What can I give to my students as a gift?

Looking for inexpensive gift ideas for students to celebrate the end of the year, birthdays, or reward accomplishments? Look no further! These choices are affordable and fun, and your students are sure to love them. Some of them can even be mailed with a standard first class stamp, so you can send them home if you prefer.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1. Cool Summer Ice Pop Labels

Stock up on cheap ice pops, add these cute tags from Etsy, and let your students pick their favorite flavor before heading out for summer break.

2. School is O-Fish-Ally Over Snack Labels

These clever labels from Etsy are definitely one of our favorite plays on words for end of the school year gifts!

3. Doh-Toally Awesome Play-Doh Tags

What kid doesn’t love Play-Doh? Grab a bulk pack and stick one of these pun-tastic labels on them.

4. Chalk Full of Fun Labels

Put a couple pieces of sidewalk chalk in a baggie with these fun labels to inspire some outdoor creativity over the summer.

5. Buckets of Fun Labels

You can add a few little treats to a small bucket with this adorable label on it to remind your students to be “bucket fillers” on break.

6. Leave a Little Sparkle Crayons

You can buy these inexpensive sparkly crayons from Etsy or melt your year’s worth of broken crayons into a DIY version.

7. One Smart Cookie Labels

Graduates deserve a treat for making it to the finish line! You can add this cute label from Etsy to a pack of pre-made cookies or go the extra mile with some home-baked goodies.

8. Personalized Keychains

These personalized keychains come with the sweetest message: “Teachers are like stars: You can’t always see them, but you know they’re always there. We are always here for you!”

9. Pop-It Keychains

Love ’em or not, pop it’s are still the reigning king of fidget toys. You can grab a pack of 30 on Amazon for less than a buck apiece.

10. Finger Flashlights

These little lights are perfect cheap gifts for students who love Flashlight Fridays and want to bring the fun home!

11. Fun Hand Sanitizer Bottles

Hand sanitizer continues to be a must-have, so give your students a fun way to carry theirs around. Grab a set of 24 different sleeves with empty bottles included on Amazon.

12. Colorful Lanyards

These brightly-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. Get a pack of 12 on Amazon here.

13. Sunglasses

What kid doesn’t love sporting a cool pair of shades, especially in the summer sun? Get a dozen pairs for a bargain price on Amazon.

14. Bubble Wands

Bubbles are another one of those little treats that will make any kid’s day. This set of 12 bubble wands works out to about a buck each on Amazon.

15. Hand Clappers

These are so fun to use in the classroom! Give each student so they can show their appreciation during presentations or book reports. Find these at Dollar Tree.

16. Make-A-Face Sticker Sheets

One of the best things about these cute sticker pages is that you can pop them in mail with a card or note. Get a set of 36 on Amazon.

17. Puffy Stickers

What student doesn’t love puffy stickers? Packs are only $1 each at Dollar Tree.

18. 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. Explore children’s e-books here.

19. Reading Bookmarks

These printable (and mailable!) bookmarks are free, so all you need is a printer and some cardstock. Get them here!

20. Mini Puzzle Books

Puzzle books will keep kids entertained when they have some free time. Get a 12-pack for less than a dollar apiece on Amazon.

21. Motivational Cards

Sometimes all you need is a reminder that you’re special to make the day better. Get 100 of these motivational cards for only pennies each on Amazon.

22. Kindness Posters

If you’re looking for an even more inexpensive way to spread kindness, you’ll love these free printable posters. Get the set here.

23. Animal Bookmarks

These animal bookmarks are cute and a real bargain. You can get 30 animal bookmarks for a great price on Amazon. These are easy to pop into the mail, too!

24. Emoji Bookmarks

Yes, more bookmarks! They’re such a good gift idea and so useful. Get a set of 75 right here.

25. Book Lover Pins

Reward your star readers with these cute buttons with clever slogans that any bibliophile will appreciate. Find them on Etsy.

26. Superhero Slap Bracelets

There are lots of slap bracelet options out there, but these might be our favorite. You can get 38 of them for a really affordable price on Amazon.

27. Personalized Bracelets

This option is a little more pricey, but they are so cute and only $2 each at Etsy. They’re even less if you order in bulk!

28. Earbuds

Your students could probably use some new earbuds. Available in sets of 30 or 50 on Amazon for an unbelievable price.

29. Miniature 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. Just get miniature jars like these from Amazon to save money.

30. Painted Rocks

If you’ve got an artsy side, make personalized painted rocks for your students. Here are a few ideas we put together for inspiration. It’s easy with this set of perfectly smooth stones and these acrylic paint pens made for rock painting.

31. Stress Balls

You can find lots of options for stress balls on Amazon, and these globes are some of our favorites. Get a 24-pack here.

32. Frisbees

Here’s another great playground toy that makes a perfect student gift. Only $1 for each frisbee at Dollar Tree.

33. DIY Fidget Sticks

Fidget toys are always a hit with kids. Learn how to make DIY fidget sticks, plus see a list of our favorites to buy here.

34. Game Boards

Grab our free printable game boards here and use them to create personalized games for your students. Pair them with some vibrant dice like these, and you’re ready to gift!

35. Coloring Books

We like these coloring books with more grown-up themes. They’re nice for older kids who still love this soothing activity. Find them at Dollar Tree.

36. Doodle Pads

Kids can sketch away, then swipe to erase with these mini doodle pads. They’re less than a couple of bucks each when you buy in bulk on Amazon.

37. Dig a Dino Eggs

You know your students will get a real kick out of these dino eggs! They’re less than a couple of bucks each when you buy a set of 12 on Amazon.

38. Children’s Books

We mentioned e-books above, but if you’d like to give traditional books, there are all sorts of ways of finding them at affordable prices. Buy a set of fun fact books or classic fairytale books for $1 each from Dollar Tree.

39. DIY Bouncy Ball Kits

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. Get a set of 12 on Amazon.

40. Happy Journals

Give them a place to jot their happy thoughts and fun memories. These little notebooks are about a dollar each when you buy 24 on Amazon.

41. Fun Sticky Notepads

Sticky notes are incredibly useful in any classroom. Give kids their own cute pads to use when they want to send a cheery message to a friend. Get these pads at Dollar Tree.

42. Kawaii 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 turning them into desk pets, too! Get a 45-pack on Amazon.

43. 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. Get them on Amazon.

44. Personalized Pencils

You can order personalized pencils from places like Amazon (we like this shiny rainbow option). If your budget is a little slimmer, learn how to make them yourself with a printer and clear tape. Then just buy a pack of neon pencils like these.

45. Pull-Apart Erasers

Pair these adorable food pull-apart erasers with your personalized pencils. Get a pack of 30 at a great price on Amazon.

46. LEGO Brick Crayons

This is such a clever way to use up old bits of crayons. Grab this mold from Amazon and make some yourself!

47. Scrabble Tile Names

Make initial necklaces or create a nameplate students can use anywhere. They’re surprisingly easy to make using wood craft sticks. Get 1,000 Scrabble letter tiles on Amazon.

48. Punch Balloons

Give kids a way to work off some of their energy after sitting at a desk for hours each day. Here’s a set of 30 punch balloons on Amazon.

49. Globe Beach Balls

Combine a little learning with your inexpensive gift ideas for students! These inflatable globes are fun to throw around but can be used for reference too. Snag a set of 12 on Amazon.

50. Mini Building Block Sets

51. Miniature Game Tins

Save up those tins or just buy empty tins in bulk on Amazon. You can create the games we did here with these free printables.

52. Mini Notepads

Colorful mini notepads make a practical, simple gift for kids of all ages. Get a 60-pack on Amazon here.

53. Slime Putty Unicorn Galaxy Eggs

These vivid putty and slime eggs are surefire inexpensive gift ideas for students. Get 24 slime-filled eggs on Amazon.

54. Mini Rainbow Springs

55. Thank-You Notes

Knowing that their teacher sees them for who they are can make all the difference for some kids. You can write them on any kind of paper or grab a set of cards like these from Amazon.

What’s your go-to when you need inexpensive gift ideas for students? Come share on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out our list of inexpensive classroom rewards you can get at Dollar Tree.

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