Substitute teacher lesson plans. You know you need them, but back to school is such a crazy, busy time that prepping them keeps falling lower and lower on your never-ending to-do list. Then it happens, two weeks into the school year, you wake up feeling awful. You realize there’s no way you can make it to school today. Panic sets in as you think about the day ahead – what will your students do all day without real lesson plans? Scrambling, you try to put something together, but it’s stressful, and you’re not even sure it’s enough. The thought of going up to the school to set up for a sub sounds awful in your current state. Sound familiar?
Get These FREE 3rd Grade Substitute Lessons
This is why having well-organized substitute teacher lesson plans ready to go is a priority for your back-to-school to-do list. Having pre-prepared lesson plans means you can rest easy knowing your students are in good hands, even when you’re not there. It ensures that learning continues smoothly, and your substitute can manage the classroom effectively without resorting to busy work. In this post, I’ll share a resource that covers all subjects with activities that could last 5 days if necessary.
The Importance of Prepared Substitute Teacher Lesson Plans
Having prepared substitute teacher lesson plans can really take a load off your mind and make things easier for your substitute, no matter when you have to take a day off. When you’ve got detailed, engaging plans ready to go, you can focus on getting better without stressing about your class. Consistent plans help keep student learning on track and prevent wasted days for them. Plus, well-organized plans make it easier for the substitute to step in and teach effectively, with quality lessons and rigorous activities instead of just busy work. This keeps students engaged and on task, making the day run smoothly for everyone – and you won’t get the inevitable note from the sub complaining about student behaviors!
Overview of the 3rd Grade Emergency Sub Plans Resource
When I created these substitute teacher lesson plans, I had one thing in mind. If I’m not in class for one day or several days, I don’t want my students learning to stop. The activities are standards-based, engaging, and move my students forward.
Let’s break down what makes the 3rd Grade Emergency Sub Plans so effective:
Reading
Each day includes reading activities designed to focus on comprehension and engagement. Students are engaged with interesting texts, answer questions, and participate in discussions that help deepen their understanding.
Skills included in the reading activities are:
- Point of View
- Main Idea & Key Details
- Sequence
- Character Traits
- Context Clues
Each set of reading activities is labeled with the skill at the top of the page. This way, you can grab the activities quickly and easily.
Writing
The five writing prompts give your students valuable practice with different genres of writing. Each prompt is labeled and gives complete instructions so that students know exactly what to do. Your substitute won’t have any problem giving instructions and you will have quality writing samples from your students! The writing prompts include:
- narrative
- opinion
- descriptive
- persuasive
- expository
Math
The math lessons provided include real practice with word problems, not rote practice, that students complete in a few minutes. These math activities are designed to keep students actively learning and applying their math skills. The skills your students will practice:
- addition and subtraction
- multiplication
- division
- fractions
- area & perimeter
Science
Leaving plans for Science lessons is always difficult. There is so much emphasis on hands-on exploration activities, but that can be difficult when a sub is in your classroom. All of the science activities in this resource are perfect for sub days – your students keep learning, they are engaged by the topics, and you don’t have to worry about writing complicated directions.
Your students can engage with these topics:
- Magnetism
- Plants
- Animals
- Space
- Force and Motion
Social Studies
The five Social Studies activities can be used anytime during the school year. Perfect for partner activities, each one features an engaging topic that your students will enjoy learning about.
Included in Social Studies activities are:
- Native Americans
- Regions of the United States
- The Liberty Bell
- Route 66
- United States Government
Morning Bell Work and More
Finally, you can include in your sub plans these extra activities:
Morning Work: Activities that keep students busy and learning while your sub gets settled. Included for morning work are context clues, vocabulary, capitalization and punctuation, math vocabulary, and a number of the day.
Early and Fast Finishers: Perfect for students who finish their work and need more engaging activities. Included are word searches for scientific method, multiplication & division, affixes, irregular verbs, and map skills.
Having these extra activities available for your substitute teacher will keep off-task behaviors at a minimum, and you can look forward to a “good” note when you return!
Benefits of Using These Substitute Teacher Lesson Plans Resource
- Time-Saving: This resource saves you time and effort when planning for unexpected absences. With everything ready, you can quickly grab the plans and know your students will have a productive day.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Covering all major subjects ensures that students continue to learn and stay on track, even in your absence. You won’t have to worry about gaps in their learning.
- Engaging and Educational: The lessons are designed to be engaging and educational. They keep students interested and focused, making sure they’re not just passing time but genuinely learning and growing.
Having prepared substitute teacher lesson plans can really take the stress off both you and your substitute. With detailed, engaging plans ready to go, you can focus on getting better without worrying about your class. It’s all about keeping things consistent for your students so their learning isn’t disrupted and they stay on track.
Plus, well-organized plans make the substitute’s job so much easier. They’ll have quality lessons and activities to keep students busy and learning, not just filling time. This helps keep your students engaged and on task, making the whole process smoother for everyone involved.
And – you won’t get that note from your sub about students’ behaviors! #win-win
Ready to simplify your teacher life? Get this bundle of substitute teacher activities that include reading, writing, math, science, and social studies!
The most valuable resource that all teachers have is each other. Without collaboration our growth is limited to our own perspectives.
Robert John Meehan
