Supplies to Make Your Child’s Art Teacher Smile (Part 2)

Here are some art room-friendly ‘supplies’ that might surprise you. They’ll also put a smile on your (elementary) Art Teacher’s face when your child delivers a bag of these when school begins.

In my previous post, I covered some beginning-of-the-year supplies that would be appreciated by any teacher, BUT most certainly your child’s Art Teacher. Today, I’ll be introducing you to a few unusual art supplies that your Art Teacher may appreciate as well!

Toilet Paper and/or Paper Towel Tubes

Once you use up your toilet paper and paper towel rolls consider saving them up and then sending a bunch in to be used for a variety of 3D projects in an Elementary art class. Some Middle and High School art programs may even use them as foundation materials for 3D projects.

Styrofoam Egg Cartons

Non-porous egg cartons make good paint wells for when working with tempera and acrylic paints. You can even use porous varieties if the teacher–such as myself–uses small plastic cups liquid watercolors. The teacher squeezes out a color into a plastic cup and then sits the cup inside the egg carton slot. Voila! It keeps the paint in sets for easy transport.

Cardboard

At the beginning of the year, I sometimes need cardboard to make templates (for tracing) or looms (for weaving). Middle and High School teachers often use cardboard for building 3D structures.

Now, this request can be tricky because some cardboard is too thick. When considering this non-traditional art supply, it is important to look at the thickness. If you don’t think you could cut through the cardboard with regular scissors, it’s probably not something that will be helpful for an Elementary Art Teacher. Middle and High schools students, though, may use Xacto blades for cutting in the classroom. If that is the case, then thicker cardboard will be just fine. You may ask your middle and high school art student if they use Xacto blades. Or, you can contact your child’s Art Teacher.

Reach Out and Touch Someone

Check your school’s website for your Art Teacher’s email address and ask him if he has any beginning-of-the-school-year needs for upcoming projects? He may tell you this or ask for something else. The need is specific to the Art Teacher.

Artwork Spotlight

Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa I hope you can forgive my silly attempt to get your attention. The Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci, was painted over a period of time: 1503-07. Learn more by visiting the Khan Academy where their video discussion of the painting sheds some interesting light on the artist and his subject.

For a more in-depth look at the painting, you can also explore The Mona Lisa Foundation. (yes, they actually have a foundation! Who knew?!)

Good stuff all around!

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