Sunday, March 28, 2021

Kindergarten Art Sub Plan - Klee’s “Cat and Bird”

Kindergarten Art Sub Plan - “Cat and Bird"

child drawing of a patterned cat and background
When creating a sub plan that needs only simple instructions and materials, Klee's painting, "Cat and Bird," might be just the foundation upon which to build.  

Paul Klee Idea Emphasizing  Shape, Pattern, and Warm and Cool Colors 


The teachers at Jamestown Elementary, Ms. Worden and Ms. Teitsma have written a blog post that suggests rich resources from which to teach this lesson. 

child drawings of patterned cats and background


Since my older students would often ask if they could do a lesson that the little kids did, I know that sometimes they like the simple lessons too. The perfect time to let them do one of those simple lessons is when they have a substitute teacher in art.

Check out this lesson at Jamestown Elementary Art Blog.

Paul Klee Idea Emphazing Color and Shape

Another take on this lesson can be found at the blog, Art at Miquon.  Ms. Batchelor, at The Miquon School, taught a unit on Klee for multiple grades and this blog post shares the inspirations for that in this blog post. Again, this is a lesson that could be easy enough for anyone to teach with the right resources. This is no cookie-cutter lesson and each drawing is unique.

Elementary drawing of cats







Monday, March 15, 2021

Art Sub Plans: What to Do When the Lesson is Over

 Art Sub Plans: What to Do When the Lesson is Over


I'm always looking around for ideas to share with you about substitute teaching in art.  Today I found something I know your sub would love to know about. 

You know subbing is hard.  Yikes! We all have witnessed it with our own eyes. The lesson is finished and the sub is there with a class of kids who have nothing else to do. That's a recipe for bad behaviors to flare up

Janine Chen has come up with 50 Quick Activities for When Sub Lessons Run Short.  I would suggest that you print out the top five ones you think would work with your students and include them in your sub folder. Some might be new to you. Some are classics.  Kids will have fun with them and your sub will love you for it.


Ready Made Activities for Early Finishers

If you would like some printed worksheets for early finishers, you can find free and inexpensive ones at my TPT shop: Art Sub Lessons.


Circle Game - Free Art Worksheet 

Teachers, subs and parents may use this as an art game; a challenge; an early finishers activity; or an art lesson. Students create as many designs as they can think of using the circles provided. They may create imaginary objects; doodle designs; or as a way to list the things they can think of that are circular in shape. 




Early Finishers Art Activity - Create a Dragon in Disguise

One worksheet shows the lightly drawn in outline of a dragon. Around the sides of the paper are sample details that a student may use to create an original cartoon dragon. I have added an additional full page outline of a dragon that could be used. The student will also add details from their imaginations. After they have added all the details, they are directed to add a background and color their drawing. Much more of a creative outlet than a coloring sheet, your students will enjoy working on their own cartoon. This is one of those art activities in which every creation is a hit!



Early Finishers Art Activity -Create a Frog in Disguise

Need an art activity for an independent work packet? This drawing worksheet includes directions; sample details; and a lightly drawn in frog. All you need to do is print and distribute. Great for centers, subs and early finishers too.




Early Finishers Art Activity- Character

This drawing worksheet includes directions; sample details; and a lightly drawn in character. All you need to do is print and distribute. Great for centers, subs and early finishers too.


Early Finishers Art Activity - Red Riding Hood

Print and go. This art worksheet is a creative activity for students. The worksheet inclues a lightly drawn outline of Little Red Riding Hood. There are also sample details that the student may wish to include. They may also invent their own. A sheet of finished examples is included. This could be part of a station or center. It could be used in the classroom, art room, or with a sub. All the students need to provide are pencils, crayons and their imagination. (Bonus: I have just added a full page outline of Little Red Riding Hood as another drawing option you might choose.)



Early Finishers Art Activity - Trolls

Here's a review from a middle school teacher: "I loved how this ties in with the current Trolls movie- which so many of my students have seen being at home now. They enjoyed the assignment and being able to have the freedom to create whatever they wanted to make. Great activity !!"


There are plenty more as well.  Check them out at my shop:  Art Sub Lessons.