A-Mazing Dinosaurs - Idea for Art Sub Plans

Maze Making Art Sub Lesson

Thanks so much to Elizabeth for sending this one my way.  Check out her blog and this art sub-appropriate lesson at Dream Painters:  A-Mazing Dinosaurs.

There are other lessons on how to draw a maze, if you would like to try this with some basic directions. Plus, there are YouTube videos on Maze Making. I think kids would love trying this one!  Here’s one where the teacher shows how to make a maze in a shape:  Ms. Cooper’s Art Class

Be Kind to Your Sub

What a different experience it is between teaching in my own classroom and substitute teaching in someone else's.  I am venturing out into the world of substitute teaching these days and am getting a new perspective into the world of subbing.

I have seen rich and full lessons left for subs and I have seen overly simplistic ones. The intent of giving a sub a super simple lesson plan is kind.  Teachers don't want to give someone a plan that is beyond the sub's capabilities to teach.  However, when I look at some of the lessons I have been left, I know that some are wildly inadequate.  Recently, I was given a page out of School Arts magazine about "expressive line."  It was a lovely idea, and I have incorporated it into lessons in my own classroom.  However, as a stand alone lesson, it was not appropriate for an hour long lesson for 6, 7 and 8 year olds.  If I had taught that lesson, I can imagine that even the most engaged kids would have lasted 15 minutes or so.  I find it hard to picture the more fidgety kids doing more than a line or two.

What will happen in your class when your students have 45 minutes...or 30....or even 15 minutes left after a lesson? When you set up sub plans, ask yourself if you would teach that same lesson.  Ask yourself how long your students would actually be engaged in that activity and what will happen with the extra time left over.  Is it really an age appropriate lesson? Leave books and activities for the students to use when they are finished with their work.  Leave a dvd player and art videos.  Leave books for the sub to read aloud.  Prepare for that unencumbered time when problems are prone to occur.

Instead of rushing around at the last minute, why not work now to set up a folder of good lessons or a "sub tub"?  Get yourself prepared for that emergency sick day.  It doesn't have to take hours and hours to get this together.  You can get tons of lesson ideas from this blog.  There are tons of Pinterest boards linking to sub plans.  If you want fully formed, age appropriate art sub lessons, check out my shop at TeachersPayTeachers.

Be kind to your kids and your subs.  Please plan well for them.

Art Sub Plan - Patterned Lego Man 

This post is by my long time blog friend, Stephanie Allgood.  The inspiration for this lesson is wonderful.  Kids love those Legos and I can imagine they would focus on doing a good job with this lesson.  She left this lesson with her sub, so it is kid tested!

Here's the post:  Make It a Wonderful Life.

Another easy way to prepare for an art sub is to go to my shop, Art Sub Plans. I have created complete lessons in which all your sub has to do is read the slides and follow the directions.  They are full of visuals and are created to be used with the most simple supplies.  Pencils, paper and crayons are all your students will need to create imaginative works of art.

These are perfect for those emergency absences when you do not have the time to write detailed plans but want to leave quality plans for your subs.

Emergency Sub Plan- Captivating Castles

Students are captivated by castles. Their imaginations soar dreaming about the romance of medieval times. In this lesson, they will learn about castles from medieval Europe, including the exterior architecture and the reasons for their design. It includes illustrations from the early 1400's by the Limbourg brothers and photos of castles that still exist.

After going over the lesson, the students will draw a castle of their own design. They will utilize architectural elements they have learned but are encouraged to invent their own as well.

It was written in great detail for use as an emergency sub lesson but could be used by an art teacher or classroom teacher.

This PowerPoint may be used in two ways. It may be printed out and shown page by page to the students or shown as a projected PowerPoint.

The supplies needed are simple. The student will need paper, pencil, crayons or markers.

This lesson is written so that it may be taught completely by following the prompts in the slides. It written for use by grades two through five, but certainly could be used by older students. 

Find it here for $3.50 on TeachersPayTeachers:  Captivating Castles - Emergency Art Sub Lesson Plan  No one wants to spend hours writing lesson plans in an emergency.  My shop takes care of that.  Lessons are written so they are ready to hand over to the sub.

Art Activity for Subs | Create a Super Hero

Create a Super Hero | Art Sub Idea

Mr. Badger has created a sub plan in which the 4th and 5th grade kids create a super hero.  The original post that I had here no longer seems to exist. You can make a lesson from the visuals he had thought. They are below.  Mr. Badger does have other lessons. Here is his Google site:  Mr. Badger’s Art Class

Circle Drawing Game - Art Worksheets Printables

Circles Games - Art Worksheets Printables - Free

Teachers love art games and worksheets. I have created a free one for you called "Circle Drawing Game."

Art Worksheets for Free

You can go download this worksheet at my TPT Shop: Art Sub Lessons and it is FREEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The next one is another worksheet that I just added  and it is FREE TOO!  Click here to get this one: What Can You Draw from Circles?

The instructions are simply "What can you make from circles." There are circles of various sizes. Feel free to use these as you like. 

Here's another idea for circle drawing on a worksheet. Click here to see the YouTube video titled, "How to Draw different things using Circle Shapes." It is more of a step-by-step activity.

Here are a variety of places where you can find circle worksheets.

https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/art-cover-lesson-bundle-11441307

http://nocornersuns.blogspot.com/2014/01/free-art-sub-lesson-circle-game-adapted.html

https://clubexperience.blog/2018/03/29/30-circles-challenge-creative-icebreaker-activity-with-free-download/

Abstract Art Sub Plan for Kids

Art Sub Plans - Abstract Lines

This could be a good sub lesson.  Check out this abstract art lesson at: No Time For Flashcards
It is a very simple lesson that could easily be taught by a sub. 

It reminds me very much of this lesson, Loopy Line Fish.  

Loopy Line Fish as an Art Sub Plan

This is a find from Art Project Girl.  She says it should take a half-hour or so.  Coupled with a book or video about fish, you could add on the needed time.  Or you could give this to your sub in case they need something to fill in the time.

Another easy way to prepare for an art sub is to go to my shop, Art Sub Plans. I have created complete lessons in which all your sub has to do is read the slides and follow the directions.  They are full of visuals and are created to be used with the most simple supplies.  Pencils, paper, and crayons are all your students will need to create imaginative works of art.

These are perfect for those emergency absences when you do not have the time to write detailed plans but want to leave quality plans for your subs.

Art Sub Plan - Ted Harrison Paintings

Art Sub Plan Inspired by Ted Harrison

At the blog, Grade ONEderful, this teacher's sub did some amazing things with this class.

I have never had a sub do anything with paint, other than an art-trained sub.  I wonder if I should give this a try!

Creative Faces - Art Sub Plans

Art Sub Plans Elementary - Creative Faces

Theresa Gillespie, at  Splats, Scraps and Glue Blobs, posted a sub lesson to check out.  (Recognize that face?)  Here's a link to the sub lesson: Creative Faces.