Hey there, Unschoolers! Today, we will be going over art supplies for elementary art classrooms. I’ll be exploring the most popular art supplies and dishing out all the details about the pros and cons of each art supply. I will link the specific products that I like to use, as well. So go ahead and open up your Amazon wishlists as we go over this ultimate list or art supplies.
The Best Art Supplies for Elementary Art
Crayons:
Crayons are a timeless classic in the world of art supplies. You will find that they are one of the staple art supplies for elementary art classes all over the world. They are beloved for their simplicity, affordability, and vibrant colors. These waxy sticks provide young artists with a smooth and satisfying drawing experience.
Crayons come in various pack sizes, offering a wide range of colors to choose from. Crayons are easy to handle, making them ideal for little hands. Additionally, they are non-toxic, ensuring a safe creative environment for elementary school students. However, it’s worth noting that crayons can be fragile and prone to breakage. Also, their chunky tips may not allow for fine details or precise shading.
For classroom crayons, I recommend Crayola brand crayons: Classroom Set | Small Pack | Skin Color
Colored Pencils:
Now we’re talking about some seriously cool coloring action! Colored pencils give you more control and allow for more detailed artwork. You can blend colors like a pro and create some stunning effects. My students like them when they are trying to create gradients. Just keep in mind that you might need to apply a bit more pressure and several layers to get vibrant colors, and sharpening them can be a bit tedious once a classroom full of students is using them all at once (put a sharpener on each table to help with this). However, all the cons of using colored pencils are totally worth it!
Teach your students early that color pencils are not for drumming or tapping. When they are handled roughly or dropped, there is a chance of the lead inside breaking. Once students learn that, they will treat them gently.
For classroom colored pencils, I recommend Crayola (budget choice), Faber Castell (quality) or Staedtler (high quality) pencils. Prismacolor are the gold standard in my book, but they are definitely not affordable for an elementary level class.
Tempera Paints:
Let’s talk about the all-around champions of painting art supplies: tempera paints! They’re versatile, vibrant, and can be used on various surfaces. Tempera paints are safe for all the little Picassos out there. These paints are much more washable than acrylic paints so when it comes to taking care of your student’s clothing, tempera has got you covered! Color mixing is a great activity to do with tempera paints. The only thing to note is that they take a bit longer to dry, so a little patience goes a long way. To speed up drying time, make sure that your students are not painting with super thick, globby layers.
For classroom paints, I recommend School Specialty (budget choice), Sax Heavy Bodied Paint or Prang brand paints (quality). School Specialty paints can be thin and will require more layers for vibrancy but they absolutely work if you are on a tight school budget.
Tempera Cakes:
Tempera cakes are another form of tempera paint. I love these because they come as little pucks of paint. These are a lot easier to use in comparison to liquid tempera paints: easier to distribute, easier to control for students and easier to break it down at clean up. You literally pass out the trays of paint when you begin a lesson and take up the trays when you are done. They are super simple to use and made painting with the littles a lot more fun for me. You will have to buy replacements as your students wear them down, but my trays usually only need a single replacement towards the end of the school year.
For tempera cake sets, I recommend Sax or Jack Richeson brands.
Watercolor Paint:
Watercolor paints will introduce young artists to a higher level of painting skills. Watercolors come in various forms, including pans or tubes. You can mix colors like a boss and experiment with transparent effects. Cleaning up is a breeze too.
Remember that watercolor paints can be a tad tricky to control, especially for younger artists. This can lead to frustration so be sure to emphasize that the beauty of watercolor IS the movement of the paint. Encourage your students to paint more loosely and they will feel a lot more successful. Students will need access to clean water and training with proper brush handling for success.
For classroom watercolor paint, I recommend Prang brand paints.
Oil Pastels:
Feeling a bit fancy? Oil pastels are here to add a touch of elegance! They’re easy to hold, provide bold and vibrant colors, and offer fantastic blending capabilities. Just keep in mind they can get a bit messy, leaving colorful traces on your hands and surfaces. Students will also have to be careful not to smear their own work after the oil pastels have been applied to their paper.
Color blending might require a bit more effort with oil pastels, but the results are absolutely worth it! Let students experiment with using a dab of baby oil to help them as they learn to blend with oil pastels. They will love the smooth look that they can achieve.
For the last couple of years, I have been using the same classroom set of Crayola brand oil pastels.
Markers:
Markers offer intense, eye-catching colors and provide a smooth drawing experience on paper. With various tip sizes available, your students will have the freedom to create different line weights and effects. Markers are pretty easy to blend if your students are able to work quickly (before the marker has had time to dry).
Markers are also fun to play around with if you have a cup or water and paint brush on hand (when you wet them with a bit of water they look like watercolor). Just remember to cap them tightly because markers tend to dry out faster than you can say “Crayola”. We also have to be careful when using markers because they might bleed through lighter weight papers.
My go to water-soluble markers are the classic Crayola markers (in various tips). For permanent markers is use the Sharpie brand.
Paper:
Paper is one of the most obvious art supplies that you will need. However, when I started out I had no idea what type of paper I needed to buy. Drawing paper? Newsprint? Watercolor paper? Mixed media paper? Which paper weight? There are so many choices for a new teacher to sift through. For my budget, I could not order a large selection of papers. Because of this, I usually order 90 lb. sulphite paper. This works for drawing and painting (as long as the paper isn’t absolutely soaked with water or paint).
If I get lucky with the budget, I will also order a bit of watercolor paper. No matter the paper type that you choose, it is almost always cheaper to buy large sheets of paper and then cut it down to size yourself.
I recommend the Sax brand 90 lb. sulphite paper in the 24×36 inch size.
Conclusion
Quality art supplies for your art classes can help ensure your student’s success. While art supplies don’t make the artist, low-quality art supplies can make tasks like blending colors or painting much more difficult. By providing access to quality art supplies, educators can nurture children’s creativity, encourage self-expression, and develop essential skills. Whether you’re embracing the classics with crayons or unlocking your student’s inner artist with fancy paints, these art supplies will unleash their creative genius. These art supplies will allow your students to experiment with colors, hone their fine motor skills and explore different artistic techniques. These simple supplies will unlock a world of possibilities for your students.
Remember, each art supply has its own pros and cons, so it’s essential to choose the right tool for the desired artistic outcome. Crayons are perfect for free-form coloring, while colored pencils allow for detailed artwork. Watercolors offer the magic of painting, tempera paints provide versatility, oil pastels bring texture and richness, and markers offer precision and vibrant results.
So, unleash your imagination, have fun, and encourage your students to create amazing masterpieces that reflects their unique creativity. With the right art supplies at hand, the possibilities are endless.
The above article contains affiliate links to products that I have personally used in my classroom. Read our affiliate disclosure by clicking here.
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