Art Supply List for the Elementary Art Teacher

I saw many posts at the beginning of the school on my art teacher facebook group asking, "What should I order?"

Here is my typical set up for painting in elementary school

This is what I used to dread the most about teaching art, ordering supplies! It is time consuming and just one of those things that I think most of us put off until really necessary. Today I want to help everyone out! Keep reading to see my list of must haves for a basic art class!

Typically art teachers place a large order at the beginning of the year, then if we need stuff throughout the year we make small purchases. Different districts do orders differently. Speak with your office manager to find out how your school places orders. Typically a large order is created by the art teacher, then given to the office manager to place the order. Some schools will let you purchase supplies and submit a receipt to be reimbursed, some schools make you go through the office manager every time.

Budget: Ask your office manager what your budget is. Sometimes the budget is controlled by PTA, sometimes by the school or district. Your office manager will be able to tell you. A typical budget is anywhere from $800 per year to $2500+ per year. If your school is not giving you enough money, ask for more! If they cannot do it, ask your PTA. If you don't ask, you won't get it!

If your program is brand new, you should have a much larger one time budget. Take advantage of this and order everything you can!

Paper: You will need a variety of paper. This is the one thing you never want to run out of, I always hoarded paper! If you teach high school you will need higher quality paper and might want to order from a paper specialist such as Molly Hawkins if your budget allows for it. Here is a list of the type of paper I always have on hand.

• Copy paper (usually you can get this for free from the copy room!)

• 9x12 white paper for drawing (90lb paper or thicker)

• 12 x18 white paper for drawing (90b paper or thicker)

• 12x18 colored construction paper

• 12x18 thick paper for painting (120lb paper or thicker)

• 9x12 watercolor paper (if you can afford it, if not use thick regular paper)

Paints and supplies:

• Water color pallets (one per table)

• Liquid watercolors

• Cake Tempera (one per table)

• Tempera paint (Blick is my favorite brand) Blue, turquoise, yellow, red, magenta, white

• Acrylic Paints (for advanced or AP High School level classes if you can afford it)

• Paint Brushes (I like flat, round and filbert of various sizes)

• Paper plates (disposable pallets)

• Water Containers (one per table)

• Color wheels (preferably one per child)

Drawing Supplies:

• Regular Pencils (check the teachers supply closet)

• Ebony prismacolor pencils

• Electric pencil sharpener

• Hand held pencil sharpeners

• Class set of rulers (sometimes you can find these in the office supply room)

• blending stumps

• good erasers

• Chalk pastels

• Oil pastels

• Vine charcoal

• Colored Pencils (prismacolor are the best if you can afford it)

• Crayons

• Markers

• Sharpies

• india Ink

• Dabbers (for india ink)

• Self-portrait mirrors (one per student)

Printmaking:

• Styrofoam plates

• ink pens (for drawing on the styrofoam, these might be in the teacher supply room)

• brayers

• printmaking ink

• Plexiglass plates for ink dispensing

Various and Craft Supplies:

• Scissors (sometimes you can find these in the supply room)

• Spray bottles for water

• Popsicle sticks

• Yarn

• Wooden Mannequins (one per table)

• Still life objects (vases, dolls, dinosaurs, etc)

• Spray Fixative or hair spray

• White glue

• Glue sticks

Big One time Expenses:

• Tables

• Stools

• Storage cabinet for projects

• Large paper cutter

• Drying Racks (enough for at least 2-3 classes)

• Document Camera

• Projector (hopefully your room already has this)

• Rug (if you are teaching elementary art)

• Posters of famous artwork

• Drawing Boards

• Rolling cart for supplies

Children's books about art/artists: Children's books are so important to have in every elementary art class. So many of my projects start with me reading the children a book about an artist or idea that can then be translated into a work of art. Here are my must haves!

• Beautiful Oops, Barney Saltzberg

• Color Blocked, Ashley Sorenson

• Action Jackson, Jan Greenberg

• My Name is Georgia, Jeanette Winter

• Never Let a Unicorn Scribble, Diane Alber

• Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, Monica Brown

• I am Frida Kahlo, Brad Meltzer

• My Little Golden Book About Frida Kahlo, by Silvia Lopez

• Sky Color, Peter Reynolds

• The Dot, Peter Reynolds

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Bill Martin

• Art, Patrick McDonnell

• Snippets, Dian Alber

• I'm not Just A Scribble, Diane Alber

• The Art Lesson, Tomie de Paola

• What Do You Do With an Iddea, Kobi Yamada

• When You Are Brave, Pat Zietlow

• Meet Piet Mondrian

• Up, Down, Around, Katherine Ayres

• Blue Sky, White Stars, Sarvinder Naberhaus

• Who Stole Mona Lisa, Ruthie Knapp

• The Great Wave, Veronique Massenot

• The Noisy Paintbox

Let me know what you think of my list. If there is anything it is missing that you love or suggest, please leave it in a comment! If this is your first year teaching art, make sure to check out my post about Tips, Tricks, and Everything You Need to Know to Get Started! Have a great school year!