13 Elementary School Incentives You Can Use Today

Use this list of 13 elementary school incentives to gather ideas for your own classroom!
By 
Deiera Bennett
 | 
November 9, 2022

Elementary School Incentives 

1. Class Parties

Class parties can motivate the entire class to be on their best behavior. Pizza parties, ice cream parties, and movie parties are all great choices, but you do not have to limit them to food. 

Elementary school children will be excited to have a 15-minute dance party to their favorite kid-friendly songs. Since parties are an incentive for the whole class, you can determine which behaviors will result in a party by setting a specific goal, such as no sad faces on the behavior chart.

Elementary School Incentive Example

2. Trinkets

Trinkets are great elementary school incentives because, with so many options available, you can choose items that every student will like. You can find inexpensive trinkets at a dollar store.

 Some ideas for trinkets include bubbles, bouncy balls, charms, and inexpensive jewelry. Add them all to a prize box, call it a treasure chest, and let the students pick their item of choice.

3. School Store Points (token economy)

While this incentive requires some planning to implement, it can be incredibly effective at reinforcing positive behavior. Through a token economy and a school reward system students are rewarded for good behavior by earning points that can be redeemed for tangible rewards. 

The key to being fair when distributing points is to assign each desired behavior a point value. The items in your treasure chest can be used to create a mini school store in the closet if your school does not have one.

4. Stickers

Elementary school students can’t resist cool stickers! Stickers are excellent incentives for small tasks or behaviors, such as completing an assignment or tidying up the books on the bookshelf. 

Students enjoy stickers because they are a way of showing their achievements to others without having to say anything.

5. Game Time

Game time can be an engaging elementary school incentive. If you have classroom board games, you can let students play those, or you can allow the student to have time to play educational games on the computer. You can make this a whole-class incentive using review games like Kahoot and Quizlet.

6. Show and Tell

Students who behave well can be rewarded with the opportunity to share something with the class. This can be an item from home, a YouTube video, a favorite book, or a special talent.

 If the students want to bring something from home, place guidelines on what they can bring (like no pet snakes!), or approve items ahead of time. When students start showing and telling, it’ll also incentivize the other students because they will want the chance to share something that they care about too.

Elementary School Incentive Example

7. Teacher’s Helper

Students love helping the teacher in any way possible,  and there’s a lot of flexibility with this elementary school incentive. You can make a student the teacher's helper for the day, or you can create specific roles so more students can earn this incentive. Some examples include line leader, paper/laptop distributor, and errand runner.

8. Lunch with the Teacher

In elementary school, kids still love spending time with the teacher. They are eager to have uninterrupted time to talk to you about whatever is on their mind, whether that’s what they did over the weekend or their favorite toy. 

Lunch with the teacher is not only a free incentive that students will work hard to earn, but it’s also a way to build rapport with your students. You can learn about them, which can help you create learning experiences that they will enjoy.

9. Music

For some students, listening to music can help them focus or relieve stress. If you already play music for the class while they work, let the winning students choose the playlist. 

If you have enough headphones for every student, you can also allow them to listen to their own choice of music. 

10. Teacher’s Chair

There’s something magical about the teacher’s chair that makes elementary school students feel “all grown up.” To make this incentive even more exciting, tell them they'll have access to your secret snack drawer! 

An alternative would be to have a special chair (like a bean bag) that students can sit in for the day.

11. Sweet Treats

This classic incentive for students will never get old. There are plenty of sugar-free candies and gums in the market, so choose a variety. Candy and gum work great as incentives for smaller achievements such as cleaning up after themselves in the cafeteria.

Elementary School Incentive Example

12. Certificate

A certificate can double as a low-cost elementary school incentive as well as a keepsake. Unlike candy and trinkets, which will be consumed or eventually lost, students can hang them on the refrigerator at home and hold on to them long after they leave your classroom.  

Award certificates for categories such as “Most Helpful” or “Student of the Week,” but don’t be afraid to get creative! Take some of the workloads off of you by letting the students decide what categories to create certificates for.

13. 15 Minutes of Fame

Your students will feel like celebrities as they say the morning announcements for the whole school to hear. This incentive can be used in combination with another (such as a privilege for the Student of the Week), or it can be a separate incentive. 

This gives the student something to look forward to at school and doubles as an opportunity for them to have fun reading.

Time to Plan Your Classroom Incentives

As you see, elementary school incentives do not have to be costly or complicated. Elementary school students love these rewards but talk to your students to find out what else they like. 

Want to improve your student rewards experience? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students.

What’s most important is that students feel valued and appreciated and recognize that positive behavior plays a vital role in making the classroom a special place for everyone. If you have success with these you can even add attendance incentives or virtual incentives for students to your behavior plan. Working with older students? Try incentive ideas for middle school students and incentives for high school students.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

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Receive the best school culture resources monthly to inspire your planning.

13 Elementary School Incentives You Can Use Today

Use this list of 13 elementary school incentives to gather ideas for your own classroom!
By 
Deiera Bennett
 | 
November 9, 2022
Elementary school incentives motivate students by reinforcing their positive behavior and giving them a goal to strive for.

Elementary School Incentives 

1. Class Parties

Class parties can motivate the entire class to be on their best behavior. Pizza parties, ice cream parties, and movie parties are all great choices, but you do not have to limit them to food. 

Elementary school children will be excited to have a 15-minute dance party to their favorite kid-friendly songs. Since parties are an incentive for the whole class, you can determine which behaviors will result in a party by setting a specific goal, such as no sad faces on the behavior chart.

Elementary School Incentive Example

2. Trinkets

Trinkets are great elementary school incentives because, with so many options available, you can choose items that every student will like. You can find inexpensive trinkets at a dollar store.

 Some ideas for trinkets include bubbles, bouncy balls, charms, and inexpensive jewelry. Add them all to a prize box, call it a treasure chest, and let the students pick their item of choice.

3. School Store Points (token economy)

While this incentive requires some planning to implement, it can be incredibly effective at reinforcing positive behavior. Through a token economy and a school reward system students are rewarded for good behavior by earning points that can be redeemed for tangible rewards. 

The key to being fair when distributing points is to assign each desired behavior a point value. The items in your treasure chest can be used to create a mini school store in the closet if your school does not have one.

4. Stickers

Elementary school students can’t resist cool stickers! Stickers are excellent incentives for small tasks or behaviors, such as completing an assignment or tidying up the books on the bookshelf. 

Students enjoy stickers because they are a way of showing their achievements to others without having to say anything.

5. Game Time

Game time can be an engaging elementary school incentive. If you have classroom board games, you can let students play those, or you can allow the student to have time to play educational games on the computer. You can make this a whole-class incentive using review games like Kahoot and Quizlet.

6. Show and Tell

Students who behave well can be rewarded with the opportunity to share something with the class. This can be an item from home, a YouTube video, a favorite book, or a special talent.

 If the students want to bring something from home, place guidelines on what they can bring (like no pet snakes!), or approve items ahead of time. When students start showing and telling, it’ll also incentivize the other students because they will want the chance to share something that they care about too.

Elementary School Incentive Example

7. Teacher’s Helper

Students love helping the teacher in any way possible,  and there’s a lot of flexibility with this elementary school incentive. You can make a student the teacher's helper for the day, or you can create specific roles so more students can earn this incentive. Some examples include line leader, paper/laptop distributor, and errand runner.

8. Lunch with the Teacher

In elementary school, kids still love spending time with the teacher. They are eager to have uninterrupted time to talk to you about whatever is on their mind, whether that’s what they did over the weekend or their favorite toy. 

Lunch with the teacher is not only a free incentive that students will work hard to earn, but it’s also a way to build rapport with your students. You can learn about them, which can help you create learning experiences that they will enjoy.

9. Music

For some students, listening to music can help them focus or relieve stress. If you already play music for the class while they work, let the winning students choose the playlist. 

If you have enough headphones for every student, you can also allow them to listen to their own choice of music. 

10. Teacher’s Chair

There’s something magical about the teacher’s chair that makes elementary school students feel “all grown up.” To make this incentive even more exciting, tell them they'll have access to your secret snack drawer! 

An alternative would be to have a special chair (like a bean bag) that students can sit in for the day.

11. Sweet Treats

This classic incentive for students will never get old. There are plenty of sugar-free candies and gums in the market, so choose a variety. Candy and gum work great as incentives for smaller achievements such as cleaning up after themselves in the cafeteria.

Elementary School Incentive Example

12. Certificate

A certificate can double as a low-cost elementary school incentive as well as a keepsake. Unlike candy and trinkets, which will be consumed or eventually lost, students can hang them on the refrigerator at home and hold on to them long after they leave your classroom.  

Award certificates for categories such as “Most Helpful” or “Student of the Week,” but don’t be afraid to get creative! Take some of the workloads off of you by letting the students decide what categories to create certificates for.

13. 15 Minutes of Fame

Your students will feel like celebrities as they say the morning announcements for the whole school to hear. This incentive can be used in combination with another (such as a privilege for the Student of the Week), or it can be a separate incentive. 

This gives the student something to look forward to at school and doubles as an opportunity for them to have fun reading.

Time to Plan Your Classroom Incentives

As you see, elementary school incentives do not have to be costly or complicated. Elementary school students love these rewards but talk to your students to find out what else they like. 

Want to improve your student rewards experience? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students.

What’s most important is that students feel valued and appreciated and recognize that positive behavior plays a vital role in making the classroom a special place for everyone. If you have success with these you can even add attendance incentives or virtual incentives for students to your behavior plan. Working with older students? Try incentive ideas for middle school students and incentives for high school students.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

Subscribe via Email

Receive the best school culture resources monthly to inspire your planning.

Elementary School Incentives 

1. Class Parties

Class parties can motivate the entire class to be on their best behavior. Pizza parties, ice cream parties, and movie parties are all great choices, but you do not have to limit them to food. 

Elementary school children will be excited to have a 15-minute dance party to their favorite kid-friendly songs. Since parties are an incentive for the whole class, you can determine which behaviors will result in a party by setting a specific goal, such as no sad faces on the behavior chart.

Elementary School Incentive Example

2. Trinkets

Trinkets are great elementary school incentives because, with so many options available, you can choose items that every student will like. You can find inexpensive trinkets at a dollar store.

 Some ideas for trinkets include bubbles, bouncy balls, charms, and inexpensive jewelry. Add them all to a prize box, call it a treasure chest, and let the students pick their item of choice.

3. School Store Points (token economy)

While this incentive requires some planning to implement, it can be incredibly effective at reinforcing positive behavior. Through a token economy and a school reward system students are rewarded for good behavior by earning points that can be redeemed for tangible rewards. 

The key to being fair when distributing points is to assign each desired behavior a point value. The items in your treasure chest can be used to create a mini school store in the closet if your school does not have one.

4. Stickers

Elementary school students can’t resist cool stickers! Stickers are excellent incentives for small tasks or behaviors, such as completing an assignment or tidying up the books on the bookshelf. 

Students enjoy stickers because they are a way of showing their achievements to others without having to say anything.

5. Game Time

Game time can be an engaging elementary school incentive. If you have classroom board games, you can let students play those, or you can allow the student to have time to play educational games on the computer. You can make this a whole-class incentive using review games like Kahoot and Quizlet.

6. Show and Tell

Students who behave well can be rewarded with the opportunity to share something with the class. This can be an item from home, a YouTube video, a favorite book, or a special talent.

 If the students want to bring something from home, place guidelines on what they can bring (like no pet snakes!), or approve items ahead of time. When students start showing and telling, it’ll also incentivize the other students because they will want the chance to share something that they care about too.

Elementary School Incentive Example

7. Teacher’s Helper

Students love helping the teacher in any way possible,  and there’s a lot of flexibility with this elementary school incentive. You can make a student the teacher's helper for the day, or you can create specific roles so more students can earn this incentive. Some examples include line leader, paper/laptop distributor, and errand runner.

8. Lunch with the Teacher

In elementary school, kids still love spending time with the teacher. They are eager to have uninterrupted time to talk to you about whatever is on their mind, whether that’s what they did over the weekend or their favorite toy. 

Lunch with the teacher is not only a free incentive that students will work hard to earn, but it’s also a way to build rapport with your students. You can learn about them, which can help you create learning experiences that they will enjoy.

9. Music

For some students, listening to music can help them focus or relieve stress. If you already play music for the class while they work, let the winning students choose the playlist. 

If you have enough headphones for every student, you can also allow them to listen to their own choice of music. 

10. Teacher’s Chair

There’s something magical about the teacher’s chair that makes elementary school students feel “all grown up.” To make this incentive even more exciting, tell them they'll have access to your secret snack drawer! 

An alternative would be to have a special chair (like a bean bag) that students can sit in for the day.

11. Sweet Treats

This classic incentive for students will never get old. There are plenty of sugar-free candies and gums in the market, so choose a variety. Candy and gum work great as incentives for smaller achievements such as cleaning up after themselves in the cafeteria.

Elementary School Incentive Example

12. Certificate

A certificate can double as a low-cost elementary school incentive as well as a keepsake. Unlike candy and trinkets, which will be consumed or eventually lost, students can hang them on the refrigerator at home and hold on to them long after they leave your classroom.  

Award certificates for categories such as “Most Helpful” or “Student of the Week,” but don’t be afraid to get creative! Take some of the workloads off of you by letting the students decide what categories to create certificates for.

13. 15 Minutes of Fame

Your students will feel like celebrities as they say the morning announcements for the whole school to hear. This incentive can be used in combination with another (such as a privilege for the Student of the Week), or it can be a separate incentive. 

This gives the student something to look forward to at school and doubles as an opportunity for them to have fun reading.

Time to Plan Your Classroom Incentives

As you see, elementary school incentives do not have to be costly or complicated. Elementary school students love these rewards but talk to your students to find out what else they like. 

Want to improve your student rewards experience? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students.

What’s most important is that students feel valued and appreciated and recognize that positive behavior plays a vital role in making the classroom a special place for everyone. If you have success with these you can even add attendance incentives or virtual incentives for students to your behavior plan. Working with older students? Try incentive ideas for middle school students and incentives for high school students.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

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Elementary School Incentives 

1. Class Parties

Class parties can motivate the entire class to be on their best behavior. Pizza parties, ice cream parties, and movie parties are all great choices, but you do not have to limit them to food. 

Elementary school children will be excited to have a 15-minute dance party to their favorite kid-friendly songs. Since parties are an incentive for the whole class, you can determine which behaviors will result in a party by setting a specific goal, such as no sad faces on the behavior chart.

Elementary School Incentive Example

2. Trinkets

Trinkets are great elementary school incentives because, with so many options available, you can choose items that every student will like. You can find inexpensive trinkets at a dollar store.

 Some ideas for trinkets include bubbles, bouncy balls, charms, and inexpensive jewelry. Add them all to a prize box, call it a treasure chest, and let the students pick their item of choice.

3. School Store Points (token economy)

While this incentive requires some planning to implement, it can be incredibly effective at reinforcing positive behavior. Through a token economy and a school reward system students are rewarded for good behavior by earning points that can be redeemed for tangible rewards. 

The key to being fair when distributing points is to assign each desired behavior a point value. The items in your treasure chest can be used to create a mini school store in the closet if your school does not have one.

4. Stickers

Elementary school students can’t resist cool stickers! Stickers are excellent incentives for small tasks or behaviors, such as completing an assignment or tidying up the books on the bookshelf. 

Students enjoy stickers because they are a way of showing their achievements to others without having to say anything.

5. Game Time

Game time can be an engaging elementary school incentive. If you have classroom board games, you can let students play those, or you can allow the student to have time to play educational games on the computer. You can make this a whole-class incentive using review games like Kahoot and Quizlet.

6. Show and Tell

Students who behave well can be rewarded with the opportunity to share something with the class. This can be an item from home, a YouTube video, a favorite book, or a special talent.

 If the students want to bring something from home, place guidelines on what they can bring (like no pet snakes!), or approve items ahead of time. When students start showing and telling, it’ll also incentivize the other students because they will want the chance to share something that they care about too.

Elementary School Incentive Example

7. Teacher’s Helper

Students love helping the teacher in any way possible,  and there’s a lot of flexibility with this elementary school incentive. You can make a student the teacher's helper for the day, or you can create specific roles so more students can earn this incentive. Some examples include line leader, paper/laptop distributor, and errand runner.

8. Lunch with the Teacher

In elementary school, kids still love spending time with the teacher. They are eager to have uninterrupted time to talk to you about whatever is on their mind, whether that’s what they did over the weekend or their favorite toy. 

Lunch with the teacher is not only a free incentive that students will work hard to earn, but it’s also a way to build rapport with your students. You can learn about them, which can help you create learning experiences that they will enjoy.

9. Music

For some students, listening to music can help them focus or relieve stress. If you already play music for the class while they work, let the winning students choose the playlist. 

If you have enough headphones for every student, you can also allow them to listen to their own choice of music. 

10. Teacher’s Chair

There’s something magical about the teacher’s chair that makes elementary school students feel “all grown up.” To make this incentive even more exciting, tell them they'll have access to your secret snack drawer! 

An alternative would be to have a special chair (like a bean bag) that students can sit in for the day.

11. Sweet Treats

This classic incentive for students will never get old. There are plenty of sugar-free candies and gums in the market, so choose a variety. Candy and gum work great as incentives for smaller achievements such as cleaning up after themselves in the cafeteria.

Elementary School Incentive Example

12. Certificate

A certificate can double as a low-cost elementary school incentive as well as a keepsake. Unlike candy and trinkets, which will be consumed or eventually lost, students can hang them on the refrigerator at home and hold on to them long after they leave your classroom.  

Award certificates for categories such as “Most Helpful” or “Student of the Week,” but don’t be afraid to get creative! Take some of the workloads off of you by letting the students decide what categories to create certificates for.

13. 15 Minutes of Fame

Your students will feel like celebrities as they say the morning announcements for the whole school to hear. This incentive can be used in combination with another (such as a privilege for the Student of the Week), or it can be a separate incentive. 

This gives the student something to look forward to at school and doubles as an opportunity for them to have fun reading.

Time to Plan Your Classroom Incentives

As you see, elementary school incentives do not have to be costly or complicated. Elementary school students love these rewards but talk to your students to find out what else they like. 

Want to improve your student rewards experience? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students.

What’s most important is that students feel valued and appreciated and recognize that positive behavior plays a vital role in making the classroom a special place for everyone. If you have success with these you can even add attendance incentives or virtual incentives for students to your behavior plan. Working with older students? Try incentive ideas for middle school students and incentives for high school students.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

13 Elementary School Incentives You Can Use Today

Use this list of 13 elementary school incentives to gather ideas for your own classroom!
By 
Deiera Bennett
 | 
November 9, 2022

Elementary School Incentives 

1. Class Parties

Class parties can motivate the entire class to be on their best behavior. Pizza parties, ice cream parties, and movie parties are all great choices, but you do not have to limit them to food. 

Elementary school children will be excited to have a 15-minute dance party to their favorite kid-friendly songs. Since parties are an incentive for the whole class, you can determine which behaviors will result in a party by setting a specific goal, such as no sad faces on the behavior chart.

Elementary School Incentive Example

2. Trinkets

Trinkets are great elementary school incentives because, with so many options available, you can choose items that every student will like. You can find inexpensive trinkets at a dollar store.

 Some ideas for trinkets include bubbles, bouncy balls, charms, and inexpensive jewelry. Add them all to a prize box, call it a treasure chest, and let the students pick their item of choice.

3. School Store Points (token economy)

While this incentive requires some planning to implement, it can be incredibly effective at reinforcing positive behavior. Through a token economy and a school reward system students are rewarded for good behavior by earning points that can be redeemed for tangible rewards. 

The key to being fair when distributing points is to assign each desired behavior a point value. The items in your treasure chest can be used to create a mini school store in the closet if your school does not have one.

4. Stickers

Elementary school students can’t resist cool stickers! Stickers are excellent incentives for small tasks or behaviors, such as completing an assignment or tidying up the books on the bookshelf. 

Students enjoy stickers because they are a way of showing their achievements to others without having to say anything.

5. Game Time

Game time can be an engaging elementary school incentive. If you have classroom board games, you can let students play those, or you can allow the student to have time to play educational games on the computer. You can make this a whole-class incentive using review games like Kahoot and Quizlet.

6. Show and Tell

Students who behave well can be rewarded with the opportunity to share something with the class. This can be an item from home, a YouTube video, a favorite book, or a special talent.

 If the students want to bring something from home, place guidelines on what they can bring (like no pet snakes!), or approve items ahead of time. When students start showing and telling, it’ll also incentivize the other students because they will want the chance to share something that they care about too.

Elementary School Incentive Example

7. Teacher’s Helper

Students love helping the teacher in any way possible,  and there’s a lot of flexibility with this elementary school incentive. You can make a student the teacher's helper for the day, or you can create specific roles so more students can earn this incentive. Some examples include line leader, paper/laptop distributor, and errand runner.

8. Lunch with the Teacher

In elementary school, kids still love spending time with the teacher. They are eager to have uninterrupted time to talk to you about whatever is on their mind, whether that’s what they did over the weekend or their favorite toy. 

Lunch with the teacher is not only a free incentive that students will work hard to earn, but it’s also a way to build rapport with your students. You can learn about them, which can help you create learning experiences that they will enjoy.

9. Music

For some students, listening to music can help them focus or relieve stress. If you already play music for the class while they work, let the winning students choose the playlist. 

If you have enough headphones for every student, you can also allow them to listen to their own choice of music. 

10. Teacher’s Chair

There’s something magical about the teacher’s chair that makes elementary school students feel “all grown up.” To make this incentive even more exciting, tell them they'll have access to your secret snack drawer! 

An alternative would be to have a special chair (like a bean bag) that students can sit in for the day.

11. Sweet Treats

This classic incentive for students will never get old. There are plenty of sugar-free candies and gums in the market, so choose a variety. Candy and gum work great as incentives for smaller achievements such as cleaning up after themselves in the cafeteria.

Elementary School Incentive Example

12. Certificate

A certificate can double as a low-cost elementary school incentive as well as a keepsake. Unlike candy and trinkets, which will be consumed or eventually lost, students can hang them on the refrigerator at home and hold on to them long after they leave your classroom.  

Award certificates for categories such as “Most Helpful” or “Student of the Week,” but don’t be afraid to get creative! Take some of the workloads off of you by letting the students decide what categories to create certificates for.

13. 15 Minutes of Fame

Your students will feel like celebrities as they say the morning announcements for the whole school to hear. This incentive can be used in combination with another (such as a privilege for the Student of the Week), or it can be a separate incentive. 

This gives the student something to look forward to at school and doubles as an opportunity for them to have fun reading.

Time to Plan Your Classroom Incentives

As you see, elementary school incentives do not have to be costly or complicated. Elementary school students love these rewards but talk to your students to find out what else they like. 

Want to improve your student rewards experience? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students.

What’s most important is that students feel valued and appreciated and recognize that positive behavior plays a vital role in making the classroom a special place for everyone. If you have success with these you can even add attendance incentives or virtual incentives for students to your behavior plan. Working with older students? Try incentive ideas for middle school students and incentives for high school students.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

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13 Elementary School Incentives You Can Use Today

Use this list of 13 elementary school incentives to gather ideas for your own classroom!
By 
Deiera Bennett
 | 
November 9, 2022

About the Event

Elementary School Incentives 

1. Class Parties

Class parties can motivate the entire class to be on their best behavior. Pizza parties, ice cream parties, and movie parties are all great choices, but you do not have to limit them to food. 

Elementary school children will be excited to have a 15-minute dance party to their favorite kid-friendly songs. Since parties are an incentive for the whole class, you can determine which behaviors will result in a party by setting a specific goal, such as no sad faces on the behavior chart.

Elementary School Incentive Example

2. Trinkets

Trinkets are great elementary school incentives because, with so many options available, you can choose items that every student will like. You can find inexpensive trinkets at a dollar store.

 Some ideas for trinkets include bubbles, bouncy balls, charms, and inexpensive jewelry. Add them all to a prize box, call it a treasure chest, and let the students pick their item of choice.

3. School Store Points (token economy)

While this incentive requires some planning to implement, it can be incredibly effective at reinforcing positive behavior. Through a token economy and a school reward system students are rewarded for good behavior by earning points that can be redeemed for tangible rewards. 

The key to being fair when distributing points is to assign each desired behavior a point value. The items in your treasure chest can be used to create a mini school store in the closet if your school does not have one.

4. Stickers

Elementary school students can’t resist cool stickers! Stickers are excellent incentives for small tasks or behaviors, such as completing an assignment or tidying up the books on the bookshelf. 

Students enjoy stickers because they are a way of showing their achievements to others without having to say anything.

5. Game Time

Game time can be an engaging elementary school incentive. If you have classroom board games, you can let students play those, or you can allow the student to have time to play educational games on the computer. You can make this a whole-class incentive using review games like Kahoot and Quizlet.

6. Show and Tell

Students who behave well can be rewarded with the opportunity to share something with the class. This can be an item from home, a YouTube video, a favorite book, or a special talent.

 If the students want to bring something from home, place guidelines on what they can bring (like no pet snakes!), or approve items ahead of time. When students start showing and telling, it’ll also incentivize the other students because they will want the chance to share something that they care about too.

Elementary School Incentive Example

7. Teacher’s Helper

Students love helping the teacher in any way possible,  and there’s a lot of flexibility with this elementary school incentive. You can make a student the teacher's helper for the day, or you can create specific roles so more students can earn this incentive. Some examples include line leader, paper/laptop distributor, and errand runner.

8. Lunch with the Teacher

In elementary school, kids still love spending time with the teacher. They are eager to have uninterrupted time to talk to you about whatever is on their mind, whether that’s what they did over the weekend or their favorite toy. 

Lunch with the teacher is not only a free incentive that students will work hard to earn, but it’s also a way to build rapport with your students. You can learn about them, which can help you create learning experiences that they will enjoy.

9. Music

For some students, listening to music can help them focus or relieve stress. If you already play music for the class while they work, let the winning students choose the playlist. 

If you have enough headphones for every student, you can also allow them to listen to their own choice of music. 

10. Teacher’s Chair

There’s something magical about the teacher’s chair that makes elementary school students feel “all grown up.” To make this incentive even more exciting, tell them they'll have access to your secret snack drawer! 

An alternative would be to have a special chair (like a bean bag) that students can sit in for the day.

11. Sweet Treats

This classic incentive for students will never get old. There are plenty of sugar-free candies and gums in the market, so choose a variety. Candy and gum work great as incentives for smaller achievements such as cleaning up after themselves in the cafeteria.

Elementary School Incentive Example

12. Certificate

A certificate can double as a low-cost elementary school incentive as well as a keepsake. Unlike candy and trinkets, which will be consumed or eventually lost, students can hang them on the refrigerator at home and hold on to them long after they leave your classroom.  

Award certificates for categories such as “Most Helpful” or “Student of the Week,” but don’t be afraid to get creative! Take some of the workloads off of you by letting the students decide what categories to create certificates for.

13. 15 Minutes of Fame

Your students will feel like celebrities as they say the morning announcements for the whole school to hear. This incentive can be used in combination with another (such as a privilege for the Student of the Week), or it can be a separate incentive. 

This gives the student something to look forward to at school and doubles as an opportunity for them to have fun reading.

Time to Plan Your Classroom Incentives

As you see, elementary school incentives do not have to be costly or complicated. Elementary school students love these rewards but talk to your students to find out what else they like. 

Want to improve your student rewards experience? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students.

What’s most important is that students feel valued and appreciated and recognize that positive behavior plays a vital role in making the classroom a special place for everyone. If you have success with these you can even add attendance incentives or virtual incentives for students to your behavior plan. Working with older students? Try incentive ideas for middle school students and incentives for high school students.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

Register Now

About the Event

Elementary School Incentives 

1. Class Parties

Class parties can motivate the entire class to be on their best behavior. Pizza parties, ice cream parties, and movie parties are all great choices, but you do not have to limit them to food. 

Elementary school children will be excited to have a 15-minute dance party to their favorite kid-friendly songs. Since parties are an incentive for the whole class, you can determine which behaviors will result in a party by setting a specific goal, such as no sad faces on the behavior chart.

Elementary School Incentive Example

2. Trinkets

Trinkets are great elementary school incentives because, with so many options available, you can choose items that every student will like. You can find inexpensive trinkets at a dollar store.

 Some ideas for trinkets include bubbles, bouncy balls, charms, and inexpensive jewelry. Add them all to a prize box, call it a treasure chest, and let the students pick their item of choice.

3. School Store Points (token economy)

While this incentive requires some planning to implement, it can be incredibly effective at reinforcing positive behavior. Through a token economy and a school reward system students are rewarded for good behavior by earning points that can be redeemed for tangible rewards. 

The key to being fair when distributing points is to assign each desired behavior a point value. The items in your treasure chest can be used to create a mini school store in the closet if your school does not have one.

4. Stickers

Elementary school students can’t resist cool stickers! Stickers are excellent incentives for small tasks or behaviors, such as completing an assignment or tidying up the books on the bookshelf. 

Students enjoy stickers because they are a way of showing their achievements to others without having to say anything.

5. Game Time

Game time can be an engaging elementary school incentive. If you have classroom board games, you can let students play those, or you can allow the student to have time to play educational games on the computer. You can make this a whole-class incentive using review games like Kahoot and Quizlet.

6. Show and Tell

Students who behave well can be rewarded with the opportunity to share something with the class. This can be an item from home, a YouTube video, a favorite book, or a special talent.

 If the students want to bring something from home, place guidelines on what they can bring (like no pet snakes!), or approve items ahead of time. When students start showing and telling, it’ll also incentivize the other students because they will want the chance to share something that they care about too.

Elementary School Incentive Example

7. Teacher’s Helper

Students love helping the teacher in any way possible,  and there’s a lot of flexibility with this elementary school incentive. You can make a student the teacher's helper for the day, or you can create specific roles so more students can earn this incentive. Some examples include line leader, paper/laptop distributor, and errand runner.

8. Lunch with the Teacher

In elementary school, kids still love spending time with the teacher. They are eager to have uninterrupted time to talk to you about whatever is on their mind, whether that’s what they did over the weekend or their favorite toy. 

Lunch with the teacher is not only a free incentive that students will work hard to earn, but it’s also a way to build rapport with your students. You can learn about them, which can help you create learning experiences that they will enjoy.

9. Music

For some students, listening to music can help them focus or relieve stress. If you already play music for the class while they work, let the winning students choose the playlist. 

If you have enough headphones for every student, you can also allow them to listen to their own choice of music. 

10. Teacher’s Chair

There’s something magical about the teacher’s chair that makes elementary school students feel “all grown up.” To make this incentive even more exciting, tell them they'll have access to your secret snack drawer! 

An alternative would be to have a special chair (like a bean bag) that students can sit in for the day.

11. Sweet Treats

This classic incentive for students will never get old. There are plenty of sugar-free candies and gums in the market, so choose a variety. Candy and gum work great as incentives for smaller achievements such as cleaning up after themselves in the cafeteria.

Elementary School Incentive Example

12. Certificate

A certificate can double as a low-cost elementary school incentive as well as a keepsake. Unlike candy and trinkets, which will be consumed or eventually lost, students can hang them on the refrigerator at home and hold on to them long after they leave your classroom.  

Award certificates for categories such as “Most Helpful” or “Student of the Week,” but don’t be afraid to get creative! Take some of the workloads off of you by letting the students decide what categories to create certificates for.

13. 15 Minutes of Fame

Your students will feel like celebrities as they say the morning announcements for the whole school to hear. This incentive can be used in combination with another (such as a privilege for the Student of the Week), or it can be a separate incentive. 

This gives the student something to look forward to at school and doubles as an opportunity for them to have fun reading.

Time to Plan Your Classroom Incentives

As you see, elementary school incentives do not have to be costly or complicated. Elementary school students love these rewards but talk to your students to find out what else they like. 

Want to improve your student rewards experience? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students.

What’s most important is that students feel valued and appreciated and recognize that positive behavior plays a vital role in making the classroom a special place for everyone. If you have success with these you can even add attendance incentives or virtual incentives for students to your behavior plan. Working with older students? Try incentive ideas for middle school students and incentives for high school students.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

About the Presenter

Deiera Bennett is a freelance EdTech copywriter with a background in marketing and 6 years of experience as an educator. When she’s not writing, you can find her binge-watching The Office for the 5th time, spending time with family, or looking up recipes on Pinterest.

Subscribe via Email

Receive the best school culture resources monthly to inspire your planning.

13 Elementary School Incentives You Can Use Today

Use this list of 13 elementary school incentives to gather ideas for your own classroom!
By 
Deiera Bennett
 | 
November 9, 2022

Elementary school incentives motivate students by reinforcing their positive behavior and giving them a goal to strive for.

Elementary School Incentives 

1. Class Parties

Class parties can motivate the entire class to be on their best behavior. Pizza parties, ice cream parties, and movie parties are all great choices, but you do not have to limit them to food. 

Elementary school children will be excited to have a 15-minute dance party to their favorite kid-friendly songs. Since parties are an incentive for the whole class, you can determine which behaviors will result in a party by setting a specific goal, such as no sad faces on the behavior chart.

Elementary School Incentive Example

2. Trinkets

Trinkets are great elementary school incentives because, with so many options available, you can choose items that every student will like. You can find inexpensive trinkets at a dollar store.

 Some ideas for trinkets include bubbles, bouncy balls, charms, and inexpensive jewelry. Add them all to a prize box, call it a treasure chest, and let the students pick their item of choice.

3. School Store Points (token economy)

While this incentive requires some planning to implement, it can be incredibly effective at reinforcing positive behavior. Through a token economy and a school reward system students are rewarded for good behavior by earning points that can be redeemed for tangible rewards. 

The key to being fair when distributing points is to assign each desired behavior a point value. The items in your treasure chest can be used to create a mini school store in the closet if your school does not have one.

4. Stickers

Elementary school students can’t resist cool stickers! Stickers are excellent incentives for small tasks or behaviors, such as completing an assignment or tidying up the books on the bookshelf. 

Students enjoy stickers because they are a way of showing their achievements to others without having to say anything.

5. Game Time

Game time can be an engaging elementary school incentive. If you have classroom board games, you can let students play those, or you can allow the student to have time to play educational games on the computer. You can make this a whole-class incentive using review games like Kahoot and Quizlet.

6. Show and Tell

Students who behave well can be rewarded with the opportunity to share something with the class. This can be an item from home, a YouTube video, a favorite book, or a special talent.

 If the students want to bring something from home, place guidelines on what they can bring (like no pet snakes!), or approve items ahead of time. When students start showing and telling, it’ll also incentivize the other students because they will want the chance to share something that they care about too.

Elementary School Incentive Example

7. Teacher’s Helper

Students love helping the teacher in any way possible,  and there’s a lot of flexibility with this elementary school incentive. You can make a student the teacher's helper for the day, or you can create specific roles so more students can earn this incentive. Some examples include line leader, paper/laptop distributor, and errand runner.

8. Lunch with the Teacher

In elementary school, kids still love spending time with the teacher. They are eager to have uninterrupted time to talk to you about whatever is on their mind, whether that’s what they did over the weekend or their favorite toy. 

Lunch with the teacher is not only a free incentive that students will work hard to earn, but it’s also a way to build rapport with your students. You can learn about them, which can help you create learning experiences that they will enjoy.

9. Music

For some students, listening to music can help them focus or relieve stress. If you already play music for the class while they work, let the winning students choose the playlist. 

If you have enough headphones for every student, you can also allow them to listen to their own choice of music. 

10. Teacher’s Chair

There’s something magical about the teacher’s chair that makes elementary school students feel “all grown up.” To make this incentive even more exciting, tell them they'll have access to your secret snack drawer! 

An alternative would be to have a special chair (like a bean bag) that students can sit in for the day.

11. Sweet Treats

This classic incentive for students will never get old. There are plenty of sugar-free candies and gums in the market, so choose a variety. Candy and gum work great as incentives for smaller achievements such as cleaning up after themselves in the cafeteria.

Elementary School Incentive Example

12. Certificate

A certificate can double as a low-cost elementary school incentive as well as a keepsake. Unlike candy and trinkets, which will be consumed or eventually lost, students can hang them on the refrigerator at home and hold on to them long after they leave your classroom.  

Award certificates for categories such as “Most Helpful” or “Student of the Week,” but don’t be afraid to get creative! Take some of the workloads off of you by letting the students decide what categories to create certificates for.

13. 15 Minutes of Fame

Your students will feel like celebrities as they say the morning announcements for the whole school to hear. This incentive can be used in combination with another (such as a privilege for the Student of the Week), or it can be a separate incentive. 

This gives the student something to look forward to at school and doubles as an opportunity for them to have fun reading.

Time to Plan Your Classroom Incentives

As you see, elementary school incentives do not have to be costly or complicated. Elementary school students love these rewards but talk to your students to find out what else they like. 

Want to improve your student rewards experience? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students.

What’s most important is that students feel valued and appreciated and recognize that positive behavior plays a vital role in making the classroom a special place for everyone. If you have success with these you can even add attendance incentives or virtual incentives for students to your behavior plan. Working with older students? Try incentive ideas for middle school students and incentives for high school students.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

All Reward Ideas for Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch Reservations
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Pie a Teacher
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Amazing Race
Grades 9-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Game Week
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Homework Pass
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Principal for a Day
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Brain Break
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Play Games
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Snacks
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Color a Teacher’s Hair
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Silly School Leader
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Be a Comedian.
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Partner Work
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Game-Based Simulation Learning
Grades 9-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Meet the Teacher
Grades K-8
School
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Talent Show. 🎤
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free

All Reward Ideas for Elementary School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Camp Read Away
Grades K-8
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Dance Party
Grades K-12
Student
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Dress Up or Down Day
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Holidays Around the World
Grades K-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Class Jobs
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Seat Swap
Grades 3-5
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Game of Thrones
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Show & Tell
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch With the Teacher
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Hallway High-Five
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Final Fridays
Grades K-8
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Video Game Rewards
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Snowball Fights (& Popsicles!)
Grades K-8
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Design the Bulletin Board
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Holiday Delivery
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Snack Party
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY

All Event Ideas for Schools

💰
🎨
Meet the Teacher
💰
🎨
Glow Party
💰
🎨
Movie Night
💰
🎨
Decades Party
💰
🎨
Career Day
💰
🎨
Camp Read Away
💰
🎨
School Dance
💰
🎨
Game Week
💰
🎨
Art Contest
💰
🎨
Kickback Vibes

All Free Reward Ideas for Schools

🎉
👑
🎁
School Assembly
🎉
👑
🎁
Parking Spots
🎉
👑
🎁
Stairway Messages
🎉
👑
🎁
Partner Work
🎉
👑
🎁
Art Contest
🎉
👑
🎁
Vote
🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
🎉
👑
🎁
Show & Tell

All Reward Ideas for High School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Talent Show. 🎤
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Graduation Celebration
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
House Induction
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Bonfire
Grades 9-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Kickback Vibes
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Free Dress
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Movie Posters
Grades 3-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Food-Themed Party
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Snack Party
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Lost & Found Fashion Show
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Class Pet
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Holidays Around the World
Grades K-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Awards Show Afterparty
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher v Student Competition
Grades 6-12
School
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Game Week
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY

All Reward Ideas for Middle School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Get-to-Know-You Bingo
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
♟️Chess With the Principal
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Snack Pack
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Sweatshirt
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Drop Lowest Quiz
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Passing Period Music
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Class Jobs
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher for the Day
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Student Messenger
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Ice Cream Sundae Party
Grades K-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Glow Party
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Play Games
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Talk Time
Grades 6-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Free Dress
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Hat Pass
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free

All Student Reward & Incentive Ideas

💰
🎨
Stuffed Animal in Class
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Gift Cards
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Deluxe
💰
🎨
Pen Pouch
Grades K-8
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Virtual Field Trip
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Water Bottle Stickers
Grades 6-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Digital Escape Rooms
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Deluxe
💰
🎨
Lunch Reservations
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Create the Seating Chart
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Homework Pass
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Line Leader
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Teacher Q&A
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Design the Bulletin Board
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Parking Spots
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Picnic Lunch
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Class Pet
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Deluxe
💰
🎨
Emcee the Announcements
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free

All Virtual Reward Ideas for Schools

🎉
👑
🎁
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Digital Escape Rooms
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Positive Note or Call Home
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher Q&A
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Social Media Reporter
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Show & Tell
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Stickers
Grades K-5
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Talent Show. 🎤
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Brain Break
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Student Spotlight Board
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Host a Virtual Party. 🎶
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Certificate of Achievement
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Extra Computer Games
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Morning Meeting Leader
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
See all Rewards

Want more ideas?

Rewards that Rock 🎸 has 100+ rewards, incentives, and event ideas to build your school culture.
Find Rewards
Learn more about the author, 
Deiera Bennett
 

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13 Elementary School Incentives You Can Use Today

Use this list of 13 elementary school incentives to gather ideas for your own classroom!
By 
Deiera Bennett
 | 
November 9, 2022

Elementary school incentives motivate students by reinforcing their positive behavior and giving them a goal to strive for.

Elementary School Incentives 

1. Class Parties

Class parties can motivate the entire class to be on their best behavior. Pizza parties, ice cream parties, and movie parties are all great choices, but you do not have to limit them to food. 

Elementary school children will be excited to have a 15-minute dance party to their favorite kid-friendly songs. Since parties are an incentive for the whole class, you can determine which behaviors will result in a party by setting a specific goal, such as no sad faces on the behavior chart.

Elementary School Incentive Example

2. Trinkets

Trinkets are great elementary school incentives because, with so many options available, you can choose items that every student will like. You can find inexpensive trinkets at a dollar store.

 Some ideas for trinkets include bubbles, bouncy balls, charms, and inexpensive jewelry. Add them all to a prize box, call it a treasure chest, and let the students pick their item of choice.

3. School Store Points (token economy)

While this incentive requires some planning to implement, it can be incredibly effective at reinforcing positive behavior. Through a token economy and a school reward system students are rewarded for good behavior by earning points that can be redeemed for tangible rewards. 

The key to being fair when distributing points is to assign each desired behavior a point value. The items in your treasure chest can be used to create a mini school store in the closet if your school does not have one.

4. Stickers

Elementary school students can’t resist cool stickers! Stickers are excellent incentives for small tasks or behaviors, such as completing an assignment or tidying up the books on the bookshelf. 

Students enjoy stickers because they are a way of showing their achievements to others without having to say anything.

5. Game Time

Game time can be an engaging elementary school incentive. If you have classroom board games, you can let students play those, or you can allow the student to have time to play educational games on the computer. You can make this a whole-class incentive using review games like Kahoot and Quizlet.

6. Show and Tell

Students who behave well can be rewarded with the opportunity to share something with the class. This can be an item from home, a YouTube video, a favorite book, or a special talent.

 If the students want to bring something from home, place guidelines on what they can bring (like no pet snakes!), or approve items ahead of time. When students start showing and telling, it’ll also incentivize the other students because they will want the chance to share something that they care about too.

Elementary School Incentive Example

7. Teacher’s Helper

Students love helping the teacher in any way possible,  and there’s a lot of flexibility with this elementary school incentive. You can make a student the teacher's helper for the day, or you can create specific roles so more students can earn this incentive. Some examples include line leader, paper/laptop distributor, and errand runner.

8. Lunch with the Teacher

In elementary school, kids still love spending time with the teacher. They are eager to have uninterrupted time to talk to you about whatever is on their mind, whether that’s what they did over the weekend or their favorite toy. 

Lunch with the teacher is not only a free incentive that students will work hard to earn, but it’s also a way to build rapport with your students. You can learn about them, which can help you create learning experiences that they will enjoy.

9. Music

For some students, listening to music can help them focus or relieve stress. If you already play music for the class while they work, let the winning students choose the playlist. 

If you have enough headphones for every student, you can also allow them to listen to their own choice of music. 

10. Teacher’s Chair

There’s something magical about the teacher’s chair that makes elementary school students feel “all grown up.” To make this incentive even more exciting, tell them they'll have access to your secret snack drawer! 

An alternative would be to have a special chair (like a bean bag) that students can sit in for the day.

11. Sweet Treats

This classic incentive for students will never get old. There are plenty of sugar-free candies and gums in the market, so choose a variety. Candy and gum work great as incentives for smaller achievements such as cleaning up after themselves in the cafeteria.

Elementary School Incentive Example

12. Certificate

A certificate can double as a low-cost elementary school incentive as well as a keepsake. Unlike candy and trinkets, which will be consumed or eventually lost, students can hang them on the refrigerator at home and hold on to them long after they leave your classroom.  

Award certificates for categories such as “Most Helpful” or “Student of the Week,” but don’t be afraid to get creative! Take some of the workloads off of you by letting the students decide what categories to create certificates for.

13. 15 Minutes of Fame

Your students will feel like celebrities as they say the morning announcements for the whole school to hear. This incentive can be used in combination with another (such as a privilege for the Student of the Week), or it can be a separate incentive. 

This gives the student something to look forward to at school and doubles as an opportunity for them to have fun reading.

Time to Plan Your Classroom Incentives

As you see, elementary school incentives do not have to be costly or complicated. Elementary school students love these rewards but talk to your students to find out what else they like. 

Want to improve your student rewards experience? Check out our rewards menu for elementary students.

What’s most important is that students feel valued and appreciated and recognize that positive behavior plays a vital role in making the classroom a special place for everyone. If you have success with these you can even add attendance incentives or virtual incentives for students to your behavior plan. Working with older students? Try incentive ideas for middle school students and incentives for high school students.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

All Reward Ideas for Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Extra Reading Time
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Silly School Leader
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Vote
Grades 6-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Host a Virtual Party. 🎶
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Theme Party
Grades K-8
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Assist the Custodian.
Grades 6-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Game Week
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Technology
Grades 6-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Play Games
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Silent Disco
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Graduation Celebration
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Art Contest
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Talent Show. 🎤
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Rolling Chair Rental
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Drop Lowest Quiz
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free

All Reward Ideas for Elementary School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch With the Teacher
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Social Media Reporter
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Cut the Principal’s Tie
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Holidays Around the World
Grades K-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Snack Party
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Partner Work
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Trip to the Treasure Box
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Extra Recess
Grades K-5
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Stuffed Animal in Class
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Certificate of Achievement
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Meet the Teacher
Grades K-8
School
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Play Games
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Sports Tickets
Grades 3-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Board Game Party
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Sweatshirt
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe

All Event Ideas for Schools

All Free Reward Ideas for Schools

🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
🎉
👑
🎁
Show & Tell
🎉
👑
🎁
Art Contest
🎉
👑
🎁
Camp Read Away
🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch Fast Pass
🎉
👑
🎁
Play Games
🎉
👑
🎁
Special Screening
🎉
👑
🎁
Blood Drive
🎉
👑
🎁
Hallway High-Five
🎉
👑
🎁
Follow a Friend
🎉
👑
🎁
Partner Work

All Reward Ideas for High School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Positive Note or Call Home
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Sports Tickets
Grades 3-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Operate Equipment.
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Digital Escape Rooms
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Food-Themed Party
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Water Bottle Stickers
Grades 6-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Social Media Reporter
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Drop Lowest Quiz
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
“Let's Make A Difference Week"
Grades 9-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Awards Show Afterparty
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Lost & Found Fashion Show
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Pie a Teacher
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Host a Virtual Party. 🎶
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Old School Cookout
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Tech Time
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
TikTok with the Teacher
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free

All Reward Ideas for Middle School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch with an Admin
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Kickback Vibes
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
School Assembly
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
TikTok with the Teacher
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Toys
Grades K-8
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
House Induction
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
School Supplies & Merch
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Snack Pack
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Rolling Chair Rental
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Ice Cream Sundae Party
Grades K-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
STEM Field Day
Grades K-8
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Art Contest
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Holiday Delivery
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Graduation Celebration
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Trunk or Treat
Grades K-8
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY

All Student Reward & Incentive Ideas

💰
🎨
Books
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
♟️Chess With the Principal
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Operate Equipment.
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Partner Work
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Class Book
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
School Spirit Day
Grades K-12
School
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Gift Cards
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Deluxe
💰
🎨
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Lunch with an Admin
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Cut the Principal’s Tie
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Picnic Lunch
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Parking Spots
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Vote
Grades 6-8
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Wristband
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Drop Lowest Quiz
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Technology
Grades 6-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe

All Virtual Reward Ideas for Schools

🎉
👑
🎁
Student Spotlight Board
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher Q&A
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Morning Meeting Leader
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Certificate of Achievement
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Show & Tell
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Host a Virtual Party. 🎶
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Talent Show. 🎤
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Field Trip
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Digital Escape Rooms
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Social Media Reporter
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Extra Computer Games
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Positive Note or Call Home
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Brain Break
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
See all Rewards

Want more ideas?

Rewards that Rock 🎸 has 100+ rewards, incentives, and event ideas to build your school culture.
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Learn more about the author, 
Deiera Bennett
 

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