5 Art Sub Lessons for Winter

Art Sub Lessons for Winter Break and the New Year

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.

"Snowman Directed Drawing Art Activity," by Proud to Be Primary. This blog post includes both written directions and plenty of visuals.  Crayons or markers can easily replace the paint used in the blog post.

"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.

"Patterns for the New Year," by Strong Rock Elementary Art Gallery blog.  This teacher gives an overview of this lesson about goals for the new year.  You could provide your sub with simple visuals and directions to go along with this lesson.

6 Art Sub Lessons for Winter and the Holidays

Art Sub Plans for Winter

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.

Click here for more winter/Christmas/break lessons and worksheets:  Ugly Christmas Sweaters and more!

Art Sub Lesson - Special Needs - Yarn Wrap

Art Sub Idea for Special Needs

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.  

Here's a Christmas star ornament from Nanny Gunna. 

 Certainly, this doesn't need to be a Christmas ornament. Hanging decorations can be assigned for any use!

Elementary Art Sub Lessons for Winter

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.

You can find it at the Teachers Pay Teachers store: Centers and Early Finishers.

Art Sub Plan - The Colorful Art of Bruce Gray

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.

Art Sub Plan - The Colorful Art of Bruce Gray

Cubism Autumn - Easy Fall Art Lesson

Cubism Autumn - Easy Fall 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

.....And check out the YouTube video here: Cubism Autumn Art Lesson Video

Halloween Art Sub Plan - Silly Monsters

Halloween Art Sub Plans - Creating Silly Monsters

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

Easy Art Sub Plans - The Mitten

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.

Visit "Teaching Art with Kelly B." You’ll find multiple examples of her student’s work.

Fill This Jar-Art Worksheet Printables

Free Art Worksheet - How Would you Fill This Jar?

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.

Whenever she swaps in her next freebie, I will let you know! Find it at Centers and Early Finishers