Winter Art Worksheets for Early Finishers

Nutcracker, Elf, or Gingerbread House

Art subs will love you if you leave something for the kids to do after their lesson is done.  Check out my worksheet for early finishers:  Create a Nutcracker Worksheet

Here's another that I created that might work well for you at this time of year. 

Early Finishers - Create an Elf in Disguise.

or this favorite, Early Finishers - Create a Gingerbread House

Art Sub Plan - Imagination Drawing

Art Sub Plan Using Imagination

Here's one I haven't seen before!  Check out this lesson at Dansquare's Art Education.

It is based on this book, ““If.......”, by Sarah Perry. (Not an affiliate link, btw.). Here’s the blurb from the book.  “ Take a fantastical journey through an inspiring world where anything can happen: leaves turn into fish, cats fly with wings, humans have tails, frogs eat rainbows, and dreams become visible. 

First published in 1995, Sarah Perry’s delightful picture book of “surreal possibilities” was the Getty’s first children’s title. Twenty-five years later it remains a visual feast that children of all ages enjoy.”

That sounds like a book that would be a good addition to your classroom library in addition to having. Good lead-in for this lesson.    

Patterned Landscapes - Art Sub Plan Elementary

Patterned Landscapes for Elementary Art Sub Plans

Here are some visuals for a landscape lesson that anyone could teach. It could be great for an art sub.

I have drawn 4 stages of a patterned landscape lesson that you are welcome to use in a lesson with your own students.

Here is a video that you could use with older students.  Patterns and Landscape Video.

Other Lessons Idea on my Blog about Pattern

Easy Art Lesson for Elementary and Middle School

Put a Pattern on It

Complete Lesson at My TPT Shop: Art Sub Lessons

The Colorful Art of Bruce Gray

***Originally I had linked to a lesson about patterned landscapes on a site called "Relief Teaching Ideas," but that site no longer exists.

How to Draw a Turkey in Disguise

Create A Turkey in Disguise - Printable Worksheet

What is a sub or teacher to do when students finish their lesson early? That's the time when behavior problems often occur. So here is a fun and creative worksheet to have at hand for just that circumstance. This is based on a classic lesson in which students alter the appearance of a turkey to help them escape Thanksgiving dinner. This could be a great lead-in for a Writers' Workshop lesson. The supplies needed for this worksheet are pencils and crayons or markers.

       

Preparing for an Art Sub

I would love to sub in Cassie Stephens' art room.  Here are rich plans and ideas for good organization.

I believe that in sub planning, more is more. Give the sub lots of help. Give them contingency plans for if the kids finish early or is the class is short. Help them to not be left in a lurch. What a nightmare to be in a room of strange kids with nothing to do.  Sheesh. I just got a cold chill down my spine.

More Posts about Planning for a Sub

Here are a couple of other posts about preparing for an art sub.  Emergency Art Sub Plan for Kindergarten.  This one links to a post from Mr. E about when he had to be that sub. A class' sub didn't show up and he had to double up kindergarten classes, by himself, with no help. There are also links to free resources to help you.

Setting Up for a Sub This one is from That Little Art Teacher. She leads you through how to get ready for a sub. Let me tell you, planning for this in advance will make your absences much easier to deal with. They are NO FUN.

More Resources

I sell art lesson plans and activities. One thing I always, always, always wanted to have on hand for my art sub was activities for early finishers.  Here are some in my TPT shop that you should check out. Most are only .99 and believe me, they may be a realy life saver for your sub.

Click here if you want activites to engage those early finishers:

Create a Troll in Disguise

Draw a Turkey in Disguise

Create a Character in Disguise

Create a Tooth Fairy in Disguise

Create a Dragon in Disguise

Decorate a Jack Lantern

Create a Silly Monkey in Disguise

Create a Little Red Riding Hood in Disguise

Create a Turtle in Disguise

Create a Frog in Disguise

Create a Penguin in Disguise

Circle Game - Free Art Worksheet

Decorate a Jack O’ Lantern

Create a Bunny in Disguise

Create an Elf in Disguise

Create a Leprechaun in Disguise

Create a Groundhog in Disguise

Create a Panda in Disguise

Create a Yeti in Disguise

Create a Reindeer in Disguise

Doodle a Nutcracker

Draw a Silly Monster

 

Preparing for a Maternity Sub in the Art Room

What an amazing resource! Ashley, at the blog, Teach and Shoot, gives a detailed post about her preparations for maternity leave.

I have written another “Preparing to Go on Leave” post here:  Preparing for Leave. This one is also thorough. It is by Katie Morris.

I would also suggest that you visit my TeachersPayTeachers shop for Art Sub Lessons.  There are many resources already prepared for your sub.  Don't spend all that time trying to write plans.  I have already done that for you!

Draw a Turkey in Disguise - Art Worksheets Printable 

What is a sub or teacher to do when students finish their lesson early?  That's the time when behavior problems often occur.  So here is a fun and creative worksheet to have at hand for just that circumstance.  You can find it here at my TeachersPayTeachers shop.

Art Sub Plan - Faux Stained Glass

As a retired art teacher who subs, I appreciate being able to teach a lesson that will keep the students engaged and that will turn out well.  That lesson needs to be able to keep the kids interested for a whole class period.  This lesson from Crayola looks as though it will fit the bill. Check it out here:  Faux Stained Glass Art Lesson Plan

Elementary Art Sub Plan - Setting Up for a Sub

Setting Up for a Sub

One of the most difficult parts about art sub planning, is trying to do it at the last minute. That is NO FUN!!!!!  When you are stressed or not feeling well is a horrible time to try and create a good experience for a substitute teacher or your students.

As someone who subbed for a while after retirement, I can tell you that those hastily put together lessons plans are HORRIBLE TO TEACH. Please do better.

Here is a post about setting up for a sub that includes a bonus.  The comments are also full of great sub lesson ideas!  This is from That Little Art Teacher. This is the way to go! Do yourself a favor and prepare well before you get in a last minute prep situation.

Art Sub Plan - Shoeprint Designs

Shoeprint Design Art Sub Plan for Middle School and Elementary

Inspiration for an art lesson can be as close as on your feet.  Kids can trace a shoe; notice the tread on the bottom; draw a tread pattern of their own; and color it in.

Originally, I posted a link for this lesson over at Raising Arizon Kids, however their blog is no longer available. So, I looked up "shoe print art" and found some other great ideas.  Check out this lesson on the blog Kinderart. They use shoe shapes to inspire other things. 

Here are also some cool images of footprints on Flickr. 

by Bryce Bradford

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

by Siddhu 2020

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

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If you like that lesson, you might also like this one from my shop on TeachersPayTeachers.

Kindergarten Art Sub Lesson - Monsters

Kindergarten Art Lesson - Monsters

"Monsters" is a topic that has a high level of interest for elementary students. They don't have to be scary monsters, though some kids love, love, love the scary ones. Think of all the Sesame Street Monsters. Some are on the scarier side than others, but they're all basically furry and sweet.

Since monsters of the imaginary sort are not real, there is an infinite amount of ways they can be drawn.  That is what makes them such a good art sub lesson. High interest. Endless possibilities.

Finding art sub plans for kindergarten is a little hard.  Here's a great lesson that a sub could easily do. Find Monsters at the Artisan des Arts blog.

Books  You Might Like to Accompany this Lesson

As introductions to the topic, you might lead in with one of these picture books:

If You're a Monster and You Know It, by Rebecca Emberley

The Monster at the End of this Book, by Jon Stone

My Monster Momma Loves Me So, by Laura Leuck

Spider Sandwiches, by Claire Freedman

Monster Needs a Costume, by Paul Czajak

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak

A Fun Video to Go with the Lesson

Now, even more fun than a book as an intro to a kindergarten lesson is a video with singing and kids' artwork, based on a book.  Here is a video of If You're a Monster and You Know It, based on the book of the same name.  If you have a sub who can maneuver to YouTube and project a video, this is a great one.  Check it out at Kris Handley's channel on YouTube: If You're a Monster and You Know It 

Ready-Made, No Prep Lessons in my TPT Shop:  Art Sub Lessons

If you like this lesson idea, you might also like this primary level art sub lesson about Chinese Dragon Parades:  Dragon Dance

or this worksheet for early finishers that you will find here:  Create a Silly Monster

                                          

Art Sub Lesson for Kindergarten - Bugtown Boogie

Kindergarten Art Sub Lesson for Bugtown Boogie

You should check out this art lesson.  When I first saw it, I missed that a good chunk of the lesson was lower down on the page, so don’t overlook this. There are a good number of instructions down there.

This sweet lesson was inspired by the book, Bugtown Boogie, by Warren Hanson. 

If you’d like to check out this book, you can find it performed on YouTube here:  Bugtown Boogie

The version of the lesson that this Mom uses with her son involves rolling a dice to choose bug body parts. You can find this lesson at:  Deceptively Educational.

This reminds me a lot of my sub plan, Ugly Bug Ball. 

If you’d like a fun elementary art lesson about bugs, that’s all ready to hand to a sub, check that one out at my TPT shop. It’s no prep; fully scripted, and full of visuals. It would work best for 2nd grade through 5th grade.

Here's another primary lesson you might like at my TeachersPayTeachers shop.

Art Sub Plan - Wayne Thiebaud

This is a video lesson I created 7 years ago.  ....Wow....7 years ago...... Anyway, if you can download this from YouTube, great!  Or, if you have access to YouTube, great as well.  All you or your sub needs to do is to play and project.  All the information and instructions are right in the video.  You pause when the video directs you too.  It is free too!  Yippee!

The lesson starts off with a bit of a biography of the artist and then goes into the directions for the drawing.   Check it out here:  Wayne Thiebaud Art Sub Lesson

Mondrian Inspired - Art Sub Plans Worksheet

Mondrian Inspired - Art Worksheet

This is a nice little handout to accompany a kindergarten lesson on Mondrian. This could work wonderfully as a sub lesson. Once Upon an Art Room  explains what she does in this lesson.

With the worksheet, she has the students plan their design and then go and create  the artwork. 

What a great way to introduce the idea of planning to kids.

Art Sub Plan - Giant in My House

Imagination Lesson Plan or Art Sub Plan

If you are looking for a sub-plan that is easy to use, but not just a simple handout, this might be the one you want.  When you are scrambling around trying to gather things for an art sub, this is about as easy to prepare for as it gets.

I created it a few years ago, but since the movie BFG (Big Friendly Giant) comes out this summer, I thought it was time to revamp this lesson.  (By the way, if you purchased this lesson previously, you can download this version for free.  Yay!)

It was written so that it could be taught by anyone.  All the teacher needs to do is to show each slide; read the text, and follow the directions.

22 slides long, the presentation of the lesson is long enough to get the students to engage in the lesson and think creatively before they begin to draw.

The supplies needed are pencil, paper and crayons.

It may be projected as a PowerPoint.  It may be printed out and shown as you would show a picture book.  It may even be printed out and projected via a document camera.

If you would like to have an accompanying worksheet for early finishers, this could be a perfect one.

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!