Sub Lesson: Tracing Shapes and Drawing Patterns

This is my number one sub lesson that I can leave in the "sub tub" for my emergency lesson or for my "I'm feeling lazy lesson". 

The directions are simple: Pick an object from the bucket and trace it at least 5 times on your paper. 

 (I have some simple plastic shapes: circles, triangles, squares... and I also have a bucket of more complex shapes like cookie cutters, cd's, and other random objects for the older kids.)

Once the student traces their object, they draw different patterns and designs in each shape with a pencil. Once they have filled the shapes, they color with crayons. 

Then, they design the background...or incorporate it into the design early on. 

This usually lasts the whole 60 minute class period, but I always leave some "extra time" activities just in case. 

Name Tags and Idea Books

Every year the 1st - 4th graders create name tags that stand up on their table to designate their artist space. We also use these to house our idea books in what I so cleverly call an "idea book taco". They just open the name tag and place their book inside to keep it all together. But hey when you associate things with food, kids listen. 

Here's some 4th grade designs for their name tags. We do block letters and backgrounds. 

I print and design the idea book cover page and staple it to their books. If you're wondering what those books are...well they are just the best donation I've ever had! A parent worked for a paper company and they had all these books full of paper samples...well basically it's a book of blank white paper and luckily she thought of me before letting them get tossed out!

The kids decorate the name tags and the idea book cover in one 60 minute class period. It's a great way to start the year off with following procedures, using crayons and markers and being creative with our names!