Art Sub Plan and Video - Fish Surprise

5th Grade and Middle School Art Sub Plan - Fish Surprise

You've got to check this art sub lesson out over on Mini Matisse.  Its called Fish Surprise-One day Make and Take or Sub Plan. She even includes a video demonstration.  (She is prolific with those videos!)

Art Sub Plan - Circle Monsters

Art Sub Plans for Elementary | Circle Monsters

Circle Monsters.  This lesson idea could easily be used as a sub lesson.  You can find this idea over on Mrs. Pearce's Art Room blog.

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If you liked that lesson, you might also like this no-prep art sub lesson at my TeachersPayTeachers shop. The Ugly Bug Ball.

I have taught this lesson to all levels, Kindergarten through Fifth Grade.  The kids love it!

There's also a monster drawing worksheet for Early Finishers, also at my TPT shop.

Art Sub Plan  |  Put a Pattern on It

If you watch Portlandia, you may remember the episode where they jokingly said the way to have successful art is to "put a bird on it. " Sometimes I think of the same when it comes to easy art lessons and pattern. Here kiddos, put a pattern on it! While I wouldn't rely too heavily on that in my own classroom, it can work well for sub lessons. The kids may spend extra time filling in patterns.

Here is a unique set of patterns, always a good thing to have when kids get stuck.  She actually has lots of sets of patterns. You will find them here on The Doodler Blog.

Circle Drawing - Relief Teaching Ideas

Art Sub Plans Using Circles

The blog post I am linking to is about Choice in the art room.  I love this drawing in the round though, and could see a sub doing it. This post is from Donald Art Room. You could create a lesson on pattern, symmetry or radial design.

Art Sub Plan - Fairy Houses and Gnome Homes

Art Lesson Plan about Fairies and Gnomes

This art sub lesson could be used as an end-of-the-year lesson. At this time of year, your kiddos will need some lessons that are engaging.

Here's a lesson that I taught to over 800 students this winter as I was subbing for art teacher friends.  It talks about fairies and gnomes and where they might live. We looked at illustrations from fairy tales and also at photographs of fairy houses and gnome homes that people have built for fun. We also looked at student illustrations and talked about the fun houses that the kids dreamed up.

I taught it to kindergarteners all the way up to fifth graders.  They were engaged and having fun as I taught it.  I wrote it as a sub lesson, but it can be taught by an art teacher or classroom teacher as well.



It is over at my TeachersPayTeachers Shop: Art Sub Lessons.

If you like this lesson, you might also like this worksheet for early finishers.  Your sub would reallyappreciate having something for your students to do if they finish their art work before the end of class!

Art Worksheet | Art Sub Plan | Shapes Animals

Kindergarten Worksheet for Shapes and Animals Art Sub Plan

Kindergarten students learn about shapes in their math, reading, and science curricula, so it integrates naturally into art. Emphasizing shapes in art is a great way to reinforce the learning of shapes in all those other areas.

Here are some art lessons that use shape and would work well as art sub lessons. 

Make an animal out of cut shapes. In the blog,  Art On My Hands, she  has the shapes already printed out and ready to be cut out.

This next idea is really interesting. The teacher has students draw around pre-glued shapes on their paper. I believe that this is good practice for shape drawing. Students haven't perfected it yet, but they are heading in the right direction.

Now, the shapes were cut and glued by the students. If you knew that you had a sub during the next meeting with this class, this line drawing lesson could be a follow-up to that.  The shapes would have already been cut, glued, and dry. 

                                              

You may see this lesson at Annie's Art Room.

If you are interested in a kindergarten directed drawing about shapes, and was specifically made for art subs, check out this lesson in my TPT Shop:  Springtime Bird with Pattern and Flowers.

It uses just simple materials: crayon and paper.  It is also no prep, fully scripted, and editable in the lesson portion of the PowerPoint.

The lesson also introduces the students to four artists from history with their paintings of birds.

Dinosaur Maze Art Lesson

Here's a link to an idea from a couple of years ago. An art sub could teach this one.

Dream Painters:  A-Mazing Dinosaurs.

If you look on the web, you can find directions for how to create a simple maze. Here is one I liked: Design a Maze

She even links to her own video on YouTube for how to create one, which would be really helpful for the kids to see.

Mandala Art Lesson as Art Sub Plan

Mandala Art Lesson as Elementary and Middle School Art Sub Plan

How do you draw a mandala? Here are photos of beautiful ones from Arts&Activities Magazine from 1983. When I originally wrote this blog post, they have the article that would accompany these, online. The blog post sharing how to create these, no longer exists, unfortunately. 

The second best thing I can post here is another option for a mandala that an art sub can teach.

This lesson includes templates and examples that a sub could use to lead this lesson. Check it out at Cool Classroom Stuff's TPT Shop:  Create Insect Designs with Radial Symmetry

Art Class for Special Needs

Art Class for Special Needs - Cardboard Sculpture

Last month, I took a long-term sub job for a friend of mine.  Twice a week, kindergarten and first grade age students who have autism, came to art for a half-hour each time.  When they arrived, we watched the video from YouTube to "Shake the Sillies Out."  After that, we went over to the demonstration table and I showed them how to glue a tower of cardboard shapes.

Early in my art teaching career, a special ed teacher requested that I do a lot of 3D lessons with her students.  She told me that this was something the kids rarely got to experience.  So, I've kept this in mind over my career and tried to incorporate more sculptural experiences in their art classes.

       


Before they arrived at the art room, I had chopped up a large corrugated box into a variety of shapes.  I had styrofoam trays full of glue.  I also had cut cardboard squares for sculpture bases.

The students dipped the surface of the cardboard shapes into the glue and stacked them upon each other.  They stacked them any way they liked.  Overnight the sculptures dried and the next day the students painted them.

Art Sub Plan - A Home with an Onion Dome

Art Sub Plan with Architecture Theme

This art sub-plan is one that I created and taught recently.

This art lesson focuses on the architecture of onion domes. It talks about the beauty and uniqueness of this architectural element and shows how architects from the past and present have used this element in a variety of ways. It includes such classical structures as the Taj Mahal and St. Basil's Cathedral as well as an avante guarde creation of Hundertwasser. Many other buildings that have onion domes are featured as well.

This lesson was created with an art sub in mind but could be taught by a classroom teacher or art teacher. As a retired art teacher who subs now for my friends, I want to be able to teach good lessons that engage the students. The lessons that I use when I sub are the ones that I sell here. They are proven to engage students and help them create a work of art that is satisfying and original.

This lesson may be shown in two ways. It may be projected or it may be printed out and shown up close. All the teacher needs to do to teach this lesson is to read the script and ask the questions. All instructions are included.

The materials needed for the student artwork are simple: paper, pen or pencil, ruler, and crayons or markers.

Everybody is a Star - Art Sub Plan and Video

Art Sub Lesson Plan and Video

Here's a post with full instructions and a video, thanks to Cassie Stevens.

Art Sub Plan - Aliens Love Underpants

Kindergarten Art Sub Plan - Aliens Love Underpants

Here's a super cute idea from the kindergarten blog, The Very Busy Kindergarten.  It is based on the book with the same name by Claire Freedman.

As you can see from the pictures below, this lesson was done with cut paper, but it certainly can also be done with crayons or marker.                                                                                                

If you like this idea, you might like this lesson from my Art Sub Lesson shop on TeachersPayTeachers.  This art sub lesson is fun for elementary students and can easily be taught by substitute teachers with no prep. It would be perfect to keep in your art sub tub or emergency lesson plan folder. This drawing activity requires only simple materials to do: paper and crayons or markers.  Art Sub Lesson: Robot Roundup

Valentine Art Idea for Subs - Fractional Hearts

Valentine Art Lesson for Elementary 

This elementary lesson could make a really nice sub lesson with simple materials. Check it out and see where you can take it. Fractional Hearts

This one is at the Crayola site. They always have good lesson plans over there with plenty of directions. 

Art Sub Lesson - James Rizzi

This art history/visual art lesson is a perfect plan for those days you need an art sub lesson plan.   It is a PowerPoint based on the artwork of James Rizzi. It is written to inspire students to create their own pop art building, not to just copy Rizzi's work. Substitute teachers will love this because everything they need to teach the lesson is here, and your students will love it because it is fun.

The lesson is fully formed so that all you have to do is project it as a PowerPoint lesson or print it out and show it up close with the students seated nearby.  It can be taught by a sub, an art teacher or a classroom teacher.  No art skills are required in order to teach this.  All of the visuals and demonstrations are already in the PowerPoint. The teacher needs to read the script; ask the questions given; and monitor students. I have included all of the information that I use when I teach the lesson myself.

As a retired art teacher who subs for my friends, I have taught this in kindergarten through grade 5. The students have been enthusiastic and engaged for the entire class period. Everyone has left feeling successful with their work.

Kindergarten Rizzi House

The supplies are simple.  Paper, pencil and crayons.

Check it out at my TPT Shop: Art Sub Lessons: James Rizzi Lesson Plan

Valentine Art Lesson - Special Needs

Valentine Art Sub Lesson for Autism and Special Needs

Today I taught a self contained class of first grade and kindergarten students who have autism.

When they first come into the classroom, we do a movement activity.  Today we danced to "Get Your Wiggles Out" that I downloaded from YouTube.

After that we went over to the work table.  Here are the supplies that I had ready.

I had prefolded and cut hearts out of 12 x 18 inch red paper.  There was a tray of torn colored tissue paper. I had folded acetate transparencies, but a cut open sandwich bag or wax paper would have worked.  We had glue sticks.

To prepare for the sub lesson, I prefolded  transparencies in half.  Then, to cut the heat shaped frames quickly, I folded each one in half then folded it in half again. That is when I cut the half heart shape that went through all four layers of the folded paper and ended up with two symmetrical heart shapes. 

The students rubbed the glue sticks one entire side of the transparency sheet.

They laid one piece of tissue paper at a time inside the folded transparency until they filled the entire sheet.

The transparency then got refolded and stapled inside the heart shaped construction paper.

After they were done, we took the "stained glass" valentines over to the window and enjoyed looking at their beauty.

Their art time is 30 minutes long and the activity took around 15.  With the remaining time we watched storybook videos and Disney song videos.

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Autism/Special Needs Art Sub Plan

Art Sub Plan for Special Needs Class

This is an idea I am going to try with the autism art class I will sub in tomorrow. I don't have the exact supplies but I think I can make it work.  When I retired, I just couldn't leave that pack of transparencies I have been hoarding for years.  So, I'll try using those with a glue stick and cut tissue paper.  If it works out decently, I'll post the results.

Now to go and look for videos to inspire the kids for the lesson.

Special Needs Art Sub Lesson with Balloons

Art Lesson for Students with Autism and Special Needs

Hi......As a retired art teacher, who subs for my art teacher friends, I come into the classroom with all my own plans.  I know my way around an art room and have no fear of paint.  When I was full time in the classroom, I rarely, if ever, left tempera for my own subs. However, I think there may be instances where it would be okay.

I have subbed for a friend's half hour elementary autism art class and this is the first lesson that I did.

Balloon Play and Print

I downloaded some short YouTube videos about balloons.  All told, the videos probably lasted 6 minutes.  I passed out a blown up balloon to each student and we all played with them for a while.  All of us, kids and teachers, had fun.  We tossed.  We caught. Someone happened to hold their balloon over the blowing heater and the balloon levitated.  Then, we all had to try it.  The kids would have continued playing for a long time, I think.

At some point I brought the kids over to the demonstration table and showed them how to bounce the balloon in the plate of tempera paint.  From there I bounced the balloon on the paper.  After a few bounces I rotated the paint color and bounced the same color in the new color.  In this way, they get a wee bit of color mixing.  They also get to observe the shape of the balloon printed on the paper.

After we finished balloon printing, the assistant lead the students, one by one, to the sink to wash hands.  Another teacher manned the balloon print table as I went back to the projector.  After the students dried their hands, they came back to the carpet and I showed the same balloon videos.

We hadn't even watched all of the videos again when it was time to go.  Having the time for videos during the handwashing though was a nice way to occupy students when the teachers needed to do other tasks.

It would be nice to leave your sub a clean paint shirt or apron for this lesson.


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It didn't occur to me to take my own photos.
***** photo credits*****
licensed under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/
photo by Marco
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mcx83/6482430163/in/photolist-aSQ9Di-gCRWtj-duGimr-a2yRMC-xascmT-4cdrns-22Hbrs-oGQCJh-tWfMe4-aatXqL-yMMLFu-aat4Qe-qEfFN-nn6Mwp-eivXWm-gCRpt2-9uGexz-eP5gzp-pwLPwk-583kwS-fzDc4k-anKjEx-fhCDqv-anKmjX-anKjti-anKkCi-anN9eC-ezpZi3-cFfBKA-fAim7j-xjXDNE-fAimgL-5ehEC2-fjrR8E-bQmRTF-kpBo3-pwbbuv-fjrP7A-3byGAD-oUrt6D-Arjnp-3y1bDA-2ZjWuY-pyPDMF-h1B9k4-6N1eJd-x9iikT-fhSUmu-dmFmVm-8mmqCu

Art Sub Plan - Hands with Pattern

Elementary and Middle School Art Sub Lesson Idea

Art sub plans could nicely be made from this lesson.

Looks like this is in Dutch, but I think you can decipher it pretty easily.

Click here:  Handen met patronen (I'm guessing, "hands with pattern.")

It seems to me that basically you fill a page with pattern. Then you trace your hands on top of the pattern. Lastly, you color in the shapes inside the hand shapes. They appeared to use small tipped pens or markers. I like that look. Lovely.

Reggie Laurent Abstractions - Art Sub Plan

Here's a lesson that could adapted for a sub.  Check it out here at the “We Heart Art” blog:  Reggie Laurent Abstractions.  Beautiful.

 

If you are interested in a fully written up lesson that is ready to hand to a sub, you can check out this one at my TPT Shop. The Colorful and Fun Paintings of Reggie Laurent

This no prep lesson was written so that it could be taught by art subs, but it could also be taught by art teachers and classroom teachers. Key topics include abstract art, organic shapes, geometric shapes, and the art of Reggie Laurent. The materials needed are simple: paper and either crayon or marker. It would work well for an emergency absence or maternity leave. 

It contains full directions for teachers and students. There are many photos of paintings by Reggie Laurent and visuals of student samples. There is a link to a YouTube video about the artist, but it is not necessary for teaching the lesson. (All photos of Reggie Laurent's work have been used with the permission of the artist.)

If you are interested in other lessons that would work well for Black History Month, check these out:

Whoosh! I'm Flying! - based on the book, Tar Beach, by Faith Ringgold

The Magical Fantastical Sculptures of Nick Cave

Tips for Preparing Your Sub for a Tough Class

Tips for Preparing Your Art Sub for a Tough Class

Art sub plans would well be served by remembering these tips. My favorite tip is that you let your substitute teacher know ahead of time of possible problems.  (Last year I spent an hour with  20 plus kindergarteners by myself,  only to experience one of them screaming the entire time.  I was out in a trailer by myself and the teacher didn't leave any phone numbers to call in case of problems. Not fun.)

Anyway..... here are some great tips:  9 Ways to Prepare Your Sub for a Tough Class.