When the plan runs short or the teacher leaves little behind, you need activities that work with any group of middle or high schoolers. The ideas below take little preparation and can be used across subjects. Follow the teacher’s plan first, and use these to extend, support, or replace it only if needed.
What makes a good sub activity
- Students can start without a long explanation.
- It needs only paper and pencils.
- It matches the age of the class and does not feel childish.
- It can be finished in a class period or stopped at a clean point.
Reading and writing activities
- Read and respond. Choose a passage from the textbook or class reading. Students write a short summary and one question they would ask the author.
- Quick-write journals. Give a prompt tied to the subject, such as What is one thing from this unit you would explain to a friend?, and let students write for ten minutes.
- Letter or email to the teacher. Students write what they know about the current unit, which gives the teacher a quick snapshot.
Thinking and problem-solving activities
- Design a solution. Pose a real problem related to the subject and have students sketch and explain a solution.
- Timeline or flow chart. Students order events or steps from the unit and label the connections.
- Error hunt. Write a short paragraph or math solution with a few mistakes and ask students to find and fix them.
Review activities
- Study guide swap. Students write five questions from the unit and trade with a partner to answer.
- Teach it back. In pairs, students explain a concept in their own words and then switch roles.
- One-page poster. Students make a labeled poster that teaches the main ideas of a lesson.
Ready-made activities
If you would rather hand students a finished lesson, the Substitute Plans library has free lessons by subject, grade, and class time, with student worksheets and answer keys in the teacher PDF. You can also try our substitute teacher games for the last few minutes of class.
Tips for running activities
- Give directions in writing on the board and read them out once.
- Set a clear end time and say what students should do if they finish early.
- Collect the work and leave it for the teacher with a note.
Keep reading
- Substitute Teacher Classroom Management – keep older students engaged with any activity.
- Substitute Teacher Survival Kit Checklist – pack the paper-and-pencil supplies these activities need.
- Sub Tub Ideas for Grades 6-12 – teachers can stock early-finisher cards from this list.
Browse free sub plans by subject: science, math, social studies, ELA, art, music and theater, PE and health, Spanish, French and German, technology, business and personal finance, CTE, speech, journalism and media, and advisory and study hall.