Here is the ideal Supply list for those of you lucky enough to have a large classroom and storage space.

Storage

An important consideration any Art Room is storage.  It is a good idea to purchase and collect the following containers for storing crayons, scissors, glues, paper brads, stickers, tape, pencils, colored pencils, pens, beads, and other small items.  Cans are great for mixing and blending materials also.

Cardboard Shoeboxes
Plastic Shoeboxes
Plastic Containers
Plastic Baskets
Empty Coffee Cans
 Cardboard Boxes in various sizes
Fishing Tackle & Tool Boxes
School Supply Containers found at teacher supply stores
Plastic Paint Storage Jars Small and Large

Storage of Brushes

Brushes should be cleaned thoroughly and dried.  Use coffee cans or plastic to store cleaned brushes.

Storage of Paper Items

Large Portfolio Folders make great storage files for prints, collage materials, and tissue craft papers.
Mount Posters on to Card Stock and Laminate
Empty Blanklet, Table, and other boxes make additional storage components.
Spiral Notebooks are good for stickers, storing art project ideas, collage materials, and other bits and pieces.
Labeled accordian and plastic files found at office supply stores also make efficient storage containers for paper items.

Basic Materials

Although Each teacher and each art project will require unique materials there are some common materials, and supplies that are basic to most creative art environments.

Papers

The Basic Necessities

Drawing Paper  18 x 24
Construction Paper (Various Colors)
Newspaper Print
Manila Paper
Tissue Paper (Various Colors)
Brown Poster Wrap
White Butcher Paper
Finger paint Paper
Tag Board/Poster Board
Paper Plates-White Thinner Type
Brown Bags Small and Large
Aluminum Foil Paper
Waxed Paper

(Optional)

Colored Art & Crafts Papers
Origami Paper
Watercolor, Graphic Design Paper, Variety of Drawing Paper
Preformed Greeting Cards
Computer Print Paper
Corregated Paper
 

Medias

The Basic Necessities

Tempera (Dry or Liquid)
Ample Supply of White which will be used to mix to lighten the other colors
Ample Supply of Black to use as watercolor for Oriental and other projects
Watercolors
Fingerpaints
Crayons
Colored Chalk
White Chalk
Colored Markers
Felt or Pilot Pens with variety of points
Colored Pastel Chalks
Black Charcoal
Clay-Air Hardening Clay
 

Optional

*Highly Recommended
*Acrylic Paints in an Assortment of Colors
Non Toxic Glass Paints
*Plaster of Paris Craft Mixture
Colored Sand
*Linoleum Squares and Tools for Creating Prints
*Brayers for Creating Prints
*India Ink
 

Glues and Attachments

The Basic Necessities

School Glue
Paper Mache Paste
Stapler
Staples
Paper Brads
One Hole Paper Punch Tools
Masking Tape
Variety of Colored Tapes
Various Colored Pipe Cleaners

Optional

Speciality Glues
Binding Tool and Attachments

Brushes, Tools, and Art Instruments

The Basic Necessities

Assortment of Brushes
(Easel Brushes, Watercolor Brushes, and Painting Brushes)
Drawing Pencils or Assortment of #2 Pencils
Soft Erasers
Scissors
(Variety according to age group.  Left-handed
and special needs students will require addition purchasing considerations)
Computer with Internet Access
Video Playback System

Optional

Calligraphy Pens (wooden)
Kiln for creating ceremics
Video Recorder
Camera
Darkroom and supplies for developing film
 

Craft Supplies

The Basic Necessities

Woodsie Wooden Squares
Wooden Craft Sticks
Colored Craft Sticks
Clear Straws
Felt Squares
Beads
Jute
Plastic Craft String
Colored Pasta and Rice
Fabric Scraps
Yarn
People Cut-Outs
Feathers

Optional

Tile Mosaics
Stickers (Variety)
Wood Blocks & Tools for Shaping
Fimo Clays and Toaster Oven
Elison Shapes and Cutters
 

Art History

The Basic Necessities

Art Prints
Children can learn about art, themselves, and their world through the study of paintings and other art mediums.  Inexpensive, and essential art prints are an important  componant of any art room and important as a reference for parent volunteers.

Art History Info Sheets
Art History Sheets help teachers and volunteers present information about major artists and their artwork.

Art History Project Sheets

Art History Project Sheets enhance learning through hand-on and theoretical applications.

Art History Videos

Internet Access & Classroom Website

Multicultural Art History
Children learn about other cultures through art related projects.

Optional

*Highly Recommended

*Slides
*Overhead Transparencies
*Art History Software
*Art History Books for Children

Safety

The Basic Necessities

Goggles (Eye Protection Wear)
Gloves
Masks
Manufacturers Labels for Safety and Age Warnings should be strictly followed.
Safety guidelines for each school district should be posted in the art and made available to all teachers.
Certain materials that used to be used in schools are no longer allowed.  Exposure to materials such as turpentine, other solvents, adhesives such as model cement, and permanent felt tip markers can all cause  serious health damage and should not be used in a school environment.

Recycled Materials

Your Art Budget will be enhanced, and students will learn about recycling by incorporating the following materials into your Art Room Supply list.  It's good for the Schools and the Environment.

You can ask parents to help collect the following or visit a local charity Thrift Store for plastic bags filled with discarded treasures.

Fabrics, Ribbons, Bows, Buttons, Beads, Bottle Caps, Plastic Water Bottles, Aluminum Cans, Old Greeting Cards, Newspapers, Magazines for Collage Materials, Bark that has fallen from trees (Children should be reminded not to peel bark still on the tree)-the fallen bark can be used to create a leather like texture on Native American products. Children should be advised not to pick up feathers from the ground-many carry disease.  Rocks, acorns, leaves, fallen & dried flowers, packaging from light bulbs, or other boxes, ticket stubs, post-cards, seashells, carpet squares, shoeboxes, syrafoam packaging materials all can be incorporated into art projects.  Egg cartons, and paper shopping bags can be used in a number of projects.  Tin cans, and plastic containers can be used for storage and mixing but also incorporated into project ideas.

Newspapers & Plastic Drop Cloth for covering surfaces
Smocks or old shirts to protect clothing
Aluminum tins & trays to hold paints and collage materials
Paper Towels
Cloth Rags and Sponges

Resource:  Emphasis Art-A Qualitative Art Program for Elementary and Middle Schools 5th ed.  Frank Wachowiak, Robert D. Clements  Harper Collins