Sometimes the cheapest rewards are actually the most meaningful.
Discount stores like Dollar Tree and Five and Below make it easy to find a variety of inexpensive treasures to add to your class treasure chest.
There are so many accessories that you can use as cheap prizes for students, and sunglasses are a fan favorite. Not only do sunglasses make the wearer look fashionable, but it makes them feel pretty cool too! For a bonus, let the students wear them inside for the day.
Kids like cheap jewelry such as rings, charms, necklaces, and bracelets because they allow them to show their individuality. Right now, Jibbitz (charms that attach to Crocs shoes) are extremely popular and will also be a hit in any prize box.
Students love pins for the same reason they love jewelry–it gives them a way to show off their personality. Students usually like to collect them and stick them to their book bags and purses. You can choose pins that have motivational messages on them or just unique designs.
Students of all ages will appreciate lip gloss (or lip balm), especially if it has a sweet-smelling scent!
Lanyards and keychains are cheap and are especially useful for older students who drive or have their own house keys.
You can never go wrong with snacks as cheap prizes for students. You’ll spend more than $5 if you’re purchasing for the whole class, but when you divide it by student, you’ll end up spending well under $5 per person.
Salty snacks like chips, popcorn, crackers, and pretzels are perfect for a class movie day. Children with a sweet tooth will enjoy popsicles, ice cream, cookies, cupcakes, and donuts on any given day.
School supplies might seem like the last thing students would want as a prize, but the key is to make sure the school supplies are unique. Don’t just give them a pencil, give them a jumbo pencil or a pencil with cartoon characters on it!
Other school supplies that are cheap awards for students include pens, tape, highlighters, mini staplers, and glue sticks.
Journals and planners make great cheap prizes for students, especially middle and high school students. You can find some with motivational quotes, funny phrases, or pretty designs. Journals with prompts in them can also encourage students to write more.
Activity books are gifts that keep on giving because each page offers a new challenge. Early finishers will be excited to pull out their activity book when they complete their assignments.
With so many different types of activity books available, you can include a variety in your prize box without breaking the bank. Examples of activity books include crossword puzzles, word searches, Sudoku, and coloring books.
Books don’t have to have activities in them in order for students to enjoy them. Students will be delighted to receive books full of knock-knock jokes, riddles, or random fun facts.
Nurture your students’ creativity with inexpensive art supplies. You can find small packs of colored pencils, crayons, paint kits, and markers at a discount store as well as books with unlined paper where students can bring their imagination to life. You can also include a case or pouch, so students can keep up with all of their supplies.
Sidewalk chalk can be two prizes in one! You can award the students with sidewalk chalk as a prize, and you can make it a class reward by taking the class outside to draw in the parking lot or on the sidewalk! Let them draw whatever their heart desires, or give them a theme and make it a friendly competition.
Middle and high school students embrace opportunities to showcase their individual styles. Purchase a few small posters and magnetic stickers that they can use to decorate the inside of their lockers.
You can also purchase magnetic clips, so they can hang up their own pictures. Other ideas include magnetic mirrors, dry erase boards, calendars, and a small piece of fabric to use as a “carpet.”
Prizes that appeal to the senses may relieve stress and help students focus. Not to mention, they’re pretty fun too! Stress balls and other squishy toys (like slime) can help students manage their emotions, while fidget spinners will keep their hands busy instead of clicking a pen.
Music can be calming and help students focus, so earbuds will be a “best-seller” in your classroom. Since students tend to misplace their earbuds frequently, make sure you keep your prize box stocked with them!
Stickers are classic cheap prizes that’ll never get old. For less than a dollar, you can purchase pages full of stickers. Students can put them on their hands or shirt, or you can stick them on their assignments to let them know they did a great job.
Certificates are free and only take a couple of minutes to create, but students and their parents will cherish them.
Kids (and teens–although they might deny it) love bubbles! There’s just something about bubbles that bring joy to people. Make this prize even better by taking the students outside to blow them.
This list is just a snapshot of cheap prizes for students, but the possibilities are endless. If there are some items that you know your students are going to love, consider buying them in bulk to reduce the cost per item, and don’t forget to ask about teacher discounts!
Looking for something even cheaper? Check out this list of 50 Absolutely Free Student Rewards!
Need help motivating middle school student students? Check out our guide to using student voice to create prizes for middle school students.
Discount stores like Dollar Tree and Five and Below make it easy to find a variety of inexpensive treasures to add to your class treasure chest.
There are so many accessories that you can use as cheap prizes for students, and sunglasses are a fan favorite. Not only do sunglasses make the wearer look fashionable, but it makes them feel pretty cool too! For a bonus, let the students wear them inside for the day.
Kids like cheap jewelry such as rings, charms, necklaces, and bracelets because they allow them to show their individuality. Right now, Jibbitz (charms that attach to Crocs shoes) are extremely popular and will also be a hit in any prize box.
Students love pins for the same reason they love jewelry–it gives them a way to show off their personality. Students usually like to collect them and stick them to their book bags and purses. You can choose pins that have motivational messages on them or just unique designs.
Students of all ages will appreciate lip gloss (or lip balm), especially if it has a sweet-smelling scent!
Lanyards and keychains are cheap and are especially useful for older students who drive or have their own house keys.
You can never go wrong with snacks as cheap prizes for students. You’ll spend more than $5 if you’re purchasing for the whole class, but when you divide it by student, you’ll end up spending well under $5 per person.
Salty snacks like chips, popcorn, crackers, and pretzels are perfect for a class movie day. Children with a sweet tooth will enjoy popsicles, ice cream, cookies, cupcakes, and donuts on any given day.
School supplies might seem like the last thing students would want as a prize, but the key is to make sure the school supplies are unique. Don’t just give them a pencil, give them a jumbo pencil or a pencil with cartoon characters on it!
Other school supplies that are cheap awards for students include pens, tape, highlighters, mini staplers, and glue sticks.
Journals and planners make great cheap prizes for students, especially middle and high school students. You can find some with motivational quotes, funny phrases, or pretty designs. Journals with prompts in them can also encourage students to write more.
Activity books are gifts that keep on giving because each page offers a new challenge. Early finishers will be excited to pull out their activity book when they complete their assignments.
With so many different types of activity books available, you can include a variety in your prize box without breaking the bank. Examples of activity books include crossword puzzles, word searches, Sudoku, and coloring books.
Books don’t have to have activities in them in order for students to enjoy them. Students will be delighted to receive books full of knock-knock jokes, riddles, or random fun facts.
Nurture your students’ creativity with inexpensive art supplies. You can find small packs of colored pencils, crayons, paint kits, and markers at a discount store as well as books with unlined paper where students can bring their imagination to life. You can also include a case or pouch, so students can keep up with all of their supplies.
Sidewalk chalk can be two prizes in one! You can award the students with sidewalk chalk as a prize, and you can make it a class reward by taking the class outside to draw in the parking lot or on the sidewalk! Let them draw whatever their heart desires, or give them a theme and make it a friendly competition.
Middle and high school students embrace opportunities to showcase their individual styles. Purchase a few small posters and magnetic stickers that they can use to decorate the inside of their lockers.
You can also purchase magnetic clips, so they can hang up their own pictures. Other ideas include magnetic mirrors, dry erase boards, calendars, and a small piece of fabric to use as a “carpet.”
Prizes that appeal to the senses may relieve stress and help students focus. Not to mention, they’re pretty fun too! Stress balls and other squishy toys (like slime) can help students manage their emotions, while fidget spinners will keep their hands busy instead of clicking a pen.
Music can be calming and help students focus, so earbuds will be a “best-seller” in your classroom. Since students tend to misplace their earbuds frequently, make sure you keep your prize box stocked with them!
Stickers are classic cheap prizes that’ll never get old. For less than a dollar, you can purchase pages full of stickers. Students can put them on their hands or shirt, or you can stick them on their assignments to let them know they did a great job.
Certificates are free and only take a couple of minutes to create, but students and their parents will cherish them.
Kids (and teens–although they might deny it) love bubbles! There’s just something about bubbles that bring joy to people. Make this prize even better by taking the students outside to blow them.
This list is just a snapshot of cheap prizes for students, but the possibilities are endless. If there are some items that you know your students are going to love, consider buying them in bulk to reduce the cost per item, and don’t forget to ask about teacher discounts!
Looking for something even cheaper? Check out this list of 50 Absolutely Free Student Rewards!
Need help motivating middle school student students? Check out our guide to using student voice to create prizes for middle school students.
Discount stores like Dollar Tree and Five and Below make it easy to find a variety of inexpensive treasures to add to your class treasure chest.
There are so many accessories that you can use as cheap prizes for students, and sunglasses are a fan favorite. Not only do sunglasses make the wearer look fashionable, but it makes them feel pretty cool too! For a bonus, let the students wear them inside for the day.
Kids like cheap jewelry such as rings, charms, necklaces, and bracelets because they allow them to show their individuality. Right now, Jibbitz (charms that attach to Crocs shoes) are extremely popular and will also be a hit in any prize box.
Students love pins for the same reason they love jewelry–it gives them a way to show off their personality. Students usually like to collect them and stick them to their book bags and purses. You can choose pins that have motivational messages on them or just unique designs.
Students of all ages will appreciate lip gloss (or lip balm), especially if it has a sweet-smelling scent!
Lanyards and keychains are cheap and are especially useful for older students who drive or have their own house keys.
You can never go wrong with snacks as cheap prizes for students. You’ll spend more than $5 if you’re purchasing for the whole class, but when you divide it by student, you’ll end up spending well under $5 per person.
Salty snacks like chips, popcorn, crackers, and pretzels are perfect for a class movie day. Children with a sweet tooth will enjoy popsicles, ice cream, cookies, cupcakes, and donuts on any given day.
School supplies might seem like the last thing students would want as a prize, but the key is to make sure the school supplies are unique. Don’t just give them a pencil, give them a jumbo pencil or a pencil with cartoon characters on it!
Other school supplies that are cheap awards for students include pens, tape, highlighters, mini staplers, and glue sticks.
Journals and planners make great cheap prizes for students, especially middle and high school students. You can find some with motivational quotes, funny phrases, or pretty designs. Journals with prompts in them can also encourage students to write more.
Activity books are gifts that keep on giving because each page offers a new challenge. Early finishers will be excited to pull out their activity book when they complete their assignments.
With so many different types of activity books available, you can include a variety in your prize box without breaking the bank. Examples of activity books include crossword puzzles, word searches, Sudoku, and coloring books.
Books don’t have to have activities in them in order for students to enjoy them. Students will be delighted to receive books full of knock-knock jokes, riddles, or random fun facts.
Nurture your students’ creativity with inexpensive art supplies. You can find small packs of colored pencils, crayons, paint kits, and markers at a discount store as well as books with unlined paper where students can bring their imagination to life. You can also include a case or pouch, so students can keep up with all of their supplies.
Sidewalk chalk can be two prizes in one! You can award the students with sidewalk chalk as a prize, and you can make it a class reward by taking the class outside to draw in the parking lot or on the sidewalk! Let them draw whatever their heart desires, or give them a theme and make it a friendly competition.
Middle and high school students embrace opportunities to showcase their individual styles. Purchase a few small posters and magnetic stickers that they can use to decorate the inside of their lockers.
You can also purchase magnetic clips, so they can hang up their own pictures. Other ideas include magnetic mirrors, dry erase boards, calendars, and a small piece of fabric to use as a “carpet.”
Prizes that appeal to the senses may relieve stress and help students focus. Not to mention, they’re pretty fun too! Stress balls and other squishy toys (like slime) can help students manage their emotions, while fidget spinners will keep their hands busy instead of clicking a pen.
Music can be calming and help students focus, so earbuds will be a “best-seller” in your classroom. Since students tend to misplace their earbuds frequently, make sure you keep your prize box stocked with them!
Stickers are classic cheap prizes that’ll never get old. For less than a dollar, you can purchase pages full of stickers. Students can put them on their hands or shirt, or you can stick them on their assignments to let them know they did a great job.
Certificates are free and only take a couple of minutes to create, but students and their parents will cherish them.
Kids (and teens–although they might deny it) love bubbles! There’s just something about bubbles that bring joy to people. Make this prize even better by taking the students outside to blow them.
This list is just a snapshot of cheap prizes for students, but the possibilities are endless. If there are some items that you know your students are going to love, consider buying them in bulk to reduce the cost per item, and don’t forget to ask about teacher discounts!
Looking for something even cheaper? Check out this list of 50 Absolutely Free Student Rewards!
Need help motivating middle school student students? Check out our guide to using student voice to create prizes for middle school students.
Discount stores like Dollar Tree and Five and Below make it easy to find a variety of inexpensive treasures to add to your class treasure chest.
There are so many accessories that you can use as cheap prizes for students, and sunglasses are a fan favorite. Not only do sunglasses make the wearer look fashionable, but it makes them feel pretty cool too! For a bonus, let the students wear them inside for the day.
Kids like cheap jewelry such as rings, charms, necklaces, and bracelets because they allow them to show their individuality. Right now, Jibbitz (charms that attach to Crocs shoes) are extremely popular and will also be a hit in any prize box.
Students love pins for the same reason they love jewelry–it gives them a way to show off their personality. Students usually like to collect them and stick them to their book bags and purses. You can choose pins that have motivational messages on them or just unique designs.
Students of all ages will appreciate lip gloss (or lip balm), especially if it has a sweet-smelling scent!
Lanyards and keychains are cheap and are especially useful for older students who drive or have their own house keys.
You can never go wrong with snacks as cheap prizes for students. You’ll spend more than $5 if you’re purchasing for the whole class, but when you divide it by student, you’ll end up spending well under $5 per person.
Salty snacks like chips, popcorn, crackers, and pretzels are perfect for a class movie day. Children with a sweet tooth will enjoy popsicles, ice cream, cookies, cupcakes, and donuts on any given day.
School supplies might seem like the last thing students would want as a prize, but the key is to make sure the school supplies are unique. Don’t just give them a pencil, give them a jumbo pencil or a pencil with cartoon characters on it!
Other school supplies that are cheap awards for students include pens, tape, highlighters, mini staplers, and glue sticks.
Journals and planners make great cheap prizes for students, especially middle and high school students. You can find some with motivational quotes, funny phrases, or pretty designs. Journals with prompts in them can also encourage students to write more.
Activity books are gifts that keep on giving because each page offers a new challenge. Early finishers will be excited to pull out their activity book when they complete their assignments.
With so many different types of activity books available, you can include a variety in your prize box without breaking the bank. Examples of activity books include crossword puzzles, word searches, Sudoku, and coloring books.
Books don’t have to have activities in them in order for students to enjoy them. Students will be delighted to receive books full of knock-knock jokes, riddles, or random fun facts.
Nurture your students’ creativity with inexpensive art supplies. You can find small packs of colored pencils, crayons, paint kits, and markers at a discount store as well as books with unlined paper where students can bring their imagination to life. You can also include a case or pouch, so students can keep up with all of their supplies.
Sidewalk chalk can be two prizes in one! You can award the students with sidewalk chalk as a prize, and you can make it a class reward by taking the class outside to draw in the parking lot or on the sidewalk! Let them draw whatever their heart desires, or give them a theme and make it a friendly competition.
Middle and high school students embrace opportunities to showcase their individual styles. Purchase a few small posters and magnetic stickers that they can use to decorate the inside of their lockers.
You can also purchase magnetic clips, so they can hang up their own pictures. Other ideas include magnetic mirrors, dry erase boards, calendars, and a small piece of fabric to use as a “carpet.”
Prizes that appeal to the senses may relieve stress and help students focus. Not to mention, they’re pretty fun too! Stress balls and other squishy toys (like slime) can help students manage their emotions, while fidget spinners will keep their hands busy instead of clicking a pen.
Music can be calming and help students focus, so earbuds will be a “best-seller” in your classroom. Since students tend to misplace their earbuds frequently, make sure you keep your prize box stocked with them!
Stickers are classic cheap prizes that’ll never get old. For less than a dollar, you can purchase pages full of stickers. Students can put them on their hands or shirt, or you can stick them on their assignments to let them know they did a great job.
Certificates are free and only take a couple of minutes to create, but students and their parents will cherish them.
Kids (and teens–although they might deny it) love bubbles! There’s just something about bubbles that bring joy to people. Make this prize even better by taking the students outside to blow them.
This list is just a snapshot of cheap prizes for students, but the possibilities are endless. If there are some items that you know your students are going to love, consider buying them in bulk to reduce the cost per item, and don’t forget to ask about teacher discounts!
Looking for something even cheaper? Check out this list of 50 Absolutely Free Student Rewards!
Need help motivating middle school student students? Check out our guide to using student voice to create prizes for middle school students.
Discount stores like Dollar Tree and Five and Below make it easy to find a variety of inexpensive treasures to add to your class treasure chest.
There are so many accessories that you can use as cheap prizes for students, and sunglasses are a fan favorite. Not only do sunglasses make the wearer look fashionable, but it makes them feel pretty cool too! For a bonus, let the students wear them inside for the day.
Kids like cheap jewelry such as rings, charms, necklaces, and bracelets because they allow them to show their individuality. Right now, Jibbitz (charms that attach to Crocs shoes) are extremely popular and will also be a hit in any prize box.
Students love pins for the same reason they love jewelry–it gives them a way to show off their personality. Students usually like to collect them and stick them to their book bags and purses. You can choose pins that have motivational messages on them or just unique designs.
Students of all ages will appreciate lip gloss (or lip balm), especially if it has a sweet-smelling scent!
Lanyards and keychains are cheap and are especially useful for older students who drive or have their own house keys.
You can never go wrong with snacks as cheap prizes for students. You’ll spend more than $5 if you’re purchasing for the whole class, but when you divide it by student, you’ll end up spending well under $5 per person.
Salty snacks like chips, popcorn, crackers, and pretzels are perfect for a class movie day. Children with a sweet tooth will enjoy popsicles, ice cream, cookies, cupcakes, and donuts on any given day.
School supplies might seem like the last thing students would want as a prize, but the key is to make sure the school supplies are unique. Don’t just give them a pencil, give them a jumbo pencil or a pencil with cartoon characters on it!
Other school supplies that are cheap awards for students include pens, tape, highlighters, mini staplers, and glue sticks.
Journals and planners make great cheap prizes for students, especially middle and high school students. You can find some with motivational quotes, funny phrases, or pretty designs. Journals with prompts in them can also encourage students to write more.
Activity books are gifts that keep on giving because each page offers a new challenge. Early finishers will be excited to pull out their activity book when they complete their assignments.
With so many different types of activity books available, you can include a variety in your prize box without breaking the bank. Examples of activity books include crossword puzzles, word searches, Sudoku, and coloring books.
Books don’t have to have activities in them in order for students to enjoy them. Students will be delighted to receive books full of knock-knock jokes, riddles, or random fun facts.
Nurture your students’ creativity with inexpensive art supplies. You can find small packs of colored pencils, crayons, paint kits, and markers at a discount store as well as books with unlined paper where students can bring their imagination to life. You can also include a case or pouch, so students can keep up with all of their supplies.
Sidewalk chalk can be two prizes in one! You can award the students with sidewalk chalk as a prize, and you can make it a class reward by taking the class outside to draw in the parking lot or on the sidewalk! Let them draw whatever their heart desires, or give them a theme and make it a friendly competition.
Middle and high school students embrace opportunities to showcase their individual styles. Purchase a few small posters and magnetic stickers that they can use to decorate the inside of their lockers.
You can also purchase magnetic clips, so they can hang up their own pictures. Other ideas include magnetic mirrors, dry erase boards, calendars, and a small piece of fabric to use as a “carpet.”
Prizes that appeal to the senses may relieve stress and help students focus. Not to mention, they’re pretty fun too! Stress balls and other squishy toys (like slime) can help students manage their emotions, while fidget spinners will keep their hands busy instead of clicking a pen.
Music can be calming and help students focus, so earbuds will be a “best-seller” in your classroom. Since students tend to misplace their earbuds frequently, make sure you keep your prize box stocked with them!
Stickers are classic cheap prizes that’ll never get old. For less than a dollar, you can purchase pages full of stickers. Students can put them on their hands or shirt, or you can stick them on their assignments to let them know they did a great job.
Certificates are free and only take a couple of minutes to create, but students and their parents will cherish them.
Kids (and teens–although they might deny it) love bubbles! There’s just something about bubbles that bring joy to people. Make this prize even better by taking the students outside to blow them.
This list is just a snapshot of cheap prizes for students, but the possibilities are endless. If there are some items that you know your students are going to love, consider buying them in bulk to reduce the cost per item, and don’t forget to ask about teacher discounts!
Looking for something even cheaper? Check out this list of 50 Absolutely Free Student Rewards!
Need help motivating middle school student students? Check out our guide to using student voice to create prizes for middle school students.
Deiera Bennett is a freelance EdTech copywriter with a background in marketing and 6 years of experience as an educator. When she’s not writing, you can find her binge-watching The Office for the 5th time, spending time with family, or looking up recipes on Pinterest.
Sometimes the cheapest rewards are the most meaningful, and that’s good news for teachers! Although “cheap” is a relative word, you can be confident that every item in this list of cheap awards for students costs less than $5 per item.
Discount stores like Dollar Tree and Five and Below make it easy to find a variety of inexpensive treasures to add to your class treasure chest.
There are so many accessories that you can use as cheap prizes for students, and sunglasses are a fan favorite. Not only do sunglasses make the wearer look fashionable, but it makes them feel pretty cool too! For a bonus, let the students wear them inside for the day.
Kids like cheap jewelry such as rings, charms, necklaces, and bracelets because they allow them to show their individuality. Right now, Jibbitz (charms that attach to Crocs shoes) are extremely popular and will also be a hit in any prize box.
Students love pins for the same reason they love jewelry–it gives them a way to show off their personality. Students usually like to collect them and stick them to their book bags and purses. You can choose pins that have motivational messages on them or just unique designs.
Students of all ages will appreciate lip gloss (or lip balm), especially if it has a sweet-smelling scent!
Lanyards and keychains are cheap and are especially useful for older students who drive or have their own house keys.
You can never go wrong with snacks as cheap prizes for students. You’ll spend more than $5 if you’re purchasing for the whole class, but when you divide it by student, you’ll end up spending well under $5 per person.
Salty snacks like chips, popcorn, crackers, and pretzels are perfect for a class movie day. Children with a sweet tooth will enjoy popsicles, ice cream, cookies, cupcakes, and donuts on any given day.
School supplies might seem like the last thing students would want as a prize, but the key is to make sure the school supplies are unique. Don’t just give them a pencil, give them a jumbo pencil or a pencil with cartoon characters on it!
Other school supplies that are cheap awards for students include pens, tape, highlighters, mini staplers, and glue sticks.
Journals and planners make great cheap prizes for students, especially middle and high school students. You can find some with motivational quotes, funny phrases, or pretty designs. Journals with prompts in them can also encourage students to write more.
Activity books are gifts that keep on giving because each page offers a new challenge. Early finishers will be excited to pull out their activity book when they complete their assignments.
With so many different types of activity books available, you can include a variety in your prize box without breaking the bank. Examples of activity books include crossword puzzles, word searches, Sudoku, and coloring books.
Books don’t have to have activities in them in order for students to enjoy them. Students will be delighted to receive books full of knock-knock jokes, riddles, or random fun facts.
Nurture your students’ creativity with inexpensive art supplies. You can find small packs of colored pencils, crayons, paint kits, and markers at a discount store as well as books with unlined paper where students can bring their imagination to life. You can also include a case or pouch, so students can keep up with all of their supplies.
Sidewalk chalk can be two prizes in one! You can award the students with sidewalk chalk as a prize, and you can make it a class reward by taking the class outside to draw in the parking lot or on the sidewalk! Let them draw whatever their heart desires, or give them a theme and make it a friendly competition.
Middle and high school students embrace opportunities to showcase their individual styles. Purchase a few small posters and magnetic stickers that they can use to decorate the inside of their lockers.
You can also purchase magnetic clips, so they can hang up their own pictures. Other ideas include magnetic mirrors, dry erase boards, calendars, and a small piece of fabric to use as a “carpet.”
Prizes that appeal to the senses may relieve stress and help students focus. Not to mention, they’re pretty fun too! Stress balls and other squishy toys (like slime) can help students manage their emotions, while fidget spinners will keep their hands busy instead of clicking a pen.
Music can be calming and help students focus, so earbuds will be a “best-seller” in your classroom. Since students tend to misplace their earbuds frequently, make sure you keep your prize box stocked with them!
Stickers are classic cheap prizes that’ll never get old. For less than a dollar, you can purchase pages full of stickers. Students can put them on their hands or shirt, or you can stick them on their assignments to let them know they did a great job.
Certificates are free and only take a couple of minutes to create, but students and their parents will cherish them.
Kids (and teens–although they might deny it) love bubbles! There’s just something about bubbles that bring joy to people. Make this prize even better by taking the students outside to blow them.
This list is just a snapshot of cheap prizes for students, but the possibilities are endless. If there are some items that you know your students are going to love, consider buying them in bulk to reduce the cost per item, and don’t forget to ask about teacher discounts!
Looking for something even cheaper? Check out this list of 50 Absolutely Free Student Rewards!
Need help motivating middle school student students? Check out our guide to using student voice to create prizes for middle school students.
Sometimes the cheapest rewards are the most meaningful, and that’s good news for teachers! Although “cheap” is a relative word, you can be confident that every item in this list of cheap awards for students costs less than $5 per item.
Discount stores like Dollar Tree and Five and Below make it easy to find a variety of inexpensive treasures to add to your class treasure chest.
There are so many accessories that you can use as cheap prizes for students, and sunglasses are a fan favorite. Not only do sunglasses make the wearer look fashionable, but it makes them feel pretty cool too! For a bonus, let the students wear them inside for the day.
Kids like cheap jewelry such as rings, charms, necklaces, and bracelets because they allow them to show their individuality. Right now, Jibbitz (charms that attach to Crocs shoes) are extremely popular and will also be a hit in any prize box.
Students love pins for the same reason they love jewelry–it gives them a way to show off their personality. Students usually like to collect them and stick them to their book bags and purses. You can choose pins that have motivational messages on them or just unique designs.
Students of all ages will appreciate lip gloss (or lip balm), especially if it has a sweet-smelling scent!
Lanyards and keychains are cheap and are especially useful for older students who drive or have their own house keys.
You can never go wrong with snacks as cheap prizes for students. You’ll spend more than $5 if you’re purchasing for the whole class, but when you divide it by student, you’ll end up spending well under $5 per person.
Salty snacks like chips, popcorn, crackers, and pretzels are perfect for a class movie day. Children with a sweet tooth will enjoy popsicles, ice cream, cookies, cupcakes, and donuts on any given day.
School supplies might seem like the last thing students would want as a prize, but the key is to make sure the school supplies are unique. Don’t just give them a pencil, give them a jumbo pencil or a pencil with cartoon characters on it!
Other school supplies that are cheap awards for students include pens, tape, highlighters, mini staplers, and glue sticks.
Journals and planners make great cheap prizes for students, especially middle and high school students. You can find some with motivational quotes, funny phrases, or pretty designs. Journals with prompts in them can also encourage students to write more.
Activity books are gifts that keep on giving because each page offers a new challenge. Early finishers will be excited to pull out their activity book when they complete their assignments.
With so many different types of activity books available, you can include a variety in your prize box without breaking the bank. Examples of activity books include crossword puzzles, word searches, Sudoku, and coloring books.
Books don’t have to have activities in them in order for students to enjoy them. Students will be delighted to receive books full of knock-knock jokes, riddles, or random fun facts.
Nurture your students’ creativity with inexpensive art supplies. You can find small packs of colored pencils, crayons, paint kits, and markers at a discount store as well as books with unlined paper where students can bring their imagination to life. You can also include a case or pouch, so students can keep up with all of their supplies.
Sidewalk chalk can be two prizes in one! You can award the students with sidewalk chalk as a prize, and you can make it a class reward by taking the class outside to draw in the parking lot or on the sidewalk! Let them draw whatever their heart desires, or give them a theme and make it a friendly competition.
Middle and high school students embrace opportunities to showcase their individual styles. Purchase a few small posters and magnetic stickers that they can use to decorate the inside of their lockers.
You can also purchase magnetic clips, so they can hang up their own pictures. Other ideas include magnetic mirrors, dry erase boards, calendars, and a small piece of fabric to use as a “carpet.”
Prizes that appeal to the senses may relieve stress and help students focus. Not to mention, they’re pretty fun too! Stress balls and other squishy toys (like slime) can help students manage their emotions, while fidget spinners will keep their hands busy instead of clicking a pen.
Music can be calming and help students focus, so earbuds will be a “best-seller” in your classroom. Since students tend to misplace their earbuds frequently, make sure you keep your prize box stocked with them!
Stickers are classic cheap prizes that’ll never get old. For less than a dollar, you can purchase pages full of stickers. Students can put them on their hands or shirt, or you can stick them on their assignments to let them know they did a great job.
Certificates are free and only take a couple of minutes to create, but students and their parents will cherish them.
Kids (and teens–although they might deny it) love bubbles! There’s just something about bubbles that bring joy to people. Make this prize even better by taking the students outside to blow them.
This list is just a snapshot of cheap prizes for students, but the possibilities are endless. If there are some items that you know your students are going to love, consider buying them in bulk to reduce the cost per item, and don’t forget to ask about teacher discounts!
Looking for something even cheaper? Check out this list of 50 Absolutely Free Student Rewards!
Need help motivating middle school student students? Check out our guide to using student voice to create prizes for middle school students.
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