Growth in painting ability is dependent on frequent painting experiences, on thoughtful motivation, and on proper guidance and evaluation of progress. This guide includes materials and equipment, motivation, guidance procedures, activities, and evaluation for each grade level. A working space with materials and equipment in the classroom needs to be organized for quiet and efficient use. The work space should be arranged so that children can work independently. For the initial painting experiences in kindergarten, it is necessary to use only four colors--red, blue, green, and violet. Children in the first grade may progress from water painting and one-color painting to using the entire range of colors. By the second grade, children should be using colors with greater sensitivity. In grades three and four, children begin to learn some fundamentals about the use of color and organization of design. Children at this level will also begin to include story content in their paintings. By the fifth grade, the children can use contrasts of light and dark, of color, of pattern, and of texture to make important parts of the picture clearer. The children continue to paint subject matter pictures, using imaginative, fantastic, or realistic subjects. In grade six, children plan their pictures and observe people, places, and situations to gain additional visual information for use in planning and expressing their ideas of a familiar scene. (SM)