Art Sub Plan - Photo Booth with Value

Middle School Art Sub Lesson for Photo Booth withValue

Here's another clever art sub idea from Nic Hahn (aka Mini Matisse).  Check out this photo booth drawing with value shading.

Art Sub Lesson for Kindergarten - Dragon Dance

Now that I am retired from full-time art teaching, I substitute teach from time to time.  I realize how important it is for a substitute teacher to be given good plans. Art teachers know to leave a sub-plan that can be taught by anyone, but they also need to leave something in which the students will be interested.

This is a lesson that I taught for many years in my own classroom.  I have created this PowerPoint so that all a sub needs to do is to read the information on each slide as they show the pictures.  Questions are included to help lead the students through a discussion. 

The lesson introduces the students to Asian dragon costumes as they might be seen in parades and festivals.  Along with background information about the mythical dragons, students observe decorative details used in these festive costumes.

Using the most basic art room supplies (paper, pencil, and crayons), students will create their own imaginative dragon costume.

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

This would be perfect as an emergency sub lesson or as a lesson to be taught by a teacher at any time.

You may find this at my Teachers Pay Teachers shop.  

Why Is Your Cat Angry? Art Sub Plan

Art Sub Lesson for Angry Cat

This art sub plan was put together by Nic Hahn over at the Mini Matisse blog.
She said that this “Angry Cat” lesson is quick and easy to use and includes both a writing component as well as a drawing one.  It is based on a book by Milly Bang, Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry.  The worksheet is downloadable for free from a provided link by Art Projects for Kids.

Art Sub Lesson - Warm and Cool

Warm and Cool Art Lesson

Here's an easy one from Art Project Girl.  The main part of the lesson is about warm and cool colors.  She gives samples and a few simple instructions. A sub could easily teach this one.

Here is another post about using warm and cool colors for an art sub lesson:  Kindergarten Art Sub Plan - Klee’s “Cat and Bird”

Fifth Grade Art Lesson - Coat of Arms

Here is a complete lesson plan with samples from Mr Mint Art  

This upper elementary and middle school art sub lesson was created exactly as a sub lesson.  There are directions written for a sub and plenty of visuals. This is about as much as you can hope for when you are looking for a free sub lesson online. Don’t miss it.

This is one of those lessons you can just print out, leave in your sub tub, and know that you have something ready to hand to a sub.

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.

Clowning Around - Emergency Art Sub Lesson

I have left this lesson with my subs for a couple of years now.  They seem to do well with it.

I have uploaded it to TeachersPayTeachers here:  Art Lesson for Subs - Clowning Around

As with all my sub lessons, all you need to do is to print out this 20 page PowerPoint and leave it for the sub.  The only materials they will need are paper, pencil and crayons.  All the directions and visuals for your sub are included.  The sub just needs to read the questions and comments on each slide, and that will direct your students.

The lesson begins with photos of clowns through history.  In order to make an art history connection, I have included a medieval masterpiece of a court jester. Each slide includes questions and statements for the students to think about while creating their drawings.

This lesson would work well as an emergency sub plan as the materials are basic and the directions are complete.  The lesson will save you great amounts of time over the years.

Take care.

Elementary Art Sub Lesson | Fairy Tale

There's a Giant in My House | Art Sub Plan

Little to no prep art sub lesson!

I have many art sub plans on my TeachersPayTeachers site.  They are perfect as emergency sub plans but certainly could be used as regular lesson plans.  My sub plans require only that you have paper and crayons for supplies.


This lesson may be viewed in two ways. It may be projected as a normal PowerPoint or it may be printed out and used as you would a book. If it is to be printed out, the teacher would just have the students come to sit near him/her as the lesson is taught.

It was written with a substitute teacher in mind, but certainly could also be used by the classroom or art teacher.

This lesson was written so that all of the prompts and visuals are included. To teach the lesson, all one has to do is go from slide to slide (or page to page.)

The materials needed to complete the assignment are intentionally simple; paper, pencil, or crayon. For this reason, this lesson would serve well as an emergency lesson plan.

The lesson could be augmented with the reading of the story, "Jack and the Beanstalk," but for the time given, it is intended as a stand-alone lesson.

Art Sub Plan - Draw Yourself as an Old Person

Visualizing Yourself as an Older Person

Marcia, over at Art is Basic, has this as a lesson plan.  It involves visualizing yourself as you are and then as an older person.  Go check it out over at her blog.