Friday, September 6, 2019

Native American Art Project for Elementary Students - Native American Shields

Art Sub Plan - Native American Shields


Here’s an art sub plan the kids and teachers love. 


Native American Shields This elementary art lesson would work well as a Thanksgiving or fall art project. It presents art history information on Native American Indian shields as well as on the artist, George Catlin. The students are led, step by step, how to draw the shape of a shield. They then take that basic shield and embellish it with their own symbols and decorations.

As a retired art teacher turned art sub, I can attest to the fact that this is one of those lessons where every child can leave feeling successful about their work. I have found that my students stay fully engaged throughout the entire class period.  


Art sub lesson drawings of native american shields

Supplies Needed

The supplies needed for this lesson are simple: 12"x18" white paper; pencils; markers or crayons; circles, both large and small, for tracing the shape of the shield. (I had students trace around paper plates and paper bowls.)

Reviews of This Lesson

Here is feedback left by teachers who have used this lesson.


"On July 11, 2018Jennifer L. said, "This is my favorite lesson I did this entire year! Thank you! So much fun to include with my Native Americans unit.”

“On March 6, 2018Artsy Ivie (TpT Seller) said: "This was wonderful for my 5th graders!!!!! Our school mascot is the Indian and they loved doing this project! Thank you for the editable powerpoint and for covering EVERYTHING in this.“

Something for Early Finishers

Here's another fun Thanksgiving idea. This worksheet is great for those early finishers. Kids draw a disguise for the poor turkey who is trying to escape a Thanksgiving dinner. Yikes! Create a Turkey in Disguise

For a time saving and quality art sub plan, click here to visit my TeachersPayTeachers shop:  Art Sub Lessons @ TPT

Saturday, August 24, 2019

How to Draw a Turkey for Thanksgiving - Kindergarten

Turkey Directed Drawing for Thanksgiving


kindergarten turkey directed drawing

If you have an art sub who can lead a simple directed drawing, here's a super cute one for fall. Proud to be Primary has a lesson on her blog with complete directions.  Kindergarten kids will love it!  Of course, you might not want to leave paint with a sub.  (By the way, YOU DON"T WANT TO LEAVE  PAINT WITH A SUB!!!)  But, kids can draw this and color it with crayons and still end up with a lovely work to take away with them.




 Art Lesson Plan for Kindergarten

If you would like an early finisher activity about turkeys, I have this worksheet at my TPT shop: Art Sub Lessons.  "Create a Turkey in Disguise." Great for elementary kids.

If you are interested in a lesson on how to draw a simple turkey, check out this blog post: 

How to Draw a Turkey in Disguise - Elementary Art Lesson

This is a complete lesson plan on drawing a turkey.  There are simple directions on the basic turkey shape and then examples for how it might be in disguise. This is a fun lesson for elementary kids and can be taught by anyone. 

You can find this lesson here in my TPT Shop:  Art Sub Lesson - Create a Turkey in Disguise

Elementary art lesson drawing of a turkey in disguise as a bee


Saturday, June 22, 2019

Kindergarten Art Sub Plans | Shape and Mondrian

Kindergarten Art Sub Lessons Idea on Shape and Mondrian

***This original post was based on a blog named This Mama Makes Stuff, but that blog no longer exists.***

This art lesson, in the blog, This Mama Makes Stuff, teaches shape, Mondrian, and oil pastels to kindergarten, but it could convert well to an elementary art sub lesson. Regular crayons would easily replace oil crayons. (I would not leave oil crayons for a sub.)

In this lesson, Carrie is teaching kids about shape; tracing a shape; and the art of Mondrian.  If you like including art history references, this is a good choice.  

Child drawing of shape and Mondrian


Sub Plan for elementary kids - shapes and Mondrian drawing




Mondrian's Boogie Woogie Broadway - ideas for elementary art sub lessons


Photo used under Creative Commons https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/










If you are interested in kindergarten art lessons that utilize shape, you might be interested in this one at my TPT Shop: Art Sub Lessons.  It is a directed drawing of a bird with patterns and flowers, in which students draw a variety of simple shapes to create the picture.  Easy to teach with beautiful outcomes.





Friday, June 21, 2019

Art Sub Plans - Silly Sundae Preview

Art Sub Lessons "Silly Sundae"

Find relief when you have an emergency absence. Writing lesson plans for a sub when you are in a rush, feels horrible. Don't stress out when you don't need to.  I have complete no-prep lesson plans already fully formed for you.


This is a preview of my art sub lesson called "Silly Sundae." I thought you would get more information from a preview of this lesson than just from one or two images. Find this fun elementary lesson at my TpT Shop: Art Sub Lessons. 














This lesson is no prep and can be taught by anyone.  All someone needs to do is to show each page; read the script, and follow the directions. Subs love my lessons because there is a lot of content and they will keep the students engaged for the entire class period.  

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Silly Sundae - Elementary Art Sub Plans

Silly Sundae - Art Sub Plans

This art lesson for kids is easy to teach. Substitute teachers only have to read the script; ask the questions; and show the pictures.  It requires no prep. This lesson gives students an opportunity to use their imaginations and create a fun product that they have never seen before. 

A no-prep lesson, it uses the most basic supplies: pencil, crayons or markers, and paper.

Check it out at the TPT shop: Art Sub Lessons.

drawing of a silly sundae used in an art sub plan


Friday, May 17, 2019

Landscape with Patterns - Art Sub Plans

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.

Line drawing of a landscape










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



Other Lessons Idea on my Blog about Pattern






Complete Lesson at My TPT Shop: Art Sub Lessons




















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

Monday, May 13, 2019

Secret Rooms and Hidden Passageways

Art Sub Plan - Secret Rooms and Hidden Passageways


Before I got a job teaching art, I taught fifth grade.  I taught my class art when I could and tied it into our lessons.  When I taught the pyramids, my students drew imaginary interiors to the pyramids. They were enthralled, and so excited to share their drawings.  I have been meaning to recreate that experience as an art sub lesson for years.  Finally, I did it.

This is a lesson I named, "Secret Rooms and Hidden Passageways." Students look at a variety of hidden spaces in artwork; in history; and in imaginary images.  They then create their own space with trap doors, hidden rooms, secret hallways, and all manner of spaces that are tucked away.

You may find it in my TpT shop:  Art Sub Lessons




Sunday, May 5, 2019

Dog Party - Preschool and Kindergarten Art

Preschool and Kindergarten Art Sub Plans


child drawing of dogs in a tree


Here is a sweet idea for preschool and kindergarten that I had not seen before.  The lesson she created is for preschool. Here's a look at what they did.

Preschool drawing of a dog party
She bases the lesson on Go, Dog, Go to have students create a dog party.  The idea came from Collage Mama's Itty Bitty Blog: A Big Dog Party.  

Take a look at the illustration from the book.


The original lesson has students using paint. Paint wouldn't be a medium you should leave for a sub unless you know the capabilities of the sub, but crayons will work nicely.  Students will love hearing the storybook read to them.  Likely, it will be a favorite.  So, let your sub read that book to your students and then have the students draw their own dog party.

Read "Collage Mama's" blog post for more ideas on this lesson.  

Monday, April 29, 2019

Insect Mandala - STEAM/STEM - Art Sub Lessons

Art Sub Lesson Plans for STEAM | Art and Math

Cool Classroom Stuff’s TPT shop has an art activity that could be used with an art sub, a center, or an early finisher activity. This could be used by elementary, middle, or high school students.  Create Insect Designs with Radial Symmetry - STEM/STEAM


This activity may be set up as a classroom learning center; an activity for early finishers; or as a teacher or sub led lesson.

This PowerPoint includes:

-Four drawing templates featuring spacing guidelines and lightly drawn insects. (Butterflies, spiders, crickets, and bees.)

-One drawing template featuring spacing guidelines without insects so that students may draw their own insects.

-Five 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 the sample drawings that may be hung in a learning center.

-One sheet of sample ways to divide a circle into a design of radial symmetry.

-Three sheets that include information about radial symmetry and directions on how to do the design.

The designs may be created with pen, crayon or marker.



Sunday, April 14, 2019

Flower Mandala Worksheets - STEAM -

STEAM - Math and Art Lesson

The TpT shop, Cool Classroom Stuff, has a fun art activity for elementary or middle school. It could be used for subs, centers, or early finishers. It includes circle templates that are divided to help design symmetrical floral designs. There is a template for creating a design to a Mother’s Day card as well as one for a larger design.
Student drawing using radial symmetry and flowers

This radial symmetry lesson is a STEAM lesson as it integrates math and art.
floral design using radial symmetry


It could be used by elementary and middle school students.

Cover for an art lesson on radial symmetry and flowers