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About This Quiz
In 1953, students used a variety of school supplies to complete their academic work. At the time, many of these school supply products were popular, innovative, and must-haves for students looking to get the most out of their education. Whether simple or complex, the 1950s had several different kinds of school supplies designed for use in the classroom.
Since the 1950s, America has come a long way when it comes to education, technology, and school supplies. Some of these vintage school supplies might look unfamiliar to you if you weren't a student in 1953. The out-of-date devices were helpful to students at the time, but today there are more handy inventions available to pupils who are pursuing an education. Other school supplies from this era might surprise you because you still use these items to this day.
See where inventors got it right and where they still had some work to do with their old school inventions by testing your knowledge with this quiz. Find out how many 1953 school supplies you can name by taking this quiz.
Magnet
Stamp
Rubber stamps were used frequently to save teachers time and to help students express their creativity. Stamps are still used today, but not as often.
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Pencil mill
Pencil sharpener
Before electric pencil sharpeners and mechanical pencils, students used hand-crank pencil sharpeners to sharpen their devices. Often, they were secured on a wall.
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Lunch box
Lunch boxes were all the rage in 1953. Many lunch boxes featured pop culture icons of the time, including comic book characters, cartoon characters, and celebrities.
Pencil tin
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Eraser
Erasers didn't always come at the end of pencils. To help students correct their mistakes, 1953 children would use erasers. Some students stored their erasers in metal tins, so they did not lose them or make a mess with their shavings.
Paperweight
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Desk
The desks of the 1950s often featured built-in chairs, making it easy for students to sit and write. Some modern desks are still designed in this way.
Bench
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Jar
Thermos
When it was time for lunch, students would bring out their thermos filled with soup or a warm beverage. This school supply was sold separately or with a matching lunch box.
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Erasers
Pencils
Pencil boxes were popular for students who traveled to and from school and didn't want to lose their pencils in the process. Pencil boxes are still used today, but many students opt for bags instead.
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Pencil
Ballpoint pen
Ballpoint pens were a favorite writing tool for students in 1953, and they are still just as popular today. If you have a good one, try not to lend it because it may never get returned.
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Phone book
Textbook
Students in 1953 did not learn with e-books or tablets. Textbooks were the only way to read educational text related to academic courses.
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Globe
Pull down map
Pull- down maps were a practical and space-saving invention. A pull-down map allowed teachers to show maps to students without pointing to a wall or drawing on a chalkboard. Some older classrooms still have pull-down maps installed, but most teachers simply pull up a digital map to help their students learn about geography instead.
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Compass
Globe
Globes were used in classrooms to help students learn about the Earth in a way that was to-scale and accurate. Today, globes can still be found in classrooms, but they are also commonly used for decoration and collected by antique enthusiasts.
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Contact paper
Lined paper
Lined paper was one of the most popular writing surfaces for students, and still is to this day. The lines help students stay neat, while the size was similar to writing tablets and textbooks of the day.
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Colored pencils
Children used colored pencils in 1953 to create craft projects and art. Colored pencils are still a popular product to this day. Similar to pencils, this product is ideal for use on paper.
Markers
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Blackboard
Chalkboards are an old-school approach to teaching, which was very popular in 1953. Teachers would write on chalkboards to help students receive a visual learning experience. Some classrooms still have chalkboards, but most modern learning spaces have white boards or smart boards.
Writing board
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Notecard
Notecards were popular in the 1950s for jotting down notes and studying. Many students still use physical notecards today, even though notecards are available in a digital format as well.
Envelope
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Accordion folder
Three-ring binder
Three-ring binders were a common way for students to sort their paperwork. The notable click of placing papers in the binder still ring out in some classrooms.
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Stickers
Star stickers, also called gummed stars, were popular in the 1950s. Today, teachers still use these stickers or other types of decorative products to celebrate academic success.
Tape
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Chalk
When chalkboards were the most popular way for teachers to write notes for their class, chalk was the most popular writing tool. Today, dry erase markers and whiteboards are far more popular. Children still use chalk for drawing on sidewalks and playgrounds though.
Marker
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Highlighters
Crayons
Since the 1950s, crayons come in a wider range of colors than ever before. They're just as common for children today as they were generations ago.
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Paste
Many students in the 1950s used paste during art classes. Children also used paste to create class projects. Since then, paste has been replaced by various types of glues that are a little safer and easier to use.
Putty
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Scissors
Scissors are a safe way for children to cut paper. During art classes in the 1950s, round tip scissors were used to protect children when handling sharp objects. Scissors such as these are still used today.
Protractor
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Telescope
Magnifying glass
Before many students wore glasses, magnifying glasses were used to help students read. We still use magnifying glasses today, but not as frequently and usually not while we read. We have reading glasses for that today, after all!
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Furniture paint
Watercolor paint
During 1953 art classes, students were provided with watercolor paint. This water activated paint was easy for children and teachers to clean. It was also safe and fun for kids. Today, individuals still use watercolors in school and out of school.
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Paint brushes
Paint brushes were a must-have in 1953. Students didn't have the option to create digital art, so they needed physical paint brushes to blend paints and apply paint to paper.
Paint pens
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Ballpoint pen
Pencil
Pencils are an early invention that is still used today. They are an ideal writing tool for students because lead can be erased from paper. If a pupil made a mistake when writing with a pencil, they could easily fix it.
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Book cover
When students were given a book from school to take care of, they were asked to put book covers on them. Students are still asked to do this today. In the 1950s, much like today, individuals could either make or buy their book covers.
Book blanket
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Book strap
Before backpacks, there were book straps. Students would use book straps to keep their books from falling or opening when they were carrying them from school to home and vice-versa.
Rubber band
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Paper clips
Paper clips were an ideal way for students and teachers to attach papers together. Paper clips are just as popular now. Modern paper clips come in various sizes, colors and shapes. Paper clips of the past are collectible, and most are made of metal.
Safety pins
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Compass
Slide rule
Before calculators, students used slide rules for help with adding, subtracting, multiplication and division.
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Protractor
Stapler
Staplers are an old school invention that stuck around for generations. In 1953, students and teachers used staplers to keep their papers and notes together. Today, staplers are used for the exact same thing.
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Ruler
In 1953, students would use wooden rulers for craft activities and math classes. Nowadays, the rulers are plastic or even an app on your phone.
Slide rule
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Protractor
Protractors were the perfect tool for helping students draw and measure angles in their math classes. Today, students still use protractors for this exact purpose. Protractors of the past were made from metal, but today you can find protractors made of plastic too.
Ruler
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Book holder
Bookmark
Bookmarks were invented all the way back in the 1800s, but they're still handy today. Before students could bookmark their favorite academic website, they used bookmarks to save their place in textbooks.
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Book stand
Writing tablet
Writing tablets were used to help students write in the 1950s and earlier, but today's style of writing is done on paper or computers.
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Compass
Stick your pencil in this contraption and use it to draw a perfect circle. Compasses were a popular 1953 school supply. Today, compasses are still made for students to use. Modern compasses are sometimes made of plastic, while 1950s compasses were made of metal.
Needle
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Typewriter
Young students in the 1950s didn't usually use typewriters. These devices were more commonly used by higher education students and teachers.
Copy machine
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Erasers
Erasers were the only way students could fix the mistakes they made when writing with a pencil. Since many pencils did not come with erasers, students carried a separate eraser with them. To prevent themselves from losing the eraser or letting the shavings make a mess, children would store their erasers in metal tins.
Tissues
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Binders
Index tabs and binders went hand-in-hand in the 1950s. These tabs would help students organize and label their paperwork. Students would use binders to store paperwork for various classes, so these index tabs would allow students to separate and label their homework easily.
Books
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Stamp eraser
Typewriter eraser
If a student made an error when typing a document on a typewriter, they would use a typewriter eraser. This unique device was specifically designed to work with popular typewriters at the time to erase mistakes.
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Craft box
Paint box
When it came to transporting paints and paint brushes, paint boxes were ideal for artistic students. Paint boxes aren't used as often anymore, but you can still find some modern paint boxes on the market if you need to get your paints from here to there.
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