Elementary Art Lesson - Imaginary Cuckoo Clocks

This is a lesson that I left for my sub this week. It is based on the cuckoo clocks that come from the Black Forest of Germany.  Students are shown examples of real cuckoo clocks and ones drawn by other students.

I created it in such a way that it could be projected as a PowerPoint or could be printed out for my art sub to use.  It is for sale in my TeachersPayTeachers shop.  It would be perfect to use on one of those days when you need a lesson for an emergency absence.  All you have to do is print this out for your sub.  All of the visuals and directions are written right in the PowerPoint.  The supplies are as simple as it gets:  crayons and paper.

My art sub said that the students enjoyed the lesson.  I had fun looking at the clock inventions that they came up with.

Positive and Negative Space - Art Sub Lesson  

H Kostal shares some sub lesson plans she is working on here:  No Corner Suns

15 Lessons I Learned as a Substitute Teacher

15 Lessons I Learned as a Substitute Teacher

 

This was written a while ago, but the information in it is pure gold. “Strange New Teachers” shares their experience as a newly graduated art teacher, working as a long term sub. 

 

I subbed in the art room after I retired, and I can so relate to so much of what is in this post. 

 

Jan’s rule #1 for preparing for a sub:  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  I.e., don’t leave them junky lesson plans that you wouldn’t even teach yourself. Give them more information than less.)

 

Here’s where you can find this blog post:  15 Lessons I Learned as a Substitute Teacher

Resources for Early Finishers     .99 @ TPT

One thing I always want to have on hand for my sub is a list of things for kids to do if they finish early. Included in my arsenal of activities, I have on hand printed worksheets of quick art projects. Click on these to check them out:

Create a Troll in Disguise

Draw a Turkey in Disguise

Create a Character in Disguise

Create a Tooth Fairy in Disguise

Create a Dragon in Disguise

Decorate a Jack Lantern

Create a Silly Monkey in Disguise

Create a Little Red Riding Hood in Disguise

Create a Turtle in Disguise

Create a Frog in Disguise

Create a Penguin in Disguise

Circle Game - Free Art Worksheet

Decorate a Jack O’ Lantern

Create a Bunny in Disguise

Create an Elf in Disguise

Create a Leprechaun in Disguise

Create a Groundhog in Disguise

Create a Panda in Disguise

Create a Yeti in Disguise

Create a Reindeer in Disguise

Doodle a Nutcracker

Draw a Silly Monster

Learning Centers as Art Sub Activities

Here's an interesting idea to leave for your substitute teacher. Over at The Elementary Art Room, she uses centers as sub lessons. 

You know your students and if they would be good candidates for this option. They would need to already know the routine and the expectations before you handed this idea off to a substitute teacher. 

Go check out how this is organized for her primary grades.  http://elementaryartroom.blogspot.com/2011/01/substitute-art-centers.html

First Grade Art Sub Lesson - Tar Beach

Art Sub Lesson for 1st Graders

This plan is fully scripted and ready to hand to a sub. Provide them with paper, pencil, crayons, and the book, Tar Beach, by Faith Ringgold, and they are ready to teach the lesson.

This lesson may be taught as a PowerPoint projection or printed out and each page shown, one-by-one.

The materials needed for the lesson are paper, pencil, crayons, and the book, Tar Beach, by Faith Ringgold.

The slides lead the teacher through questions and answers that will encourage the student to let their imaginations lead their own designs.
I have tested this on my own art subs and have gotten positive feedback. I have also taught this lesson myself, and the students have enjoyed it.
This would be perfect as an emergency sub lesson or as a lesson to be taught by a teacher at any time.
You can find this lesson at my shop at TeachersPayTeachers.

OH! And I made an art sub video for that lesson too! You can find it here on YouTube:  Art Sub Lesson Video for Tar Beach

Imagination Workout - Art Sub Plans Worksheets

Imagination Workout - Free Art Worksheets Printable

This is from the blog, Super Mom Moments. Her young daughter created this worksheet and the mom reports that her family members of all ages have enjoyed working on it.

It involves creating 11 little drawings on a grid. Each square on the grid has a simple line or shape from which you build your drawing. 

This requires only simple materials: printed out worksheets, pencils, and crayons.

“Super Mom” also has a library of worksheets that are printable and adds to them on what she calls “Worksheet Wednesdays.”

Art Sub Plan - A Tree House for Me

A Treehouse for Me

As I am entering the later part of my art teaching career, I am trying to figure out how I can both continue in art education and fund my retirement.  Plus, in a year or two I will probably start subbing in art classrooms and will need an arsenal of good lessons to teach.  I've started putting together art sub lessons in PowerPoint as if I were going to substitute teach from them.  They've taken hours of work to put together and most of them have been tested in the classroom.

I am going to be selling them cheaply so that when you need an emergency lesson plan you can buy one from here:  Jan's Shop at TeachersPayTeachers  A lesson that has taken me hours and hours to work on, you can download in a minute.  You don't have to spend all those agonizing hours writing your own art sub lesson plans.

The lessons all use the most simple supplies:  crayon or marker, pencil or pen, and paper.  All your sub has to do is to read each slide.

Since my subs most likely don't feel comfortable using my technology, I have created the slides so that you can print out each slide.  The sub will just bring the class close as if they were reading a book to the class, and they will show each slide that has been printed.

This particular lesson was written with third, fourth, and fifth grade students in mind.

Back to School - Free Still Life Set Ups

Free Art Lesson Plans - Still Life Set Ups

This isn't a sub lesson, but it might be helpful to you at the beginning of the school year.

When I am teaching contour line drawing to my fifth graders, I lie to use still life set-ups that include objects familiar to the students.  That age group is not that far from the age of sleeping with stuffed animals, so I find that they feel comfortable trying to draw them.

I put together a small collection of public domain photos in PowerPoint that would work nicely as still lifes for elementary drawings.  You might use them all at once in a lesson or save them to show individually as warm-up exercises.

If you would like to have a copy of the PowerPoint, you may download it for free at my TPT shop:

Art Sub Lessons:  Back to School Freebie-Still Life Set-Ups

Monogram Letter Designs - Art Sub Plan

Monogram Letter Designs as an Art Sub Plan

Here's a sub lesson that was taught in high school. I think it could be simplified for upper elementary. The blog is Amy's Artsy Adventures and this lesson is called "Monogram Letter Designs."

Ugly Bug Ball - Elementary Art Sub Plan

 Ugly Bug Ball - Art Sub Plan 

I created this lesson for its ease of use.  It is complete with visuals and simple directions.  The materials needed are very simple.  It is for sale at TeachersPayTeachers.

This lesson was created with an art sub in mind. All of the directions have been included for their ease of use. You may print this out so that the sub may present it up close on paper or show it as PowerPoint presentation.

The materials needed for this lesson are the most simple: paper, pencils, and crayons or markers.

The lesson begins with discussion questions regarding a masterpiece by the artist, Balthasar van der Ast. This painting includes many interesting insects crawling around a beautiful still life. The lesson then leads the students to create an imaginary scene of insects at a party. Each slide includes questions and statements for the students to think about including in their drawing.

I have taught this lesson to all levels, K through Fifth. My subs who have used this lesson have left feedback that they and the students thoroughly enjoyed the lesson.

I hope that this will be a well-loved lesson for you and your students and that it helps you when you are in need of a sub lesson.

Elementary Art Sub Lesson - Ugly Bug Ball

 I created this lesson for its ease of use.  It is complete with visuals and simple directions.  The materials needed are very simple.  It is for sale at TeachersPayTeachers.

This lesson was created with an art sub in mind. All of the directions have been included for their ease of use. You may print this out so that the sub may present it up close on paper or show it as PowerPoint presentation.

The materials needed for this lesson are the most simple: paper, pencils and crayons or markers.

The lesson begins with discussion questions regarding a masterpiece by the artist, Balthasar van der Ast. This painting includes many interesting insects crawling around a beautiful still life. The lesson then leads the students to creating an imaginary scene of insects at a party. Each slide includes questions and statements for the students to think about including in their drawing.

I have taught this lesson to all levels, K through Fifth. My subs who have used this lesson have left feedback that they and the students thoroughly enjoyed the lesson.

I hope that this will be a well loved lesson for you and your students and that it helps you when you are in need of a sub lesson.

Middle School Art Sub Plan Idea - Op Art

Middle School Art Sub Plan - Stacked Shapes - Op Art

This art lesson is from the blog, Art with Mrs. Smith. 
She has written out all the directions for you and there are a lot of examples. The materials needed are simple: paper and markers or crayon.   This is a lovely little lesson, so check it out.

If you find yourself in need of an art sub plan RIGHT NOW, check out my TPT Shop:  Art Sub Lessons.  I have  plenty of no prep, fully scripted art lessons that you can just print out and hand to your substitute teacher.  Anyone can teach these lessons.

Kindergarten Art Sub Plan - Gingham Dog Calico Cat

Kindergarten Art Sub Plan

This is a lesson that I created years ago and it has been an old favorite. It goes with the book/poem "The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat." I wrote it specifically for primary art subs. It's over at TeachersPayTeachers.  

I tried to make it as simple as possible. If you have the book and simple supplies, you are ready to take a day of leave. = )

This is a great solution to a day when you have an emergency and need a sub lesson immediately.  Everything you need is here.

Free Art Worksheets - Directed Drawings of Owls

Directed Drawing Art Sub Lesson for Owls

This lesson and drawing are by Art Projects for Kids. This is a directed drawing that would be perfect for kindergarten and first grade. 

Since you have come here to see some directed drawings of owls, I went and found some other ones for you.

If you go to Denette Fritz’s blog, you can find a free worksheet with step-by-step instructions on how to draw an owl.

Here’s another take on the same thing. Check out this directed drawing by Thaneeya McArdle @ the blog, Art Is Fun.

This one is in the public domain since it has been around for so long.  You can find the full-size pdf on the blog, The Graphics Fairy.

The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat

This is an art sub lesson that I created years ago and it has been an old favorite. It goes with the book/poem "The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat." I wrote it specifically for primary art subs. It's over at TeachersPayTeachers. I tried to make it as simple as possible. If you have the book and simple supplies, you are ready to take a day of leave. = )

Art Sub Plans for Elementary on Wayne Thiebaud

Free Art Worksheet and Plans for Wayne Thiebaud lesson

Thanks to Jessica Young for sharing this link with me.

This free art worksheet can be found over at the blog, Art with Ms. Gram, you'll find instructions and handouts that a sub would probably find successful.  

Yay for handouts for subs!!!

If you would like a video to introduce Wayne Thiebaud, I created one and uploaded it to YouTube. You can find it here:  The Delicious Paintings of Wayne Thiebaud

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.

The Night I Followed the Dog Art Sub Lesson Plan

Art Sub Plan for The Night I Followed the Dog

This is a lesson I will leave for some of my younger classes this week.

Here's a fifth grader's...

Here’s a second grader’s...

I will leave a video of the book "The Night I Followed the Dog."  This is a video that I have downloaded from YouTube on the Storyline Online Channel.  I have also burned it to DVD that I can play on a regular DVD player. (See how to do this at my blog, Art Room Videos.)

The lesson will be introduced by showing some funny animal videos of animals talking.  (Kids love these and they are so funny, your kids will fall in love with your sub for showing them. I won’t link to one right now because they get uploaded and deleted on YouTube. But look for some and then then preview them before you leave them for a sub.)

Then the sub will tell the students they will be listening to a storybook called "The Night I Followed the Dog."  Ask what sorts of things they think we would see a dog doing if we followed it around in real life.
 
Show the video.

After viewing the video, ask the students what sorts of things they would like to see a pet doing if the pet was acting like a person.

They will go to their tables and draw those things.  The drawings could be in stapled book form or just one on a page.

Remind them to add backgrounds.  Where will these pets be?  What would we see around them if we were there?  Would there be other pets?  Would they be doing the same things?

If time allows, let them share their favorite drawings with the class.