Crayola Crayons

Grade Range: K-12
Resource Type(s): Artifacts, Primary Sources
Date Posted: 11/10/2010

Cherished by generations of child artists, Crayola crayons were invented in 1903 by the Binney & Smith Company of Easton, Pennsylvania. Using paraffin wax and nontoxic pigments, the company produced a coloring stick that was safe, sturdy, and affordable. The name "Crayola," coined by the wife of the company's founder, comes from "craie," French for "chalk," and "oleaginous," or "oily." This Crayola set for "young artists" was one of the earliest produced. Its twenty-eight colors include celestial blue, golden ochre, rose pink, and burnt sienna.


National Standards

United States History Standards (Grades 5-12)

Historical Thinking Standards (Grades 5-12)

Instructional Strategies