What supplies does a high school history class typically need?

Most history classes need a dedicated binder or notebook, colored pens or highlighters for annotating primary sources, loose-leaf paper for in-class writing, and a folder for returning assessments. AP History students benefit from a dedicated essay practice notebook and an AP prep book. If your class uses a specific textbook that students need to purchase or bring, list it explicitly.

Why do history students need colored pens?

Primary source annotation often uses color coding to track different types of evidence, claims, and counterarguments. Students who annotate in colored pen can navigate their notes more effectively during essay writing and exam review. A brief explanation of this in the newsletter converts what might seem like an odd request into a clearly purposeful one.

Should I explain the reasoning behind each supply request?

For any request that is not immediately obvious, yes. A dedicated history notebook makes more sense once families understand that students reference earlier notes throughout the year to build chronological arguments. AP prep books make more sense once families understand that the May exam covers everything from the year and that practice with specific question types matters.

How do I handle students who cannot afford the supplies?

Include a brief note in the newsletter that supplies are available in the classroom and give families a private way to request them. 'If purchasing any item is a hardship, please email me before school starts and I will ensure your student has everything needed' covers the issue without singling anyone out.

What tool makes history supply request newsletters easy to send?

Daystage lets you format a clean supply list with required and optional categories, include images or links if helpful, and send to all families at once. Many history teachers include a photo of what a well-organized student binder looks like in the newsletter, which communicates expectations more clearly than any text description.

History Teacher Newsletter: Supply Request

A history supply request newsletter is simpler than many other subjects' lists, but the supplies that matter in history class really do matter. A student who tries to keep history notes in a shared binder across three subjects will struggle to build the chronological arguments that history essays require. A student without colored pens for primary source annotation will take longer to find supporting evidence during timed writing. The right supplies, clearly communicated before school starts, prevent avoidable first-week friction.

What History Class Actually Needs

The supply needs for history class fall into three categories: organization, annotation, and reference.

For organization, a dedicated binder or notebook for history only matters more in this subject than in most others. Students in AP US History or World History regularly need to connect events and themes from the beginning of the year to content they encounter in March or April. A dedicated, well-organized collection of notes makes that possible. A shared binder makes it nearly impossible.

For annotation, colored pens or a set of four to six highlighters help students mark primary sources: one color for evidence supporting an argument, another for counterevidence, another for authorship or perspective notes. Students who annotate systematically write better essays because they can find their evidence quickly under time pressure.

For reference, any textbook the class uses plus an AP prep book for AP courses. Many students also find a basic historical atlas helpful for geography questions, though that is optional.

Building the Supply List

Format the list with required and optional categories. For a typical AP History course, required looks like this:

A dedicated 1.5-inch binder with dividers (or a dedicated full-year notebook). Colored pens or highlighters (four to six colors). Loose-leaf paper for in-class writing. A folder for returned work. The course textbook, if students are responsible for providing their own copy.

Optional: AP prep book (Princeton Review, Barron's, or official College Board); sticky notes for secondary annotation of textbook chapters; a small spiral notebook for vocabulary practice.

The Dedicated Notebook Case

History teachers who ask for dedicated notebooks often encounter pushback from families managing multiple subject supply lists. Making the case clearly in the newsletter prevents that pushback: "In AP US History, students regularly need to compare events from September's colonial unit to events from February's Reconstruction unit when writing analytical essays. Students who keep all their history notes in one dedicated notebook can do this in three minutes. Students who have to search through shared binders often spend 15-20 minutes locating the same information. This is the single supply request that most directly affects essay performance."

Sample Supply Request Newsletter Section

Here is a template excerpt:

"What Your Student Needs for AP US History: (1) A dedicated 1.5-inch binder with at least six dividers, clearly labeled by unit. Do not share this binder with another class; AP History students reference Unit 1 notes in April. (2) Colored pens or highlighters (four to six colors). We use color coding to annotate primary sources: one color for evidence, one for authorship notes, one for historical context. (3) Loose-leaf paper. We do significant in-class writing. (4) The AP US History textbook. A class set is available, but students who have their own copy and annotate it consistently perform better on the AP exam. I can provide a list of used copy sources. (5) An AP prep book (optional but strongly recommended for May exam preparation). Any current edition of Princeton Review or Barron's AP US History works."

Addressing the Equity Question

A brief paragraph at the end of the supply section covers families for whom purchasing is a concern: "If any item on this list is a hardship to purchase, please email me before the first day. Basic supplies are available in my classroom, and I will make sure your student has everything they need. No student will be behind because of a supply issue."

Timing and Delivery

Send the supply newsletter two to three weeks before school starts, not during the first week. Back-to-school shopping season means prices are lower and availability is higher in late July and early August than in September. Families who receive the list early can plan their shopping alongside other school supply purchases.

History Teacher Newsletter: Supply Request Newsletter Guide