STEAM Sub Plan - Symmetry in Nature: Bugs Edition

Exploring Symmetry Through Creative Insect Drawings

This lesson, from Cool Classroom Stuff, is both versatile and engaging. It may be used as a STEAM activity; art sub lesson; or learning center activity. 

Symmetry in Nature: Bug Edition

Students look at illustrations of symmetrical insects from art history as the teacher reads the script. Examples of student work and templates of bug shapes are provided. Print out the templates you wish to use, along with simple materials, and you have it covered.

This lesson plan is fully scripted, making it easy to implement in any setting.  Whether you're a seasoned teacher or a substitute, you'll find this lesson plan straightforward and effective.

This lesson plan is not just about drawing; it's about understanding the beauty and importance of symmetry in both nature and art.  By engaging in these activities, students will develop their artistic skills, enhance their understanding of symmetry and enjoy a hands-on learning experience.

You can find this lesson at the TPT Shop: Cool Classroom Stuff.

Valentine Radial Symmetry Lesson

Valentine Radial Symmetry Lesson

Creating a design using radial symmetry can feel very satisfying. Radial symmetry is a great crossover concept for the math, art, STEAM, or general classroom.

"Cool Classroom Stuff" has created a lesson on radial symmetry that ties into Valentines Day.

Four drawing templates are provided. Three have heart designs and spacing guidelines to assist the students in starting their designs. One template has spacing guidelines only. This is in case you want the students to create the entire design themselves. There are also two slides with sample drawings.

The lesson requires a simple set up and students may use crayons, markers, pens, or colored pencils.

If you'd like to check out this lesson, visit Cool Classroom Stuff's shop at TpT. The lesson is only $3.00 right now.

Art Sub Plans for Day of the Dead

Elementary Art Sub Plans for Day of the Dead

Here's a super sweet and short video that kids would enjoy watching during a Dia de Los Muertos lesson and would help for an art sub lesson. Day of the Dead Video

There are plenty of lessons around that you could teach with this. Here are a couple.

The first one is a STEAM activity for drawing a symmetrical sugar skull. Click here to see it at the TPT Shop: Cool Classroom Stuff.

The second one includes three doodle worksheets for sugar skulls, piñatas, and sombreros. Click here to find it at the TPT Shop:  Centers and Early Finishers

STEAM Art Sub Lessons Idea - City of the Future

STEAM  Lesson for Elementary, Middle and High School

I get ideas for art sub lessons from all sort of places.  This one came from Flickr. Fabrice Florin teaches an after school STEAM course called "Maker Art" at Tam High. While the initial lesson eventually leads to a sophisticated sculpture, the idea could be a great jumping off place for an art sub lesson. Check out his Flickr page to see more in depth ideas for this lesson. 

by Fabrice Florin
City of the Future: Second Class at Tam High


City of the Future Finished Sculpture
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

If you like the idea of your students using their imaginations to create a new environment, you might like this lesson that I wrote. It is complete with script and many images. It is also no prep. Perfect for you, subs, or parents.  Secret Rooms and Hidden Passageways

Art Sub Lessons for Elementary - Ugly Bug Ball

Ugly Bug Ball - Art Sub Plans

One easy path to take with an art sub lesson is to read a book or show a video and then have students draw their own interpretation from that.

Here is a vintage clip that I love.  "Ugly Bug Ball." It is fun to watch and uplifting.  Kids can watch and then proceed to draw their own ugly bug ball.

Pencils, paper, crayons and you are good to go.

TPT Art Sub Plan of Ugly Bug Ball - No Prep 

Don't just "wing it" with a sub. Give them a real art activity with substance. I have a no prep lesson in my TPT shop that goes along with that.  It gives your sub more of a structure with a fully prepared script and lots of examples.  There are even art history references! 

Check out the lesson plan here:  Ugly Bug Ball Lesson Plan

Art Sub Plans - Leprechaun Trap

St. Patrick’s Day Art Sub Plans for Elementary

Here is an elementary art activity for St. Patrick's Day and March. The blog "Coffee Cups and Crayons" has written up a fun and engaging activity called "Making a Leprechaun Trap." 

Megan gives information about how she did the activity with her kids, but you could write up the directions in lesson plan form pretty easily.  There is discussion, interaction and drawing.  With her kids she had them draw on an old cereal box for a 3D effect. The drawing should work just as well on a sheet of paper.  Her post is a good jumping off place for you to create a St. Patrick's themed sub plan.

St. Patrick’s Day STEAM Lesson

If you are looking for a St. Patrick's Day lesson for upper elementary and middle school, you might try this STEAM activity.

Students create a design using radial symmetry. Templates and samples are provided to give the students a boost to start.  You can find that at the TPT shop: Cool Classroom Stuff. 

Here's one more idea for St. Patrick's Day that works great as a sub lesson or early finishers activity.

The TPT Shop: Centers and Early Finishers has a doodle/pattern filling shamrock design that kids will enjoy.

Here's one for the early finishers.  "Create a Leprechaun in Disguise."

Are there any other great ideas out there for St. Patty's Day?  Let me know in the comments.

STEAM Worksheets for Winter

STEAM Worksheets for Winter - Art Sub Lessons 

If you need great art and math activities and sub plans to use around Christmas, Hanukkah, December, and winter, here are some options from the shops Art Sub Lessons, Cool Classroom Stuff, and Centers and Early Finishers. You can click right on the images to go directly to those activities.

This is a brand new STEAM activity that can be used for subs, teachers, and centers. 

Feedback for this activity:  "This will make a great Art lesson for our unit on The Mitten. Thank you."

Here's one full of photos, student examples, and templates.

Feedback for this activity:  "Super fun! I used these as a pattern to make hanging stockings."

Feedback for this activity: "Such a fun lesson! I use this each year as a sub lesson. Def keeps kids engaged!"

Feedback for this activity: "My fourth graders are loving this! The sample robot shapes and details sheets are a great reference for helping them to draw."

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Not yet rated.

Feedback for this activity:  "My second lesson I have purchased and once again a winner! So nice and easy for any sub to follow. Also makes a great early finisher project. The kids love it!"

Feedback for this activity:  "My younger grades love this and the other products like it. They are so excited when I pull them out. "

Feedback for this activity:  "This one was flying off my counter during December!"

Feedback for this activity:  "Good activity for early finishers! Using this in my music class during my Nutcracker unit. Thank you!"

Feedback for this activity:  "My younger students love this one! I've seem some really cute finished products."

Feedback for this activity:  "Love these"

Winter Middle School Art Sub Plans

Winter Art Project - STEAM

Here is a middle school and elementary school activity integrating art and math and ties with image samples for Christmas, Hannukah, and winter. The activity could be used elementary, middle, and high school. The designs can be as complex or simple as need be.

"Radial symmetry" is the focus of this lesson. This plan includes six templates to help students evenly draw their designs around the circle; five samples of completed designs; and a sheet of sample winter and holiday icons to help the kids add detail.

Perfect for early finishers, it works also for subs and as a center activity.  You can find this over at the TPT shop: Cool Classroom Ideas.

Students begin with a blank or minimally designed template that is lightly drawn in. They add radial symmetry. Directions are given for how to do this.

Here are previews of the lesson.

STEAM Art Worksheet for Valentine's Day

Radial Symmetry Art Worksheet - Integrating Art and Math

This Valentine STEAM lesson can be used in elementary, middle, or high school. It is a perfect art sub-plan. Older students will have fun adding much more detail, but kids of all ages will enjoy this.  Click here to see more about this at TPT Shop: Cool Classroom Stuff.

Fun Extra

Here is a fun video by OK Go using radial symmetry. If you can show a video in your class, your students might like seeing this.

 

Here is a mandala lesson with templates and examples that you can use. This is from the TPT Shop: Cool Classroom Stuff.

Art Sub Plan - STEAM/STEM - Symmetrical Sugar Skull

Day of the Dead Art Activity

This STEM/STEAM art activity would be fun to do around a Mexican holiday like Day of the Dead or Cinco de Mayo. If your students have seen the animated movie, “Coco,” they will be familiar with Día de Los Muertos. It would work perfectly as an art sub lesson. This lesson plan is by TPT Shop: Cool Classroom Stuff
This may be set up as a classroom learning center; an activity for early finishers; or as a teacher led lesson.
This PowerPoint includes:
-Three drawing templates featuring sugar skulls. One has a center guideline; one does not, and one small one has a guideline and folds lines to be utilized as a greeting card.
-Six sample drawings, showing a variety of media. They may be hung in the class as visuals for a lesson or hung in a learning center. 
-One sheet with a composite of these may be hung in a learning center.
-One sheet of sample designs you might see on sugar skulls.
-Five sheets of information about sugar skulls; directions on how to draw one; and information about symmetry.
The designs may be created with a pen, crayon, or marker.









Here is a preview of what you would get.




Click here to find out more: Cool Classroom Stuff.