if you’re a teacher, you know just how much time, money, and energy goes into making a classroom run—most of it out of your own pocket. The good news? Tons of companies, nonprofits, and even restaurants offer teacher freebies, discounts, and classroom resources to show appreciation for everything you do.
From free school supplies to meals and exclusive events, here’s the ultimate list of teacher freebies you can grab right now—and how to get them.
Need to Add
Staples
Earn a $5 Rewards gift card just for joining the Classroom Rewards program. Great for building a wishlist for parents to shop from.
Paper Mate Back-to-School Gift
Create a TeacherList and add Paper Mate items to your list to receive a free back-to-school kit.
Hot Wheels Classroom Kit
Qualified educators (like STEM or elementary teachers) can apply to receive a classroom kit with about 40 toy cars and a track.
Microsoft Education Software
Teachers get free access to Microsoft Office, Minecraft Education, and more through Microsoft’s educator program.
Teachers Pay Teachers Free Downloads
Thousands of free lesson plans, worksheets, and classroom resources are available. Just filter your search to “free.”
Theme Park & Attraction Passes:
- Legoland (Florida): Florida teachers can apply for a free year-long pass.
- SeaWorld (Florida & Texas): Free admission for eligible teachers.
- Shedd Aquarium (Midwest): Free educator admission available.
NY Times Subscription
Educators and librarians can access a free digital New York Times subscription through their education portal.
PhysicsQuest Kits
Teachers can request free science experiment kits (while supplies last).
Bully-Free Toolkit
Free anti-bullying posters and materials are available from national education organizations.
Sesame Street & Dinosaur Train Resources
Download free activity packs, lesson plans, and educational materials to use in class.
YES! Magazine Subscription
Eligible teachers and school librarians can request a free one-year subscription.
Kennedy Space Center Educator Pass
Teachers in Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands can get a free educator study pass.
Country Music Hall of Fame (Tennessee):
Tennessee educators can receive free field trip admission and classroom resources.
PassItOn™ Posters & DVDs
Teachers can request free inspirational posters and DVDs for their classrooms.
NEA’s “10 Free Things” Resources
A rotating list of 10 current freebies available to educators across the country.
🎁 Always-Available Teacher Freebies
These aren’t tied to a single holiday or event—you can grab them year-round!
1. Staples Classroom Rewards Program
Staples gives teachers 5% back in rewards for classroom purchases and often has special teacher-only events in-store.
2. Free Scholastic Magazines
Scholastic frequently offers free digital magazines and teaching tools. Sign up for their newsletter or educator programs for freebies and samples.
3. Crayola Teachers Program
Crayola offers project ideas, printables, and lesson plans totally free. Sometimes they send out classroom samples to registered teachers.
4. Teachers Pay Teachers Free Downloads
Thousands of high-quality worksheets, planners, and classroom decor items are available for free on TPT. Just filter by “Free” and grab what you need.
5. Free Museum Admission
Many local museums and zoos offer free or discounted admission for teachers—just show your badge or sign up with your school email.
✏️ Back-to-School Freebies for Teachers
Every summer, lots of stores run teacher appreciation events and supply giveaways. Here’s what to keep an eye out for:
6. Walmart Teacher Appreciation Events
Some Walmart stores host in-person events with free swag bags for teachers. Watch your local store page or event listings.
7. Dollar General Teacher Deals
DG regularly offers a 20% off classroom supplies discount and runs a Back-to-School Teacher Week with bonus coupons.
8. Target Teacher Prep Event
Target usually offers a 15% off sitewide coupon to verified teachers every July. It includes school supplies, home office items, and clothes.
9. Office Depot/OfficeMax Give Back to Schools
Teachers earn 5% back for classroom purchases, and students can link their receipts to your school to give even more.
10. Sam’s Club Teacher Offers
Sam’s sometimes gives new teacher memberships special perks like gift cards or bonus items with sign-up.
🍔 Teacher Freebies at Restaurants
Yep, you can even score free food and discounts just for being a teacher!
11. Sonic Drive-In
During Teacher Appreciation Week (usually in May), Sonic gives away free drinks or classroom supplies when you use the app and verify your teacher status.
12. McAlister’s Deli
They’ve offered free tea or lunch deals during Teacher Appreciation events. Keep an eye out around May and August.
13. Raising Cane’s, Firehouse Subs, and more
Regional chains often jump in on Teacher Week with BOGO meals, free drinks, or dessert deals. Check your local location’s social pages.
14. Chick-fil-A
Some franchises participate in teacher freebies or give bonus points in their app around Teacher Week. Not all participate, so check your local one!
📚 Educational Freebies & Kits
Some of the best teacher freebies come from brands that love classrooms and want to help you stock up with tools and samples.
15. Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Kit
Every year, Colgate sends out free dental health kits for classrooms with brushes, paste, and teaching materials.
👉 Sign up here
16. PBS Learning Media
PBS offers thousands of free lesson plans, videos, and games for all age levels.
17. NASA Education Resources
Bring space into your classroom! NASA has free posters, activities, and experiments for STEM and science teachers.
18. National Park Service Every Kid Outdoors Program
If you teach 4th grade, your students can get free park passes—and you can too. It’s a great way to plan a low-cost field trip or learning experience.
🧾 Teacher Discounts to Stack With Freebies
These aren’t quite freebies—but they can save you serious money on classroom and personal expenses.
19. Michaels Teacher Discount
Get 15% off your total purchase every time you shop (in-store or online) with teacher ID.
20. JOANN Teacher Rewards
Sign up for a 15% off teacher discount, plus exclusive coupons and events.
21. Barnes & Noble Educator Program
Teachers get 20% off classroom books and 25% off during Educator Appreciation Days.
22. Amazon Teacher Freebies & Classroom Wish Lists
Set up a classroom wish list and share it with parents or donors. Amazon also offers discounts on school supplies and sometimes sends surprise freebies to teachers on social media.
🧡 Teacher Appreciation Week Freebies (Every May)
Mark your calendar for Teacher Appreciation Week, which usually falls in the first full week of May. During that week, expect limited-time deals from:
- Sonic, McDonald’s, Chipotle, Subway, and Panera
- Walgreens (20% off storewide for teachers!)
- Staples & Office Depot freebies
- Free donuts at local bakeries or Dunkin’
- Amazon gift card giveaways and flash freebies
We post them all during that week—bookmark our Teacher Freebies Tag to catch them fast!
👩🏫 Tips to Get the Most Out of Teacher Freebies
- Verify your teacher status early – Many deals require ID.me or email verification before you qualify.
- Use your school email when signing up for kits and samples—they prioritize verified educators.
- Follow SwagGrabber – We post every teacher freebie we find, especially around August and May.
- Create a classroom wishlist and link to it from emails or social pages—many people are happy to help.
- Join educator Facebook groups where teachers share flash freebies and discount codes daily.
✨ Final Thoughts
Being a teacher shouldn’t mean draining your bank account to support your classroom. With the right resources, you can stock up on everything from school supplies to self-care treats—for FREE or at a major discount.
SwagGrabber is here to help you find all the legit teacher freebies, kits, and deals that make your job just a little easier (and cheaper). Whether it’s a free lunch during Teacher Week, a box of classroom goodies, or 20% off your go-to craft store, every little bit adds up.