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The pencil is THE pen for learning to write worldwide – whether Germany, Japan or South Africa. Even in China, in the land of characters and calligraphy, it is an indispensable helper for immersing oneself in the world of handwriting. The advantage of a pencil: small spelling mistakes can be corrected in no time with an eraser. The pencil is an all-rounder. It is suitable for writing, sketching and drawing, fits comfortably in the hand, can be used for a very long time, is ready to use at any time and enables different stroke thicknesses depending on the pressure and position. Whereas in Europe HB hardness degree is preferred for learning to write, in Asia pupils mainly use graphite pencils with a degree of 2B and softer.

A classic pencil is 175 millimetres long. Its shape is round, hexagonal or triangular. The hexagonal shape was invented so that the pencil no longer rolls away, falls off the table and thus breaks the lead. The ergonomic triangular shape ensures relaxed writing and drawing. Europeans attach great importance to ergonomics, so triangular pens are much more in demand here than in the rest of the world. Dots and dip cap at the end of the pencil add the finishing touch to the pencil. Beginners often use a jumbo version for their first writing exercises. The thicker shape of the learner’s pencil sits comfortably in children's hands and ensures a secure hold.
 

Sunny yellow, sky blue, grass green - colours make life vibrant and accompany us from the very beginning. The coloured pencil in particular has become a loyal and creative companion and designer of childhood. In addition to the pencil, it is also the second indispensable writing instrument in a child's pencil case. The basic colours are a must, other required colour nuances are generally decided by the class teacher. When purchasing coloured pencils for a child's first basis school supplies, the following applies: Quality, not quantity. Even if good offers with a variety of colours entice you - a selection with the most important colours is sufficient for the start of school life. Parents should pay attention to quality. High-quality workmanship and reliability, ergonomic shape for a secure and fatigue-free hold and a good colour stroke should be the focus when selecting the right coloured pencils.

In 1834, Johann Sebastian Staedtler succeeded in making a decisive innovation through the further development of the red-chalk pencil: the coloured pencil as we know it today! Those who wanted to paint with dry materials 400 years ago could choose between charcoal, red chalk and pastel chalks, and they definitely shouldn't mind getting their hands dirty. This changed with the development of the wood-cased pencil from the 17th century onwards. At the beginning of the 18th century in Nuremberg, in addition to graphite, red chalk and pastel chalk were gradually incorporated into a wooden "casing". In Nuremberg, Johann Sebastian Staedtler managed to improve the red-chalk pencil by 1834 so that it could "sharpen pencils to the finest point", enable fine line thicknesses and stick better to paper. He developed a process for the production of differently coloured oil chalk cartridges. Founded in 1835, J.S. Staedtler finally specialised in the production of this new coloured pencil.
 

Sharpeners come in all shapes and colours. They are made of plastic or metal and are available for both slim, classic pencil formats as well as thicker jumbo versions. What many people do not know: There are certain differences when it comes to pencil and coloured pencil sharpening! Pencils are characterised by particularly hard and robust lead. They can therefore be sharpened very thinly without breaking the lead. In contrast, coloured pencils are made of a softer lead. They should be sharpened a little shorter and more bluntly so that it does not break off when you draw. Is the lead constantly breaking off during tipping? In most cases, this is not due to the pencil, but to an old and blunt sharpener. As a rule of thumb: The sharpener should be replaced after 12 completely sharpened down pencils.

Sharpening tubs are no longer only available in a large format, but also handy and small and suitable for the pencil case. They offer a convincing advantage: The container ensures a fast and clean result. This is a huge advantage for primary school pupils. They don't have to stand up and go to the waste bin to sharpen their pencil but can sharpen their pencils directly at their desk. An integrated lid also reliably prevents waste from escaping and soiling the schoolbag. STAEDTLER tub sharpeners are also available as double-hole sharpeners for all standard-sized and jumbo pen formats.
 

No pencil case without an eraser: Writing in the wrong direction would not be easy to correct, incorrect calculation results could not be easily erased and when you draw, you couldn't simply conjure up a beautiful flower from the crooked tree. Erasers make it easy to change and rewrite stories. Here, it is worth paying attention to quality. Poor eraser results, smudged lines, and lots of eraser crumbs on the paper disrupt the learning process and quickly cause irritation.

Nowadays, standard erasers are hardly made of natural rubber. Rubber is not resistant to ageing and hardens over time. The situation is different with STAEDTLER erasers, which are made of synthetic materials. Their abrasion is also coarser than that of rubber products and therefore hardly stick to the paper. This makes it easier to remove eraser residue.
 

Draw lines, underline, strike through, draw or measure – the ruler is a convenient helper. Rulers are available in many variants and in different materials: Plexiglas, aluminium, wood or plastic, colourfully printed or transparent, as a straight ruler or set square. Simple, straight rulers are required for school starters. These are often available in lengths of 15 or 30 centimetres, with the shorter version fitting into the pencil case. Plastic versions protect the loops in the pencil case.

And what is so handy about the hole that most rulers have nowadays? In the past, a ruler was already part of the standard basic school supplies of every primary school pupil. As slate boards used to be used for writing at school, the students needed a cloth to clean their boards. This hung on a ribbon that was pulled through the hole on the ruler to attach it to it.