Looking for low-cost, non-toxic watercolor sets for kids or for your classroom? Try the Prang Oval-Pan Watercolor 16 well set. With a few modifications you can crate serviceable palettes for less than $9.00 apiece. Prang colors are AP certified non-toxic by the Art & Creative Materials Institute (so should a student decide to eat their watercolors, no problem). You can also buy replacement colors individually should your students use up the favored colors on the palette.
Prang also makes a set of watercolors that is washable and will not stain clothes. A great feature for even younger kids.
Modifications
I have no idea why a watercolor set comes with white paint but when this cake is removed and discarded, you have room to replace it with a magenta refill. The refills come in a box of 12 so if you are buying one for yourself, you may want to go in on it with friends or other parents. This is a great item to share in home school circles.
Rearrange the paint wells so that they align with designated mixing areas. This will help you remember which colors are which, keep your paint cakes clean and prevent your palette from becoming a mess. Pop the paint wells out of the plastic frame and write the name of each color on the back of the well (the set comes with a chart with the color names and Prang’s refill numbers in the original order). Now replace the wells in this order, going left to right, top to bottom: yellow 5, yellow-orange 37, orange 6,  red-orange 36, red 1, magenta 27, red-violet 41, violet 14, blue-violet 40, blue 7, turquoise blue 35, blue-green 39, yellow-green 39, green 9, brown 12, black 34.
The last step is to buy a tube of yellow watercolor paint and place a dab in the green mixing area so that students can modify their greens without dipping a dirty brush into the yellow well. Keeping the yellow well clean is your top priority to maintain your palette.
When your kids get a little older and you are less concerned about them eating their paint or licking their brushes, you may upgrade to the Winsor & Newton Cotman Sketcher’s Pocket Box.