1st Grade Sub Plans – Set 2

These free 1st grade sub plans have been created by The Curriculum Corner and are perfect for when that unexpected illness pops up!

This is another free resource for teachers from The Curriculum Corner.

After creating the initial set of sub plans for each grade, we decided it would be helpful to add a second day.

This post shares our 1st grade sub plans.

**You can download the entire, free set of 1st grade sub plans by clicking on the bold, green title at the bottom of this post.

Many of these resources have forest animal clip art. Some of the activities include books with forest animals as characters or topics.

These lessons, activities and practice pages that are a part of our 1st Grade Sub Plans. They meet standards for first grade.

Setting up your Sub Plans

To make these emergency plans work in your best interest, plan ahead!

Type up your plans & directions and print these materials in advance. When you do need to call in, you can avoid driving to school in the middle of the night.  

Unfortunately we all know what that’s like and it’s no fun! 

Put your plans and everything a guest teacher will need into a tub and mark it clearly with the words “Sub Tub”.

You can ask a colleague to go into your classroom to help you out. All they will need to do is locate your Sub Tub for your guest teacher.

Our goal for these 1st grade sub plans was to create activities that could act as review since these need to be applicable at any point in the year.  You never know when you might need them!

MATH

Build the Numbers

This activity involves students drawing number cards, building numbers with base ten blocks and then writing the number and a picture on a recording page.  

We have included a set of number cards (1 – 120) at the very end of the download.  

Your directions should indicate that the blocks and a stack of cards be placed in the centers of student tables or for small groups to share.  

Copy a set of our Build the Numbers page to put in your tub with the blocks and cards.

Comparing Numbers 

This activity is used with regular playing cards. You will need to take out the 10s and face cards before putting them in your Sub Tub.  

You will need several decks to be sure all students have stacks to work with. Simply rubber band the stacks, put them in a large Ziploc bag and place them in your Sub Tub.

You will also want to print (and possibly) laminate Comparing Numbers work mats for each student and copy a set of the recording page as well.

Students draw two cards and place them on their work mats to create the first number, and then repeat for their second number.

Next, they record the numbers they made on their recording pages and use the <, >, = symbols to compare the two.

Extra Practice Pages

You will find three extra math practice pages that go along with the above activities and can be copied and placed in the Sub Tub as time fillers in case they are needed.

READING

Fiction Graphic Organizers 

We have created three different graphic organizers that can be used with any fiction book, but if you would like to keep with the forest animal theme, the book The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is a great choice.  

The organizers address main character, setting and retell (using the “retell hand” as a way to remember the parts).  

The guest teacher reads aloud the book and then works with students to model how to complete the graphic organizer(s).  

If this is later in the year, you could copy the main character and setting organizers back to back for students so that they do both during their independent reading time with any fiction book they are reading.  

Copy the set(s) of fiction graphic organizers you want the teacher to model & students to complete and place them in your Sub Tub with a book of your choice.

Informational Text Graphic Organizers

If your students are currently involved in more nonfiction texts, you may want your guest teacher to read aloud an informational text about a forest animal (or another topic) and model how to fill out one of these graphic organizers.

The first is geared more towards beginning readers who will just identify the topic and draw a picture of something they learned.

The second asks for students to identify the topic as well as three details learned from their reading.  

Again, you may want to leave a book for the guest teacher to read with the students and then have them model the graphic organizer for the students before letting them do it on their own with a nonfiction book during independent reading.  

Copy a set of the informational text graphic organizers you want the teacher to model & students to complete and place them in your Sub Tub with a book of your choice.

How Are the Words Alike? 

We have provided 4 posters for the guest teacher to use in a mini-lesson and discussion of word categorization.

We have also provided a practice page for students to work on in a small group setting.  Students look at the group of words and come up with a category that describes all of them.  

You may also direct the guest teacher to have the groups explain why they have chosen their category.  

Copy one of each of the posters for your Sub Tub, as well as enough pages for each small group you wish to work together.  

Ending Punctuation

We have provided two pages of forest animal sentences (10 total) without ending punctuation.  

The guest teacher simply reads each sentence with the class to determine and discuss the types of sentences.  

Attach a copy of the ten sentences to your lesson plans if you choose to do this activity.

 WORD WORK

Cut & Paste Word Family Sort

Students cut apart the word boxes and paste them under the correct word family.  

Simply leave directions for the guest teacher in your plans, along with where they can locate scissors and glue in your classroom.

Forest Animal Wordo

This game is easy and fun for a guest teacher.  

Students choose nine words from the forest animal word wall. They will write at the bottom on their Wordo board.  

The game is played like Bingo.  

Copy a set of Forest Animal Wordo boards for your students to leave in the Sub Tub.  

Also, cut apart the words from the top of one page. Fold and place in a baggie for the guest teacher to pick and call words from.  

You will also need to leave a large bag of chips, markers or buttons for students to mark spaces on their boards.

WRITING

Writing Prompts

We have created three simple picture writing prompts.  

You can allow students to choose their own or assign the same one to all members of the class.  

Just be sure to leave enough sets in your Sub Tub.  Students write a sentence or two about the picture and then color it.  

We like the idea of having the guest teacher model an example with the class before students are set off on their own.  

We have also provided two additional templates in case you would like to assign a topic of your choice.

Blank Books are a good addition to your sub tub. Provide an assortment of blank books and lined pages.

SCIENCE

Animal Sort

This activity has students thinking of the characteristics of forest animals and ocean animals.  

They will sort cards with names of the animals into two groups with the guest teacher as a facilitator.  

For this you will need to cut apart the cards and think of how you want your guest teacher to display them for the class.  Copy a class set of “Sort the Animals” pages. Put the cards in a baggie and clip the baggie to the set of papers for your Sub Tub.  

Students will write the names of the animals in the correct box on their pages as the class discusses each one.  As an extension, we have also provided a template of blank boxes.  

Print, copy and cut apart enough pages so that each student has a blank card.  

Each student needs to think of a forest or ocean animal that isn’t already on the board and draw a picture on their card.  

Once all are finished, the class gets together to place the cards with the correct group.  

Be sure to put into your sub plans that discussions about characteristics of the animals is key to the learning.

You can download the complete set of 1st Grade Sub Plans here:

1st Grade Download

You will find a few of our favorites to add to your sub tub below. Contains affiliate link.

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As with all of our resources, The Curriculum Corner creates these for free classroom use. Our products may not be sold. You may print and copy for your personal classroom use. These are also great for home school families!

You may not modify and resell in any form. Please let us know if you have any questions.