One Happy Art Teacher describes how she taught fan folding in this sub lesson and turned it into Jack in the Boxes. Full details are included in her blog post.
If you are looking for a kindergarten art sub plan that is ready to hand to a sub right now, check out this lesson in my TPT shop.
This lesson, Robot Roundup, includes visuals of vintage robot toys and contemporary robots. Students follow a directed drawing to get started, but add their own details when they are ready. I have taught this to all ages of elementary students and it is well loved by every level.
This lesson is no prep, fully scripted, and includes plenty of visuals. It can be taught by anyone.
Here is an easy and fun art lesson that is no-prep. It was written so it would be easy enough to be taught by a sub, but can certainly also be taught by art teachers and classroom teachers. If you have an emergency and need to take a day off, this would be perfect for a sub lesson. It is already written out. All anyone would need to do is read the script and pass out supplies.
The supplies needed for this are simple. Paper and crayons or markers.
The lesson may be projected or printed out.
Where You Can Find This Lesson
This lesson can be found at my TPT shop: Art Sub Lessons. I have a ton of resources to help with sub lesson planning or just everyday art lessons.
Here are some reviews of the lesson that were left in my TPT shop:
"Great, thorough product. Could be used for lessons: shape, color, pattern, movement. There are many ways to use this resource to meet your project needs."
"My students loved learning about Reggie Laurent as part of our Black History Month artists. My grade 4s and 5s created colorful doodles inspired by his work. This PowerPoint was an incredible guide for teaching the lesson and exploring his contribution to the art world. I extended the project by allowing students to include a silhouette in the middle of their doodles. Great resource! "
Need art sub lesson plans and activities for March? Here are some things I found that will help out around St. Patrick's Day. This includes a STEAM and STEM lesson or two.
"Cool Classroom Stuff" on TeachersPayTeachers as a great lesson for art and math. A STEAM lesson, "Create a Symmetrical St. Patrick's Day Design" would be great for upper elementary, middle, or high schoolers.
This one was done in crayon.
This was done with marker pen.
Storytime Anytime reads the book, How to Catch a Leprechaun, in this YouTube video. (The book is by Adam Wallace with illustrations by Andy Elkerton.) After reading the book or watching the video, you or your sub could have students draw a leprechaun trap. (You may need to remind them to build something that would be kind and keep the leprechaun safe.)
This printable Celtic Knot coloring page is in PDF format and designed to be printed on letter sized paper. It is by Literary Springs Designs.
Here is an art activity from the TPT shop: Centers and Early Finishers. Upper elementary and middle schoolers might enjoy this.
Did you see “Coco”? Oh my gosh! That was a cute movie! And I cried!
If you have been looking for a lesson or sub lesson to go with Dia de Muertos, here is one by TPT Shop: Cool Classroom Stuff.
This art activity would be fun to do around a Mexican holiday like Day of the Dead or Cinco de Mayo. If your students have seen the animated movie, “Coco,” they will be familiar with Día de Los Muertos. Great as an art sub lesson; learning center; or activity for early finishers.
This PowerPoint includes:
-Three drawing templates featuring sugar skulls. One has a center guideline; one does not, and one small one has a guideline and fold lines to be utilized as a greeting card.
-Six sample drawings, showing a variety of media. They may be hung in the class as visuals for a lesson or hung in a learning center.
-One sheet with a composite of these that may be hung in a learning center.
-One sheet of sample designs you might see on sugar skulls.
-Five sheets of information about sugar skulls; directions on how to draw one; and information about symmetry.
-Four bonus sugar skull coloring sheets. May be used for students who need a little help or just for fun.
The designs may be created with pen, crayon or marker.
It is hard to imagine that it is this time of year already!!! If you would like a Mardi Gras mask lesson, Center and Early Finishers’ TPT shop has one. It could be a nice lesson for an art sub.
Here’s how she describes the lesson: “ This Mardi Gras activity may be used as a learning center activity, a filler art lesson, or a creative activity for early finishers. Students will doodle patterns in the template of a Mardi Gras Mask. The supplies needed to complete the artwork are simple: crayon, pen, or marker.
This activity includes: 1 mask template 4 sheets of directions for different media 4 sheets, each with a mask done in different media 1 sheet of suggestions for how to divide the space 1 sheet of sample patterns 1 sheet showing an example of how you might set this up as a learning center”
Here's an art activity that is great as a STEAM project; a classroom art lesson or as an art sub plan. There are examples and templates. Great for upper elementary and middle school students.The lesson is by TPT Shop: Cool Classroom Stuff.
Valentine Art Activity for Centers, Subs and Early Finishers
Here are two Valentine art activities that can be used in a center; taught by a sub or teacher, or used as an activity for early finishers.
One is by the TPT Shop: Cool Classroom Stuff. Elementary and middle school both will enjoy this lesson. Templates are provided as a structure for original designs. Students will use simple materials which could include, pens, crayons, or markers.
The second lesson is intended more for elementary than the first one, but middle school would enjoy doing it too. This one is from the TPT Shop: Centers and Early Finishers. It is more of a doodle art lesson and would be good for early finishers.
There is a template for the kids to add pattern to or just color in.
This one also uses simple materials: pens, crayons, or markers.
Seeking art lessons for after winter break? Here ya go. Here are some elementary art lessons that would make great sub lessons for the new year. Some have directions and visuals included and some you will need to tweak a little.
"Winter landscapes by 1st grade - one day project" by Mrs. Knight's Smartest Artists. One day lessons can make great sub lessons. This one makes such a gorgeous work of art. Paint isn't a great medium for subs, but can be substituted with crayons or markers. If you will let your sub use markers, make sure you leave lots of instruction about how the students should use them.
"A Cup of Fantasy," at Arteascuola. These painted cups are so colorful. I am sure they can be recreated in crayon or marker. You could make step-by-step visuals pretty easily for this one.
"How to Draw Penguins," by Cassie Stephens. In this blog post, Cassie gives visuals, including a step-by-step one for how to draw the simple penguin shapes. Students add whatever details they think up, so these can all be individualized.
Oh, boy. Teachers are wondering what to do with their antsy art classes this last week before winter break. Don’t give up and give them over to videos. Fun art lessons for that last week before Christmas vacation can be had at this TPT shop: Centers and Early Finishers.
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Here are some updated entries to lessons you would benefit from before the break.
Trying to figure out lessons for my special needs students was always a challenge, but trying to figure out something for a sub to teach them was way more difficult.
Just now I saw this art activity which would be totally doable by a sub (with assistants...You do have assistants in there with you, right?). It looks like a no-fail lesson.
You still have to do some prep, but if you don't mind that, it should be all good.
Elementary Art Sub Lessons for Winter and Christmas
Here is a winter activity that elementary kids will have fun creating. It was written so that it could be used as a winter drawing lesson for an art sub or as a learning center activity.
Students often ask if they can do a Christmas art lesson. This activity is geared as a winter activity, but the student could turn it into a Christmas one.
I recently discovered the art of Bruce Gray and I am in love!
He is mainly a sculptor but paints as well. Here is his website: brucegray.com
He has done a lot of work that has been featured on tv and in movies. You can see all about that on his site. You can also buy art right from him there! (I am going to have to save up to buy the pieces I really, really want, but he also has reproductions.)
He seems to be a good guy. On his site, he has some pages of student work that was inspired by his own work. I thought that was pretty cool that he would do that.
Anyway, I asked him if I could create an art lesson featuring his work and he said yes! What a nice guy.
Here are some of the comments left by teachers who left feedback about the lesson:
"Kids & sub loved this. Kids asked to finish their drawings when I was back! Perfect no-prep lesson - just get out the computer paper and circle templates!"
"Excellent lesson that could be used with a sub or a normal day in art. I know my students will enjoy this super lesson."
You can check that out at my TeachersPayTeachers shop: Art Sub Lessons.
Here is a lovely fall lesson that a sub could totally do. There are plenty of visuals but there is even a video to show to do this. Check out the blog post here: Cubism Autumn
Here is a complete, fun lesson to teach or to use as a center. All the visuals you need are included. It could be printed out or projected. Art subs and classroom teachers will appreciate how easy it is to use. You can find it here: TPT Shop: Centers and Early Finishers
This winter art lesson idea was written by a fourth grade classroom teacher. Though her school doesn’t have its own art teacher, she tries to fill in that gap by doing art with her students herself. Because this was created and used by a non-art person, I feel like this would be perfect for a substitute teacher to use.
You want your art sub lessons to be easy to use, but interesting enough that your kids buy into it. I think this one will do the trick.
I would use this with first, second, third or fourth grade.
This teacher used construction paper, crayons (I am guessing the ones that are made specifically for use on construction paper), and a mitten template. The snowflake design was cut out of paper and glued on top.
If I was going to use this as a sub lesson, I would consider using the construction paper, but would more likely just go with white drawing paper. Markers would make beautiful drawings, but again, I am not sure I would leave my markers available to a sub I didn’t know. (I would want someone to emphasize taking care of markers.)
I also would consider having a snowflake template for the kids to trace, as cutting out a snowflake might be one complication too many for a sub. Kids love tracing, so they would love having two things to trace in this lesson.
As an inspiration for the lesson I would lead in with a picture book or video. The one that comes to mind first is The Mitten, by Jan Brett. If you do not own it, your school likely owns multiple copies. Check early though. This one is likely to get checked out all winter.
Guess what!!!! Jan Brett has a YouTube video of herself reading the book!!! A video lead in sounds like a great way to engage the kids. If you have a sub that can work basic technology, I would definitely go with the video.
Teachers Pay Teachers has been very good to me. I put a lot of work into my shop and it has been a blessing. Now I am helping my daughter open her own shop. I am telling you this because there is a good freebie in there for you right now. At some point, it will become a paid product, so go get it now! It would help her out a lot if you would follow her shop and leave feedback too. You would not believe how valuable that is for a shop owner!
Her shop features items to use in learning centers and also products for early finishers. As an art teacher, my contributions will be art-focused, and that's why you arty people might like them.
The item we opened the shop with is an oldy but a goody. You have seen it before, but now you have the visuals to go with it. It can be used as an art center; an early finisher activity; or a quick art lesson.
Halloween Art Sub Plan for Elementary and Middle School
I always hated creating art sub lessons. It was always so much work. Whenever I planned to take a day off from work, I wondered if it was worth the hassle. When I retired from full time teaching and decided to sub in art, I found that some teachers left good lesson plans, but many were too bare boned to be very helpful. That's why I decided to create my own shop to sell art sub plans. All of my lessons are affordable and are full and rich for a sub to teach. They will save you HOURS!!!
This Halloween art lesson is fun for students and easy to teach. The prep for this is minimal. Students will need paper; one black crayon per student; and assorted other crayon colors.
These are provided to help your sub teach with confidence:
-3 1/2 pages of script so all your sub has to do is read and follow the directions
-5 pages of visuals that accompany the script
-5 pages of supplemental visuals that your students can refer to for details
Here is a preview of what you would get.
This is a Print and Go lesson so you do not need a projector. However, since it was created with PowerPoint, you could project it if you turn the slides in a different direction first. There is also a .pdf version in this file.
