Art Teacher Sub Plans

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Art Teachers sometimes fail to have sub plans. Especially emergency sub plans.  This then presents a problem.  Don't fall into this trap by being unprepared.   I have 5 sets of emergency plans just in case already prepared.  Here are some sites that you can check out that might help you prepare, and some tips from me.


Think about using a book as a starter to stimulate ideas for sub plans.  I have a set of elementary age books I use just for emergency sub plans that are different than those for regular art plans.  For example, for the book, Gift Bear for the King by Carl Memling; Illustrated by Lillian Hoban, copyright 1966, I would have the book read to them, then have students draw their favorite part of the book that shows the bear doing something they liked best:  washing dishes, singing on the road, in jail, arriving at the king, etc.  Then, have students line up in order of the drawings in the class: Which drawing shows the beginning, middle or end of the book.  Teaches sequencing and stimulate their thinking.  Good for 1st-2nd grade.

Check out this wonderful website:  http://www.incredibleart.org/lessons/SubPlans/subelem.htm
and this one, too
http://msmalonesartroom.blogspot.com/2010/08/substitute-lesson-plans-for-art-room.html

1)  Create an Emergency Art Plan folder which contains, copies of all your class lists; a copy of your rules, what to do in case of fire or tornado, etc.; and sub plans.  Explain where to find paper, etc., that will be needed for the plans.
2)  Make copies of the plans and put in a folder. Give to the school secretary.  Tell her to use only in an emergency situation (like your were in an accident and now in the hospital, death in the family, etc.), NOT for your regular substitutes. 
3) Make another copy and put in a folder and then in a box  (see #4)
4)  Create a box for the plans with all the paper, supplies the sub will need to carry out the plans.  Put the folder in the box on top.    Label the box, Emergency Art Plans Only!

My favorite sub lesson plan is this:  Draw an Expression of  a Word

Randomly write a bunch of  adjective words on a piece of paper:  beautiful, funny, frightening, wonderful, inspiring, adorable, alive, smoggy, sparkling etc., Tear or cut into strips. Have each student randomly pick one. 
Hand out paper, pencils.  Have students draw images only (NO WORDS) to express what they think the word means.  Pass out markers for them to color images.  I did this with 6, 7, 8 graders, and it was amazing what they came up with!
Would work with 3,4, and 5th graders, except try using verbs: wondering, thinking, teaching, helping, sharing, give, grow, answer, measure, etc.

Good luck.  Remember the idea is to keep it simple, but fun.  I have learned that the simplest projects are the ones kids remember the most.  I'll never forget how they kept talking for weeks about that squirrel named Merle. LOL. 

Art Teachers: Planning for the Year

Planning yearly projects and sometimes around special days or holidays can be like a roller coaster ride; or like looking over the mountains to an unseen future.  I've been there.  Made plans only to start and never finish some projects, never get to the projects because of school schedules, and simply can think of anything for a certain grade that I haven't done before.  

I came across this in my art yearly plan folder.  When I read the list, I remembered using these in my YCAT (Youth Creating Art Together) afterschool program.  And I plan on using these ideas in my art classes--possibly as a little corner in my room to highlight these special days and/or students will do an art project. 

Here's the partial list:  (I don't know where I got the information, but it certainly helped me plan for the year.)

September
National School Success month
National Chicken month
16th-H.A. Rey Birthday (author of Curious George books)

October
Vegetarian month
12th-Scream Day 
Halloween

November
International Creative Child month
National Diabetes month
No TV (television) month
20th-William Cole (nonsense poet)
Thanksgiving

December
Read a New Book month
21st-Winter Solstice
Christmas

January
Hobby Month
15th-Elementary School Teacher Day
Martin Luther King Jr Birthday

February
African American History month
Valentine's Day
15th-Student Volunteer Day

March
Youth Art month
17th-Saint Patrick's Day
Easter?

April
Recycling month
22nd-Earth Day
3rd full week-Ocean Week
Easter? 

So, how will I integrate these special days/months?

Primary color and pattern ice cream cones; create a medal (Curious George),  Scream portraits ala Munch, pos/neg Valentine cards for nursing homes;  Vegetable person/drawing comic; Graphic organizer, plus a drawing about Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? poems using William Cole and other nonsense poems/artist; Martin Luther King Jr birthday cakes and other African American artists for African American History; Celebrate in March with Youth Art Month projects; and create with recycled materials and oil pastel drawings of Deep Sea Discoveries in April.  

Hope this helps you, too.  Not too soon to start planning!  

IF you are interested in learning more about these art projects, you can always email me: lydiagates90@yahoo.com. 

Recycled Scrap Paper Art

This is a great art project anytime you have an abundance of scrap construction paper!  

This was revised on  July 25, 2016 to make instructions more clear. Note:  I am not saying save every scrap of construction paper, but pieces that are large enough they could be used again.  So, at least a 4 inch square piece could be saved.  If you have a 9 x 12 or 8 x 10 piece of paper you've had students cut out half of it, save the part that isn't cut up. I usually start saving about the last few construction paper projects we do--especially if they are projects that require multiple colors. If you do construction paper projects with several grade levels, it wouldn't take long to fill up a box! You will be recycling!!

Another option is to have your classroom teachers save their construction paper scraps for you (if they have any.)  Nothing like working together toward a common goal.  It is a good lesson for classroom teachers! (They thrown most everything in the trash! and I'm usually there to get it back out. LOL!!!) Check the recycle box or trash can in the office/teacher workroom by the die cut outs--I have found snowmen, leaves, etc.  that are great for using for a "negative" shape or for kids to trace the inside of the "negative".

Art Standard:  1 Media, techniques and processes;  3 Choosing symbols ideas

Math Standard 5:  Geometry; Sort/Name/Describe/Construct basic plane shapes. 

Materials: 

•  Big  Box of  mixed colors scrap construction paper
• 12 x 18 inch BLACK or WHITE  construction paper (for background)
•  Glue sticks
•  Scissors (optional) Students (especially Kindergarten tear better)
• Pencil, Crayon-black or white for drawing 

Geometric Shapes Plan

Procedures:  

• Review geometric shapes:  Circle, Square, Rectangle, Oval, Diamond (Rhombus).  
• Using white board or document camera, draw the shapes on your own paper to demonstrate.  Have students name shapes.
• Next, cut a triangle, square or circle with scissors.  If you want, tear one with your hands. (see below)
• Demonstrate putting glue on the shape you cut out, then gluing to a black/white background paper.    Make a simple object or animal.  (PLAN THIS AHEAD OF TIME.)
• Pass out a white crayon if using black construction paper  or pencil if using white construction paper per student.  Ask students to write names on one side of the paper.  Turn paper over.
• Have students draw or trace templates of shapes if you are using them. 
•  Collect crayons.
• Dump paper onto the table and let students go wild!
• Tell students they can cut, OR tear the paper  (no scissors) for a real challenge! to make their geometric shapes or tear paper to fill in the shapes or whatever your assignment is.
• Let students create. 

I had my kindergarteners use 4 big rectangles and trace them onto 12 x 12 paper.  Two rectangles were vertical side by side at the top with about a half inch space in between them; then the other two rectangles were below the ones on top.  Spaced out, they looked like a window. 
Students were told to tear paper and glue it INSIDE the rectangles.  These turned out great.  Even special needs students enjoyed this. Two of these "windows" ended up in the art show!