22 Things to Include in an Art Sub Folder

Creating an Art Sub Folder 

Most schools where I have taught, required sub folders for emergency absences. While these were kept in the office, they included the same basic information as the non-emergency sub plans I kept.

A sub folder that is kept in the office is likely in a file folder. One for your classroom, that you want to utilize all year, is better served in a binder. If you are extra organized, a binder with dividers between sections would be appreciated by your sub.

What to Include in a Sub Folder

While you might add illustrations or more school info, here are the basic things you should include in your sub folder.

1.  Welcome letter for your sub

2.  Contact information for the office, school nurse, custodian, and buddy teachers

3.  Location of staff bathrooms and break room

4.  Classroom procedures (bathroom, nurse, attendance, lining up, supplies)

5.  Hall passes

6.  Emergency preparedness instructions for crises, drills, and lockdowns

7.  Classroom rules, rewards, and behavior management

8.  Attention cues

9.  School map

10. Duty assignments

11. Your teaching schedule

12. Seating charts or instructions

13. Student roster

14. List of helpful students in each class

15. Individual student learning needs 

16. Medical alerts

17. Classroom supplies map

18. Technology tips

19. Detailed sub lesson plans using simple supplies

20. Activities for worksheets for early finishers

21. Dismissal procedures

22. Request for notes on how the day went

Art Sub Lesson Plans

The most difficult part of putting together a sub folder was in creating lesson plans that would be fun for the kids; use simple supplies; and be clear enough for anyone to teach. As a way of collecting and sharing these art sub plans, I created this blog. 

After realizing that other art teachers also have to suffer through creating sub lessons, I opened a TeachersPayTeachers store focusing solely on that.

Lessons that Both Your Students and Subs Will Love

Here are the lessons in my TPT shop that teachers seem to love the best. (Click on the images to take a closer look and to purchase.)

They are fully scripted; use simple materials; and get high marks from teachers and kids.

Silly Sandwich

"Silly Sandwich" is a favorite art sub lesson for elementary and middle school. Art teachers report that they have left this for kindergarteners through six grade!  Here's what one had to say about it: "Excellent art piece to leave for subs or even for those days you want to do a silly type of art lesson. Students were engaged and had fun with it."

Captivating Castles

This lesson has been used in first through sixth grades. An art teacher recommended this saying, "Great resource to have for the art sub! I leave this in my sub tub and always receive positive feedback from the sub teacher when they use this resource!"

Name Designs

This one has been taught successfully in second grade through eighth grade. It is perfect as a back to school art lesson.Here is a comment left by an art teacher:  "The fact that each step was illustrated and had simple directions was perfect for my ELS students and learning challenged students in my Art classes. I liked it so much, I used it with several grade levels. HIghly recommend."

I also have lots of other art sub lessons and worksheets that you will love. Check it all out here at my shop, Art Sub Lessons.

Art Sub Plans on Patterned Landscapes

Patterned Landscapes as an Art Sub Lesson

Here's a simple lesson that was done in middle school, but could so easily be done in elementary art too.  

Mrs. Hare at Becker Middle School gave her students handouts with sample patterns. They filled their drawing paper with lines for foreground, middle ground, and background. Then they filled in the areas with pattern. 

The supplies used were simple: paper and Sharpie.

The students had previously studied landscape, so they were acquainted with the basic principles of drawing one. 

As a sub lesson, you could provide the teacher with the preprinted pattern sheets; a sheet showing the steps to draw the picture; and a finished sample drawing. 

If the students are relatively independent, they could follow the instructions on their own. Most any sub could also demonstrate how to draw the lines across the paper and label them as foreground, middle ground, and background. Then, the sub could show the finished sample and get the students started.

Another Blog Post About Patterned Landscapes

A couple of years ago I wrote a blog post about a similar lesson. This one includes a few visuals that you are welcome to use.  Check it out here:  Art Sub Lesson - Landscape with Pattern

Fully Formed Art Sub Lessons

If you would like to see art sub plans that are easy to use; fully scripted; and that your kids and subs will love, check out my TPT Shop: Art Sub Lessons.