Paints (Stockmar watercolor) in a small jar
Paper (cold-press, price is a factor here but make sure it can take water)
1” flat brushes
Painting Boards
smocks
sponges
rags
jar for fresh water
painting rack for drying (or some system to allowing drying to occur undisturbed)

Ahead of time
1.  Prepare small jars of paint at least a day ahead to allow to settle.
2.  Create a system for identifying the painting later, eg. initials on back of paper, painting board marked with child’s initials, etc.
3.  Prepare a display area for the paintings to be viewed the very next day by the class.

Day of painting
  Each desk should have:
1.   Paper on a board to be wetted with sponge dipped into water
2.   Jars of paints with lids loosened a bit.
3.  Rag for getting excess water from brush
4.  A brush
Each child should have on a smock!

A word about thrift:  If you paint at the end of the day, you can skip the boards and the painting lays directly on the desk to dry overnight.  You can use synthetic sponges which are considerably cheaper and parents will send in if you request them.  Jars can be baby food jars run through the dishwasher twice.  Water jars can be anything you have room to store -- plastic tips over easily so glass is better.  I continue to do research on the paper.  Just purchased 100 sheets from Preston Art Supply for $32.   Will let you know if it’s  any good. 
I haven’t seen any way around the cost of brushes.  You really do need a  natural bristle 1” flat brush.  One class set properly cared for will last for years.  Always clean the brush at the end of the lesson in clean water and dry laying flat.   Perhaps if you and another teacher split the cost and you painted on different days, that would save some funds.


A Verse for Painting by Japa Buckner (JCPS graduate and Waldorf teacher)

I look into the sky where the sun shines brightly
And the rainbow colors paint the world so lightly
In my mind I see, a painting that might be
With water and color, my brush and my heart
Stroke by stroke my thought becomes art