I shop for on sale wrapping paper with a small all over design and then laminate it. I cut strips of bookmarks with those spiffy designer scissors for students. Seasonal ones are always in demand but, just attractive ordinary ones are popular too. As gifts for teachers, a hole punch in one end with a yarn tassel is much appreciated. It's suitable for any age from about fourth grade through adult.
Students take any color water color except brown and black.
They cover their paper with shapes of color, with no colors overlapping or touching. They repeat colors and shapes as they wish. They wash their brushes between colors so each color remains true. Then they let their creations dry for one day. Filling the colors with these textures creates an attractive piece of art and teaches them about unity and variety and pattern and texture.