This is my list of ideas for the 5 ultimate art mediums that you should have in your classroom for making art with kids. If you can’t have everything, then these are the different art mediums you need in your art classroom to allow for hands-on, creative, and possibly mixed media art projects. Art teachers, read here to see what you MUST have in your art classroom.
Oil Pastels
I LOVE oil pastels! They have a magical ability to at times, look like a dry medium, and in others, look wet. I love that they blend like paints and layer with other mediums well. You can scratch into the pastel on paper for added texture! As well, you can do resist painting art with it! Oil pastels are a must have in an art classroom for kids.

Watercolor Paints
Watercolor paints are a must have! They are so easy to work with and they allow for a bright, yet translucent surface. You can fill in areas of drawings or use it for resist works. They are also way easier to prep and clean up! If you use liquid watercolor paints, you let it dry on the palettes instead of washing it down the drain to use it again and again!

Wax Crayons
Wax crayons are FANTASTIC. Not only do they require NO SHARPENING, but you can use them till the last bit! As well, they always color bright. You can layer and blend with crayons too! As well, combine them with your watercolor paints for an easy wax resist art piece with the kids.

Tempera Paint (Liquid & Paint Cakes)
Tempera is affordable and easy to have on hand to paint with your kids. If you work with younger children, you don’t have to be worried about it drying into a permanent status like you would have to worry with acrylic. They are good in liquid form, or also good if you get them as puck form (them they work like watercolor paints). If you don’t like how thick liquid tempera is, don’t be afraid to water it down to a liquid watercolor consistency. This is a good strategy when painting backgrounds or paper for cuttings later.
Pencil Crayons
Do I need to explain? Coloring! Learning value and shading! Mixing colors for realism! Anything from fun to portraits, you NEED to have pencil crayons.

Don’t forget to buy pencils! What are your favorite art mediums to use with your kids or students in your classroom? Post your Top 5’s in the comments section of this post! Let’s help each other GROW!
Like this post? SAVE IT!



Read My Latest Blog Posts
-Learn How to Fuel your Creativity at Home
-Learn About How to Walk a Creative Path in your Everyday Life
-How to Encourage a Maker Mindset in your Classroom
-Exploring the Elements of Art at Home with ANYTHING!
-10 Reasons Why Arts Integration in Schools is Important
-How To Guide for First Year Art Teachers: 10 Steps to Success
-How to Teach Art Classroom Rules and Routines in a Fun and Engaging Way