10 Essential Classroom Art Supplies I Always Keep Stocked

If you’ve been following along with me, you know that I love incorporating hands-on activities to keep my students engaged. Crafts and creative projects are one of my favorite ways to bring lessons to life in my classroom and keep my kids engaged.

The good news? It is so easy to be able to incorporate these activities into any classroom! Many classroom activities can be done with basic art supplies you probably already have on hand.

Over the years, I’ve learned that keeping a solid stock of core classroom art supplies makes it so much easier to create projects on the fly—whether it's a last-minute science craft, a holiday activity, or a quick early finisher project.

These are the 10 classroom art supplies I make sure to keep stocked all year long. You can find links to all products in the blog for easy ordering access. :)

Classroom Craft Supply Checklist

If you want to quickly stock your classroom, these are the supplies mentioned in this post:

For easy ordering all supplies are linked through my Amazon affiliate program.

✔ Jumbo craft sticks
✔ construction paper
✔ Glue Bottles
✔ Glue Sticks
✔ watercolor paint
✔ Tempera Paint
✔ Permanent Marker
✔ Crayola marker
✔ Colored Pencil Set

✔Plastic cafeteria trays
✔ Paper Plate

1. Popsicle Sticks

Popsicle sticks are one of the most versatile classroom craft supplies. My students use them for everything from STEM building projects to art activities.

I always keep a large supply of the jumbo craft sticks because they’re easier for little hands to work with and hold up better in projects.

Great for:

• STEM building challenges

• puppets and characters

• holiday crafts

• painting projects

👉 Large pack of jumbo craft sticks

2. Colored Construction Paper

A classroom simply isn’t complete without a big stack of construction paper.

I would estimate that about 70% of the crafts we make use colored paper in some way.

From backgrounds to cutouts to creative collages, it’s one of the most used materials in my classroom.

Teacher Tip:
Buying the large assorted classroom packs saves a lot of money compared to small packs.

👉 Assorted construction paper classroom pack

3. Glue (Both Bottles and Sticks)

Glue sticks are great for everyday use, but I always keep liquid glue bottles available as well.

For my classroom, I try to have at least one bottle for every two students so kids can easily share without waiting too long.

One thing that has saved me money is buying a large refill bottle of glue and refilling the smaller bottles throughout the year.

👉Liquid Glue Bottles
👉 Large refill bottle of school glue
👉 Classroom pack of glue sticks

4. Watercolor Paints

Watercolor paints are one of my favorite classroom paint options because they are:

• easy to clean

• low mess

• rarely stain clothes or desks

I do replace our watercolor trays each year because the colors tend to get mixed together by the end of the school year (which teachers everywhere can probably relate to!).

👉 Classroom watercolor paint set

5. Tempera Paint

Some classroom projects simply don’t work well with watercolors.

For example, painting materials like popsicle sticks or thicker surfaces requires a paint with better coverage.

That’s when I pull out tempera paint.

I typically start the school year with a basic color set and add additional colors later if we need them.

👉 Basic tempera paint classroom set

6. Permanent Markers

Permanent markers are something I personally use almost every single day.

They’re perfect for:

• labeling student projects

• writing student names

• creating anchor charts

• labeling classroom materials

I love using colored permanent markers because they make anchor charts more engaging and easier for students to follow. I have linked a set of markers that has really great color options and has multiple of each color so there can be minimal arguing over who gets what color when you are doing a project that requires the kids to use them. 😂

👉 Colored permanent marker pack

7. Markers

Markers are a staple in my classroom art caddies.

I organize my classroom by table groups, and each table has a caddy filled with basic supplies. This helps to keep my classroom super organized and the kids know they can always grab a caddy when they are doing any coloring.

I always purchase Crayola markers because they consistently last longer and have brighter colors compared to other brands. They can get expensive so I alternate replacing all of my colored pencils and markers each year.

👉 Crayola classroom marker pack

8. Colored Pencils

Colored pencils are another must-have in my art caddies.

Sometimes I want students to use a coloring tool that’s less bold than markers, especially for detailed coloring projects.

Having both markers and colored pencils available gives students more creative options during any art projects.

👉 Classroom colored pencil set

9. Cafeteria Trays (Teacher Favorite!)

Cafeteria trays are honestly one of the best classroom management tools for art projects.

Students place their supplies and materials on the tray while working, which helps contain mess and makes cleanup incredibly easy.

These trays have been so helpful that I even included them in my post:
15 Classroom Supplies Every Teacher Needs

They are truly a game changer for messy crafts.

👉 Plastic cafeteria trays for classroom use

10. Paper Plates

Paper plates are one of the most underrated classroom supplies.

I use them for:

• paint palettes

• craft bases

• mixing paint colors

• quick disposable trays

Teacher tip:
If you are using them for paint, make sure you buy coated paper plates. The uncoated ones absorb paint and become soggy very quickly.

👉 Coated paper plate bulk pack

Why Keeping Classroom Art Supplies Stocked Matters

Having a solid supply of basic classroom craft materials makes it much easier to incorporate hands-on learning throughout the school year. I am also known for putting something together last minute and having these products on hand makes that possible.

Instead of needing to plan every project far in advance, you can create engaging activities whenever inspiration strikes.

And as teachers know, some of the best classroom moments happen during spontaneous creative projects.

If you want to check out some of my hands on learning projects you can read:

➡️Easy Planting Activity for kids

➡️Easy Star Spangled Banner Craft For Kids

➡️Fun History Craft For Kids

Classroom Art Supply FAQs

What art supplies should every classroom have?

Every classroom should keep basic art supplies like construction paper, glue, markers, colored pencils, paint, popsicle sticks, and paper plates. These supplies make it easy to create quick crafts and hands-on activities.

What are the best art supplies for elementary classrooms?

Elementary classrooms benefit from washable, easy-to-use supplies such as watercolor paints, Crayola markers, glue sticks, and tempera paint.

How do teachers store classroom art supplies?

Many teachers use art caddies for table groups and trays to organize supplies during projects. This makes setup and cleanup much easier.