School supplies for math and science.

In elementary school, your child will be using things like rulers, tape measures, scales, and protractors. Telling time is a biggie, too, so make sure you have at least one clock in your house that isn’t digital. Flashcards are also handy. (You can make your own with index cards and a magic marker.)

At this stage, there are a lot of tools you can easily make or create. Paper plates are great for pie charts. Anything that can be counted (straws, jelly beans, pebbles) can be used for addition, subtraction, and grouping. And anything green and growing in a garden or a park can be the start of a nature conversation.

Fifth grade is also a Science Fair year, so be prepared to purchase some presentation materials. (Ask your child’s teacher what you’ll need.) If you’re unable to buy materials, let the school know and they might be able to help you get supplies.

In middle school, your child will need a basic scientific calculator. You’ll also want to continue with the flash cards (or index cards), and try to have basic presentation materials handy (poster board, glue, markers). A simple microscope, while not required, would be a handy thing to have at home. Hint: Just because you’re a parent doesn’t mean you can’t shop at teacher-supply stores and websites! Ask your child’s teacher for sources.

In high school, your child will need to graduate from a scientific calculator to a graphing calculator. Hint: If you live in a college town and you want to get a fancy calculator at a bargain price, try hitting the pawnshops after college lets out for the summer.

You’ll also want to make sure you have plenty of reference books on hand, so you and your child can research colleges, scholarships, and career choices. All of these can be found in your local library or in the school library. You can also ask your school counselor or go to the nearest bookstore.

Need an online calculator? Just go to math.com, and click on “Calculators & Tools.”