The Grade 2 or Grade 3 list has come home, and it is longer than last year. Somewhere on it is a pen, a set of maths tools, a stack of counter books and a few things you do not recognise, and you are not sure how much of it your child needs on the first day.
We supply primary school families right across South Africa, so we have turned the typical Grade 2 and Grade 3 list into plain language: what each item is, why the teacher asked for it, and what changes as your child moves up. Read it once and you can buy the whole list in a single order.
Grade 2 stationery list (and what each item is for)
Grade 2 builds on the foundation year. Handwriting gets neater, maths becomes real work, and most of it is still done in pencil.
- HB pencils, bought in a pack. Still the everyday writing tool, and they vanish, so buy a few.
- Colouring pencils and wax crayons for art, projects and mind maps.
- A 30cm ruler and a few maths and measuring bits. Grade 2 starts measuring and drawing straight lines.
- A large glue stick or two. Worksheets get pasted into books all year.
- Scissors for cutting and pasting activities.
- A4 exercise books and counter books, usually several, plus a spare.
- An eraser, a sharpener with a catch and prestik.
- A whiteboard marker if the class uses mini whiteboards.
- Plastic covering and a permanent marker to label every single item.
Grade 3 stationery list (and what each item is for)
Grade 3 is the step up. Many schools introduce a pen, the maths set grows, and there are more books to get through.
- HB pencils in a pack, still the main tool for maths and rough work.
- A first blue or black ballpoint pen. Many Grade 3 classes start writing in pen, so check the list.
- Colouring pencils for diagrams, maps and art.
- A 30cm ruler and a fuller maths set. Some schools ask for a protractor and compass this year.
- More A4 exercise and counter books. Grade 3 works through paper quickly, so buy a spare or two.
- A glue stick and scissors for the pasting that never stops.
- Highlighters start to appear for marking key work.
- An eraser, a sharpener, prestik and correction fluid or tape where the school allows it.
- A flip file or folder for worksheets that travel home.
- Covering and a marker to label the lot.
What changes between Grade 2 and Grade 3
The short version: Grade 3 usually adds a pen, a fuller maths set (sometimes a protractor and compass), more exercise books, the first highlighters, and a folder for loose worksheets. Everything from Grade 2 still applies, there is just more of it and it leans a little more grown up.
How many of each to buy
Pencils, pens and glue sticks are the items that go missing or run out, so buy them in a pack rather than one at a time. Exercise books are often used up by the middle of the year, so a spare book saves a mid-term scramble. If you are buying for twins, or restocking the whole family at once, our prices drop from 11 of an item, and for 50 or more you can request a wholesale quote.
Your three steps
- Upload the list or shop the items. Browse the shop, or upload the list and we match it to a ready cart for you.
- Add to cart, or request a bulk quote if you are buying for more than one child or a class.
- We deliver. Free over R750, to your door, in time for the first day.
For the full grade-by-grade picture and saving tips, read our complete back-to-school stationery guide. Younger children starting out? See the Grade R and Grade 1 list. Wondering what it all costs? Our school stationery price guide has real per-item prices.
Frequently asked questions
What is on a Grade 3 stationery list in South Africa?
A Grade 3 list usually includes HB pencils, a first ballpoint pen, colouring pencils, a 30cm ruler and a maths set (sometimes a protractor and compass), several A4 exercise and counter books, a glue stick, scissors, highlighters, an eraser, a sharpener, prestik, a folder, and covering with a marker for labelling.
Do Grade 2 and Grade 3 learners write in pen?
Grade 2 is almost always pencil. Grade 3 is where many South African schools introduce a blue or black ballpoint pen, though some wait until Grade 4, so check the list your school sent home.
What maths equipment does a Grade 3 need?
Usually a 30cm ruler and a basic maths set. Some schools add a protractor and a compass in Grade 3, others leave the full geometry set for Grade 4. The class list will say.
How many exercise books does a Grade 3 need?
It varies by school, but Grade 3 works through books quickly, so buy what the list asks for plus a spare or two. Prices drop from 11 items if you are stocking up.
Can I get a discount for buying for the whole class?
Yes. Prices drop from 11 of an item, and for 50 or more you can request a wholesale quote, which suits class lists and buying for several children at once.
How much is delivery?
Delivery is free on orders over R750, with affordable door-to-door courier delivery under that, anywhere in South Africa, dispatched quickly so it arrives before the first day.