The Perfect Sub Plans: Everything You Need to Get Prepared

Ah, it’s that time of year when germs seem to be lurking around every corner. One minute, you’re feeling fine. The next, you’re waking up with a head stuffed with cotton and a cough loud enough to wake the dead. We all know that when sickness strikes, it doesn’t give much warning, especially for us teachers! There’s also a feeling of guilt about taking that well-deserved time off. That’s why having sub plans ready to go is a total lifesaver. No more scrambling to piece together a plan while you’re barely able to lift your head off the pillow. Today, I’m sharing some ideas that I use for my sub plans to help make planning for your next sub easier!

Preparing Sub Plans Guilt-Free

When we’re sick, our focus should be on getting better and not worrying about what’s happening back in the classroom. For so many of us, that’s easier said than done. I’ve been there, too. I’ve been there teetering on the edge of whether to tough it out or call in sick because the idea of prepping sub plans feels more exhausting than the illness itself.

Here’s the truth, though: having solid sub plans ready to go can be a total game-changer. Not only does it ease that nagging guilt, but it also helps your students and your sub feel more supported.

Remember, subs are pros at what they do. When they have a clear plan in front of them, they can step in and create a seamless day for your students. With your sub plans prepped and ready, your class won’t miss a beat. You can focus on taking care of yourself guilt-free. So let’s put those feelings aside and get those sub plans ready. You deserve the rest, and your students deserve a teacher who’s healthy and recharged!

What You Should Have In Your Sub Plans

When it comes to sub plans, preparation is everything. I like to keep a sub binder or crate packed with all the essentials to make any substitute’s day as smooth as possible. Here’s what I always include. First up is a class roster and seating chart. This way, the sub knows exactly who’s who and where everyone should be sitting. It’s such a simple thing, but it makes a big difference when it comes to classroom management. I was a middle schooler at one time, and I have taught middle school. A seating chart with accurate names is essential in your sub plans to avoid name changing and seat changing.

Next, I have a rundown of classroom expectations and routines. Every class has its quirks, and the sub won’t know about our “silent signals” or our “five-minute wind-down” unless it’s spelled out for them. I’m setting the sub (and my students) up for success. A quick overview of what a general class period looks like is also a must-have. Write out how you start class, what the kiddos should be doing, where assignments should be turned in, etc. It gives the sub a road map of the day, so they’re not caught off guard by surprises like a weekly fire drill or a daily read-aloud time. Plus, it provides consistency that your students are familiar with.

Then, of course, I toss in a few emergency class activities and assignments. These are a lifesaver when I’m too sick to even think straight. I keep them general enough to be useful any time of year but specific enough that they’re engaging for the kids. If general activities won’t work, set a reminder on your calendar and change them out every quarter. This will allow them to remain relevant all year long! With all this ready to go, I know my students will have a productive day. My sub won’t be left guessing. Plus, I get to rest easy knowing everything’s covered, and I can focus on getting better.

Easy Activities for Emergency Sub Plans

Now that we’ve got the basics of a solid sub binder or sub crate down, let’s talk about activities. I’m sharing a few go-to activities that are easy to prep and will keep our students engaged while we’re out recovering. These activities are perfect because they don’t require a ton of upfront work. They’ll still keep your students on task and learning. Whether they’re reviewing concepts or exploring something new, these options help ensure that everyone has a productive day, even when we’re not there.

History Minute Lessons

The History Minute Close Reading resources are perfect for sub plans because they combine reading comprehension with historical exploration. They are both engaging for our students and easy to implement by a substitute teacher. These packets generally include close reading activities that prompt our students to dive into historical topics, analyze primary sources, and answer comprehension questions. They can do it all without needing a lot of hands-on guidance from the sub.

You can easily add these to your sub plans as they offer built-in questions, vocabulary tasks, and sometimes even creative projects that get them thinking critically about the material. They’re flexible enough to fit into any history unit and cover a range of topics, which makes it simple to pull one out on a sub day. Since they focus on reading and analyzing history, they’re a great way for our students to keep learning independently while we’re out recovering.

You can find a variety of History Minutes in my TPT store! While I love them all, a few of my favorites are Modern Rocketry, the First Thanksgiving, and the Origins of Halloween. These are perfect for those sub days when you need something engaging and ready to go!

Color By Number Activities

The Color by Number resources, like in this French Revolution packet, are perfect for sub plans because they’re both engaging and easy for our students to follow independently. These activities combine coloring with key historical concepts. This makes them a fun review activity for our students to reinforce what they’ve learned.

Each packet includes coloring sheets linked to specific topics, vocabulary tasks, and comprehension questions. They’re great for keeping our students focused. At the same time, they’ll be reviewing important terms and events while enjoying a bit of creative downtime.

Plus, the instructions are simple, so subs can easily pick up where you left off without needing a detailed explanation. These resources are ready to go for any unexpected absence, and they’ll keep our students learning enjoyably!

I’ve also got over 250 math color by numbers, covering every month of the year (except July) and just about every skill you can think of. I have color by numbers from color words and single-digit addition up to fractions and decimals. So, feel free to snag whichever ones you need from TPT!

Map Skills Practice

Map Skills Review is one of those go-to activities that’s perfect for sub plans. It’s super easy to set up and can be tailored to fit whatever part of the world your students are currently exploring. I like to keep a few blank map templates on hand. One for each continent or specific countries we’re studying. That way, my students can work on labeling different countries, states, or continents, depending on their level.

You can also have them dive deeper by identifying major rivers, mountain ranges, or other geographical features. This not only reinforces their geography skills but also gives them a chance to connect what they’re learning in class to real places in the world. That’s why I also include some map activities in my History Minute activities.

It’s amazing how engaged our students get when they’re piecing together maps and seeing how everything fits! Plus, maps are a fun visual tool, so our students feel like they’re doing something different from the usual worksheets.

Map activities don’t need much explanation, so your sub can easily guide students through them. With a little prep, they’ll have everything they need to keep the class on track. Your students will stay engaged in meaningful work. So, if you’re putting together sub plans, map skills review activities are a must-have!

Current Event Summaries

A Current Events Summary is an awesome activity for sub plans because it keeps our students engaged with what’s happening in the world around them. I like to pick out a kid-friendly news article or a short news clip for them to watch. You can even include a printed transcript or a link to a safe, student-friendly news site, so they can easily follow along. Once they’ve read or watched the content, they get to dive into a quick summary where they jot down the main points and think about how it connects to what we’re studying in class.

This activity gets them thinking critically and allows them to make real-world connections to the topics we’ve been covering. They can explore themes like social issues, environmental topics, or even technology advancements. It’s all fair game! I love this activity because it also opens up the floor for discussion. Our students can talk about their thoughts on the event, why it’s important, and how it might affect their own lives.

Plus, it’s a great way for them to practice summarizing skills and building their own viewpoints. Because it’s so versatile, your sub can easily guide the students through the process without needing a detailed background on the topic. It’s a win-win. Students stay engaged with relevant, real-world material, and your sub has an easy-to-follow plan that’s both meaningful and fun.

Historical Figure Profiles

Historical Figure Profiles are a fantastic activity to add to your sub plans because they’re interactive, educational, and easy to set up. Whether you’re deep into a unit on ancient civilizations or just starting to explore the movers and shakers of the American Revolution, this activity helps our students dig into the lives of key historical figures. You can keep it simple by giving them a list of people to research or let them choose their own based on what you have learned so far!

All our kiddos need to do is look up some basic information to learn more about the person and their connection to your current topic. They can look up things like birthdate, major accomplishments, and why this person made an impact. It’s a great way for our students to practice their research skills while getting to know important figures from history.

What I love about this activity is that it gives students a chance to connect with the past in a more personal way. They get to see the human side of history and understand what made these figures tick. For the sub, it’s an activity that’s super easy to manage since students can work individually or in pairs. With just a little prep, this can be an enjoyable and enriching way to keep our students learning, even when we can’t be there to lead the way!

Additional Resources

If you’re looking to dive even deeper into Social Studies and engaging cross-curricular resources, I’ve got you covered! Below, I’m sharing some additional History Minutes and other tools that can make learning history a blast for our students.

• History Minutes: Quick Ways to Diversify Social Studies Units
• Cross-Curricular Activities for Social Studies and Literature

Be Ready for Anything With Well-Prepared Sub Plans

Having solid sub plans in place is a total game-changer for any teacher. Whether it’s a sudden sick day or a planned absence, having these activities and resources ready to go means you can take the time you need without a second thought. Your students stay on track, your sub has everything they need to succeed, and you get to rest easy knowing your classroom is in good hands. So go ahead and prep those sub plans. It’s worth it for your peace of mind and your students’ continued learning!

Save for Later

Remember to save this post to your favorite teacher Pinterest board for quick access to these resources for your future sub plans!