Have you ever wondered what classroom rewards you should get for your treasure box? I love getting surprises for my students, and I was wondering the same thing. So I asked hundreds of teachers what their favorite classroom rewards were, and here’s what we came up with.
I chose these surprises based on interest and cost. They had to be in high demand for the students, and they must be affordable for teachers and parents.
Now, if you want to get these rewards without spending any money, then I suggest you send this FREE supply letter to your families. You’ll be surprised at the generosity of many of your families.
Before I get started with our most popular prizes, I want to share that we use these in the Surprise Box. To learn how to use these, make sure you read this post!
1. Coupons
We love class coupons because they don’t cost a thing! I have 19 different class coupons. This can be anything like no shoes for the day, bring a stuffed animal to school, bring an item for show and tell, etc. I like to laminate these coupons so we can reuse them all year long. The best part is, these are free!
You can get these coupons here!
2. Desk Pets
Desk pets are a favorite because they are squishy and so cute! Students earn these and keep them on their desks for good behavior. If they become a distraction, then we put them in a kennel. These last a long time. We get a big bucket for a cheap price and they last all year long.
3. Dino Eggs
Dino eggs not only teach students about dinosaurs, but they’re a surprise! Students use a small pickaxe to dig for the dinosaur. Place the egg in a bowl of water or send them home with students. They can get a little messy, but students LOVE them. These cost a little more money, so I don’t give these out as much. They’re about $1.50 per egg.
4. Glow Balls
Glow balls are squishy and glow in the dark. These are fun sensory rewards. They’re like stress balls, and they glow in the dark. These are about .50 cents per glow ball.
5. Math Games
Any game is a great prize for students – especially when it’s educational! I put my math games in a ziplock bag and place them in our Surprise Box. I like to do simple math facts, and you can grab this set for free!
6. Ninjas
These little guys are so much fun for kids. They like to play pretend with these action figures. Students can keep these on their desks or use them for recess. These are inexpensive. You can grab a party supply of these, and they’ll cost about a dime apiece.
7. Poppers
These sensory objects are satisfying for kids. They’re just like popping bubble wrap. I like to use the key chains so students can keep them on their backpacks. These come in all different sizes. As I said, I like the keychain poppers. They are a little less expensive.
8. Spy Pens
Spy pens are a great way to get your students motivated to write. Students write a message with invisible ink. Then, they press the UV light to see the message glow in the dark. I like to write short messages back and forth to keep them writing. These are inexpensive. We get these in bulk and sprinkle them in with our coupons.
9. Slap Bracelets
Who doesn’t love slap bracelets? They are so much fun! I remember getting slap bracelets as a kid, and I loved them. Kids are the same way. Kids think they are super cool. Also, slap bracelets are very affordable. I grab a big party supply of them for our surprise box.
10. Sticky Hands
Sticky hands are fun for kids. Not only can you use them in small groups for things like word recognition, etc., but you can also use them for rewards. These are affordable. We grab a big bag for less than $5 that lasts us several months.
11. Sunglasses
My students love these because they can wear them outside at recess. They also love wearing them on the bus home. I get the party supply sunglasses to save on costs. This big bag lasts us an entire year.
12. Vinyl Stickers
Students love these stickers because they can put them on their water bottles. They have all kinds of stickers that students love. There are animals, pop culture signs, and more. These are the least expensive prizes. I get a huge bag that lasts me several school years.
We put these prizes in our Surprise Box. Students have no idea what is inside the surprise box. I draw three names daily for students who’ve earned tickets based on meeting their goals. Then, they pick a number and reveal their prize.
You can get all 30 coupon rewards and the surprise box labels here in my TpT shop.
If you’d like my simple solution for getting all these materials at no cost, then you’ve got to download my step-by-step guide on creating a classroom wishlist. I’ve even included a few coupons as a bonus! Click here to download now!
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