As a teacher who sent out those lists, I have seen kids go through a pencil a day because the sharpener was so fascinating, rulers, erasers, crayons, etc. have been broken the first day of use (some won't use a crayon that was broken...why I have no idea). You'd be amazed what kids do with their supplies, mind you not all kids but more than you think. I gathered all but the necessities from each kiddo in a ziplock (or two or three) with their name, at the end of the year it got sent home. Can't imagine storing things over the summer, I had no room. And yet I loved every kid I came across.