- Before beginning a painting unit with your students organize these paint kits for easy distribution and cleanup. Have students use a spoon to take paint out of the container and place it on a paper plate palette. This usually helps to keep the paint clean. Paint often gets mixed with other colours when using a paintbrush to dip into the paint pot. You will have less waste and your paint will last a lot longer using this method.
- Each paint kit will be enough for 6 students sitting in groups. The baskets are small enough to fit on a regular classroom bookshelf, and are stackable so they do not take up much room.
- The small plastic containers you get in a grocery store for such things as olives work very well. Having shallow water containers means fewer spills. Having containers that are all the same size means it is easier to keep your storage area tidy and workable.
- Small containers with snap top lids are ideal for holding the paint.
- Small mesh baskets available in most dollar stores are perfect for holding all the requirements of the paint kits.
- Gather a pile of old newspapers to use for covering the tables.
- Try to have a variety of different sized paintbrushes available so students may make choices.
GET READY TO PAINT – Setting up Washable Tempera Paint Kits
Steps
Step One
Pour the paint into a container and snap the lid tight.
Step Two
Place one container of each colour into the basket.
Step Three
Place 6 plastic spoons into each paint kit.
Step Four
Stack the kits for easy storage.
Step Five
Prior to the painting lesson place 6 pieces of paper towel or reusable cloth in each basket.
Step Six
Place 6 paper plate palettes in each basket.
Step Seven
Place 6 water containers in each basket.
Step Eight
Demonstrate how to use the spoon to take a small amount of paint.
A little goes a long way!
Step Nine
Demonstrate how to clean the brush.
Step Ten
Demonstrate how to dry the brush before changing colour.
What to Do
Activities
The Process
- Cover tables with newspaper. This keeps the tables clean and provides a space to try out paint colours and techniques.
- Prior to beginning the painting lesson ask students to number off.
- Give each table a clean-up sheet that indicates the job each number must do. (Downloads - WASHABLE_PAINT.pdf)
- To ensure that everyone participates in the clean-up and that they know exactly what they have to do as soon as you call clean-up go through each job, for example,
- Hands up if you are number 3 and 4? Your job is to wash the brushes and return them to the bucket at the back of the room.’
Ask one student from each table to get a paint kit. This student will be responsible for returning the kit in good condition at the end of the lesson.
