIY fidget toys are inexpensive gift ideas that are always a hit with students. Plus, they’re a cinch to create when you’re binge-watching your favorite show.
Learn more: DIY Fidget Toys
Buy them: Pony Beads
41. DIY Game Boards
Grab our free printable game boards and use them to create personalized games for your students. Pair them with some colorful dice and you’re ready to gift!
Get them: Printable Game Boards
Buy them: Colorful Dice
42. Coloring Pages/Books
Younger kids especially love to color pretty pictures. Snag these adorable coloring books (only $1.50 for 112 pages!) and hand out pages as rewards. Or keep a supply of books on hand for special birthday gifts.
Buy them: Jumbo Coloring Books
43. Mini Doodle Pads
Kids can sketch whatever strikes their fancy, then swipe to erase with these mini doodle pads. Best of all, they’re less than a couple of bucks each when you buy in bulk.
Buy them: Doodle Pads
44. Dino Eggs
Inspire future paleontologists in your class with these super-fun faux dinosaur eggs. The set even comes with excavating picks and species guides. Divvy up the set and package each egg plus supplies for 12 special rewards.
Buy them: Dinosaur Eggs
46. DIY Bouncy Balls
Whether you send these home for families to try or use them as an in-class science experiment, they’re sure to be tons of fun.
Buy them: DIY Bouncy Balls
47. Gratitude Journals
Gratitude truly is the secret to a happy life. Train your students to develop the habit by giving them a place to jot their happy thoughts and fun memories on a consistent basis.
Buy them: Mini Gratitude Journals
48. Inspirational Sticky Notes
Everybody loves sticky notes! Give kids their own cute pads to use whenever they want to send a cheery message to a friend.
Buy them: Inspirational Sticky Notes
49. Mini Squishies
These are so popular with kids of all ages. Your students will love choosing one, or you can choose it for them along with a special note. Consider using them as desk pets too!
Buy them: Mini Squishies
50. Six-Color Pens
What’s old is new again with these retractable pens with six colors of ink. They make great gifts, and they’re affordable when you buy in bulk.
Buy them: Colorful Retractable Pens
52. Food Erasers
Yum! These adorable little erasers in the shape of different foods will inspire your students to start a collection of their own. Consider using them in conjunction with your desk pets as well.
Buy them: Food Erasers
53. LEGO-Shaped Crayons
What a great way to recycle old, broken crayons. Grab this mold and make some yourself!
Buy them: Building-Brick Mold
55. Punch Balloons
These punch balloons are a fun way for kids to work off some of their energy after sitting at a desk for hours each day.
Buy them: Punch Balloons
56. Globe Beach Balls
Choose your inexpensive gift ideas for students with learning in mind. These inflatable globes are fun to throw around but can be used for reference and exploration too.
Buy them: Inflatable Globes
57. Mini Building Block Animals
Have you met a kid yet who doesn’t love LEGO? These mini building block kits are basically the same thing, but you can get 12 of them for less than a couple of dollars apiece.
Buy them: Mini Building Block Kits
59. Spiral Notepads
Colorful mini notepads (especially these, with fun covers that look like LEGO bricks) make a practical, simple gift for kids of all ages.
Buy them: Mini Building Block Notepads
60. Bendy Pencils
These flexible pencils will wow your students for less than a quarter each. They’ll get a kick out of bending them into fun shapes.
Buy them: Bendable Pencils
61. Bendy Tubes
Kids just love playing with these plastic bendy tubes. And best of all, you can get them for just about a dollar apiece.
Buy them: Plastic Bendy Tubes
62. Mini Puzzle Cube
Challenge your students to solve this kid-sized Rubik’s Cube–style puzzle. They’ll have fun while building dexterity and problem-solving skills.
Buy them: Puzzle Cubes
64. Mini Springs
There’s something irresistible about spring toys. Pick up a bulk pack for pennies each.
Buy them: Mini Rainbow Springs
65. Speed Cubes
The possibilities are endless with these magic speed cubes that students can turn into shapes like snakes, dogs, and more.
Buy them: Magic Speed Cubes
66. Thank-You Cards
Just knowing that their teacher sees them for who they are can make all the difference for some kids. Instead of a tangible gift, why not put your gratitude into words?
Buy them: Thank-You Cards
67. Water-Ball Yo-Yos
OK, even we would like to have a mini water-ball yo-yo. Fun for fidgeting, the playground, and collecting.
Buy them: Water Ball Yo-Yos
68. Bendy Fidget Toys
These quiet fidget toys are great distractions for students to keep their hands busy while focusing on their work.
Buy them: Multicolored Bendy Fidgets
69. Fidget Balls
Another version of the Pop-It fidget. These colorful bumpy balls are fun to toss around and also to fidget with when your student needs to get some energy out.
Buy them: Pop-It Fidget Balls
70. Bath Bombs
These organic bath bombs come with a little surprise inside!
Buy them: Bath Bombs for Kids
71. Homemade Play Dough
Who doesn’t love play dough? Cook up a few batches of this all-natural version and divvy up into sets to share as prizes for your students.
Get the recipe: Homemade Play Dough
72. Mini Stampers
Tiny stampers are fun for students to use to mark answers correct, create patterns and pictures, or give each other in autograph books.
Buy them: Mini Stampers
73. Stretchy Guys
These silly sensory toys are a big hit with kids! Don’t they just bring a smile to your face?
Buy them: Smiley Stretchy Toys
74. Hatching Dinosaur Eggs
These colorful eggs hatch into tiny dinosaurs when soaked in water.
Buy them: Hatching Dinosaur Eggs
76. DIY Stress Balls
Don’t feel like buying store-bought gifts? Make these silly stress balls yourself!
Learn how: DIY Stress Balls
77. DIY Mask Templates
Print out these free mask templates and create a little DIY kit for your students. You can also include colored paper and a pack of crayons or markers if you’d like.
Get them: Free Mask Templates
78. DIY Coloring Books
Check out our cool collection of coloring pages and print out a few to assemble mini coloring books for your students.
Get them: Coloring Pages
79. DIY Yoga Cards
Share these colorful yoga posters with your students and encourage them to stay flexible!
Get them: Yoga Posters
80. Drawing Tutorials
Your students will love these easy how-to-draw worksheets. Bundle a couple together along with a pencil for a fun little gift.
Get them: How To Draw Tutorials
What’s your go-to when you need inexpensive gift ideas for students? Come share in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, check out our big roundup of fun, easy science experiments for kids.
Elizabeth Mulvahill, B.A., Certified Teacher
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