As summer starts to wrap up, it’s time to think about going back to school. Whether you or your family are heading back to elementary school, middle school, high school, or college, there are always needful things to pick up. But in addition to necessary items, there are a lot of things that are just plain cool to have. None of these is your typical notebook or eraser.

1. Flexcils 

No matter what age you are, you’ll be delighted by these bendy, twisty crayon-colored pencils, especially since they last up to 20 times longer than ordinary pencils. They require no sharpening and are both non-toxic and odor-free:

2. Snack in the Box

If you’re always running out the door wanting to bring healthy snacks but keep things tidy, this dual-chambered, spill-proof container is for you. It fits into lunchboxes, backpacks, or the car, and can hold things like berries, almonds, and more:

3. Wallpops World map

As kids start to grow up, they naturally want to explore the world, and you want to encourage that. This peel-and-stick map makes it easy and fun to learn the earth’s continents, countries, capitals, oceans, and more. You can even write on it with dry-erase markers:

4. Just Crunch Anti-Soggy Bowl

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but soggy cereal can ruin it. This clever contraption makes it easy to keep things crunchy - you just dunk the cereal right into the milk when you're ready for a bite:

6. Tabi Tablet & Phone Holder

Technology is an important part of education now. It’s even more convenient to use your tablet to study (or play) when it’s right at hand -- literally:

7. PowerCube USB

If you’re going back to a dorm, you’ll place a premium on space. The compact design of this ingenious charger includes two USB hookups that will keep you all charged up so you can power on:

8. Splash Tunes

This awesome shower accessory suctions onto any flat surface and streams music from your computer or smartphone via Bluetooth. When you keep Pandora, Spotify, or iTunes going in the shower, you can rock out while you scrub off: 

9. Wherever Lemon Water

Especially if you’re a student-athlete, you need to keep hydrated, but who said you can’t do so in style? Enjoy hydrating with this reusable water bottle that has a removable citrus reamer for fresh fruity flavor:

10. Sort it Magnetic Fridge Organizer

The start of the school year means an increase in important notes and other papers. Whether a field trip permission slip or needed receipt, when items are at eye-level, it keeps them top of mind but out of the way:

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While it can be hard to say goodbye to the sun’s summer rays, the start of another school year means the beginning of more learning, and that’s always a good thing. As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”