Back to School with Kores: A Complete School Supplies Guide for Parents
The start of the school year is a time of careful preparation for many families, and that includes buying school supplies. The right equipment not only makes classroom work easier, but also supports children’s creativity and independence. Here is an overview of the essential Kores school and art supplies that shouldn’t be missing from any schoolbag or backpack – with tips on choosing the right product for a specific age and school grade.
👍Tip for parents: below, you’ll always find a “Suitable for” note to make it easier to choose based on your child’s age and grade.
Art and creative supplies
Creative learning and art activities are an integral part of school life. Basic supplies for developing artistic skills include:
Kolores Coloured Pencils
An essential tool for drawing and colouring that supports creativity. High-quality Kolores coloured pencils glide smoothly, feature bright and vibrant colours, and are made from high-quality wood that is easy to sharpen. The lead, which is glued along its entire length, significantly reduces the likelihood of the pencil breaking when dropped or sharpened.
Suitable for: primary grades 1-5 (Kolores standard pencils), preschool and prep classes (Kolores Jumbo with a 5mm-diameter lead and triangular shape for a correct pincer grip).
💡 Promo pack tip: Kolores Set of 14 (12 + 4 colours) – the standard 12-pencil Kolores set is expanded with 4 bonus colours. An ideal choice for the start of the school year: the child gets the full base palette plus 4 extra colours. The set is available at a better price than buying separate sets.
💡 For preschoolers and first-graders: Kolores Jumbo are triangular pencils with an extra-thick 5mm-diameter lead, whose larger diameter makes them easier for small hands to hold and naturally encourages a correct pincer grip. FSC®-certified wood, lead glued along the full length, sharpener included.
Temperas Paints &
Akuarellos Watercolours
Children use these for creating various art projects. Temperas paints stand out for their rich colours and good opacity, and suit painting on paper, cardboard, and other surfaces.
Suitable for: primary grades 1 and 2, art class, school projects and after-school clubs.
Akuarellos watercolours are popular for how light and simple they are to use. All you need is a brush, water, and paper. The Akuarellos Mini Pastel variant offers 12 soft pastel colours. All Kores Akuarellos watercolours come in a unique package that can be held like a painter’s palette.
Suitable for: primary grades 1 and 2, art class, school projects and after-school clubs.
Wax Crayons Krayones
Wax crayons are a great alternative to coloured pencils for techniques where a standard coloured pencil isn’t enough, such as layering colours, ironing or decorating dark paper. The Jumbo size, with a diameter of 14 mm, is ideal for very young children. They can easily draw with them and discover the world of colour. The classic thin wax crayons are useful for various art techniques among older schoolchildren
Suitable for: preschool and primary grade 1 (Jumbo), primary grade 2, and after-school clubs.
Felt-Tip Pens Korellos & K-beats
Korellos children’s markers stand out for the intensity and richness of their colours – a popular tool for drawing and writing, not just at school but at home too. Non-toxic ink and come with a safety cap.
Suitable for: primary grades 1 and 2.
K-beats felt-tip pens, with a triangular grip and a medium fibre tip, bring energy and an eye for detail to schoolwork. The version with 8 pastel and 4 neon tones (a 26-marker set) offers versatility and expression of a personal style. A smaller 15-colour set is also available.
Suitable for: primary grade 2 and secondary school.
Writing and note-taking
In the everyday school routine, writing tools play a key role. The right writing instrument varies by age, grade, and the child’s individual needs.
Mechanical Pencils
A great alternative to traditional pencils for older students. They allow precise writing and drafting without frequent sharpening. The 0.5 mm lead diameter ensures a thin line.
Suitable for: primary grade 4 and above, secondary school students.
Ballpoint Pens K-Pen
Alongside pencils, these are an important writing tool. Available in many colours, they allow for easy, fluent writing. Gel versions are appreciated by students who write with a lighter touch and prefer a smoother glide across the paper.
Suitable for: primary grade 3 and above, secondary school students.
Whiteboard Markers K-Marker
With the growing use of interactive whiteboards in schools, whiteboard markers are becoming a standard part of school supplies. Fine markers are popular for large boards as well as the small erasable practice boards that primary-grade students widely use for practice today.
Suitable for: primary grade 1, primary grade 2, secondary school.
→ Markers K-Marker Whiteboard, fine
→ Markers K-Marker Whiteboard, thick
Graphite Pencils Grafitos
Essential for both writing and drawing. Different hardness grades ensure optimal conditions for every task — the most commonly used is hardness 2=HB for everyday writing, softer H grades for lighter lines and finer drawing, harder B grades for bold strokes and sketching. Available in various colours, with or without an eraser, in standard and triangular ergonomic versions.
Suitable for: all primary and secondary grades.
💡For first-graders, we recommend the Coach pencil, which is thick, shortened, and triangular to support a correct grip.
→ Graphite Pencils for Kids Coach
Crafting and modeling
Modeling materials are a great way to develop children’s fine motor skills and creative thinking from a very young age.
Modeling Clay Plastilina
A classic that still delights children of all ages. It offers endless possibilities for shaping and creating: animals, food, architecture, and abstract forms. Non-toxic, odourless, soft, and pliable. Available in a standard set of 10 base colours and in a pastel variant of 10 soft shades.
Suitable for: preschool and primary grade 1, creative clubs, family activities.
Other supplies
Every schoolchild also needs a range of small but important items. It’s exactly these “little things” that tend to get forgotten and are then missing at the least convenient moment.
Sharpeners
In lower primary grades, children make use of a double sharpener. It has two openings for standard and thick pencils (including Jumbo). The Deposito sharpener, with its closable shaving container, prevents shavings from spilling into a pencil case or backpack.
Suitable for: all primary grades. For lower primary, we recommend the double sharpener with a closed container.
Erasers
A good eraser ensures flawless corrections without scratching the paper or smudging surrounding text. Kores offers a range of erasers in various colours and shapes. All erasers are free of phthalates and latex.
Suitable for: all primary and secondary grades.
Rulers & Compasses
Essential for math and geometry class. Compasses are needed from primary grade 3 onward for geometry. Kores offers complete drafting sets as well as standalone rulers.
Suitable for: from primary grade 2 (15cm ruler), primary grade 3 and above (15cm and 30cm rulers + compass), primary grade 4 and above (set square with a ruled edge), primary grade 5 and above (compass).
A summary by age group
- Preschool (ages 3-6): Kolores Jumbo, Krayones Jumbo, Plastilina, Akuarellos watercolours, Temperas paints, Coach pencil, Chameleon glue stick, Birdy/Soft scissors, Deposito sharpener
- Primary grades 1-3: Kolores standard or Kolores Set of 14, Grafitos Style pencils, Korellos felt-tip pens, Akuarellos watercolours, Temperas paints, Standard/Pastel/Metallic glue stick, Cirkos compass, KE30 eraser, Deposito sharpener
- Primary grades 3-5: Kolores standard, Grafitos Style pencils, M2 Mechanical pencils, K-Pen ballpoint pens, Akuarellos watercolours, Temperas paints, Standard/Pastel/Metallic glue stick, GEO 15 ruler set
- Primary grades 5-9: M2 Mechanical pencils, K-Pen ballpoint pens, K-beats felt-tip pens, Standard/Pastel/Metallic glue stick, GEO 30 ruler set, Grafiko Neon compass, High Liner highlighters, Notes
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