With 45 minutes left and nothing planned, pick one of these 11 activities. Every one runs with nothing prepared, fits in 45 minutes (or can be cut short), and says what you need.
Checked October 30, 2026. Draw three at random for your grade and room ▸
Leave a class set of a grade-level passage with its questions in the sub folder. Students read and answer independently; the sub collects them.
You need: Printed passages at your gradeGrades: 1–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 20–45 minLeave a class set of a math sheet on a topic the class already knows well, so the substitute doesn't need to teach anything new.
You need: Printed practice sheetsGrades: 1–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 20–45 minStudents draw a map of the room from above, with a key for desks, door, windows and the teacher's desk. Older students add a compass rose and a scale.
You need: Paper and pencilsGrades: 2–5 · paper · no screen · silent · 20–30 minRead aloud from a book in the room until the bell, with the class listening at their desks. Stop at an exciting part if the book isn't finished.
You need: A picture book or chapter book from the roomGrades: K–5 · no paper · no screen · 10–30 minStudents read their own books for fifteen minutes, then write one sentence about what happened in the part they read. Collect the sentences for the teacher.
You need: Students' own books; paperGrades: 1–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 15–30 minThe substitute shows a read-aloud on the projector, reads it to the class, and asks the discussion questions printed with the story.
You need: The read-aloud pageGrades: K–5 · no paper · projector · 15–30 minStudents read their own books for twenty minutes and fill in their reading log. The substitute reads too, which keeps the room quiet.
You need: Students' own books and reading logsGrades: 1–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 15–30 minAfter the read-aloud, students fill in a story map: characters, setting, problem, events and solution.
You need: Printed story mapsGrades: 1–4 · paper · no screen · 15–30 minKeep a set of sudoku puzzles at two levels in the folder. Students who finish one try the harder one.
You need: Printed sudoku puzzlesGrades: 2–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 15–30 minMake a word search from your current word list once and keep copies in the emergency folder. Students find the words, then write sentences with three of them.
You need: A printed word searchGrades: 1–5 · paper · no screen · silent · 10–30 minLeave a class set of a grade-level passage with its questions in the sub folder. Students read and answer independently; the sub collects them.
You need: Printed passages at your gradeGrades: 1–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 20–45 minLeave a class set of a math sheet on a topic the class already knows well, so the substitute doesn't need to teach anything new.
You need: Printed practice sheetsGrades: 1–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 20–45 minStudents draw a map of the room from above, with a key for desks, door, windows and the teacher's desk. Older students add a compass rose and a scale.
You need: Paper and pencilsGrades: 2–5 · paper · no screen · silent · 20–30 minRead aloud from a book in the room until the bell, with the class listening at their desks. Stop at an exciting part if the book isn't finished.
You need: A picture book or chapter book from the roomGrades: K–5 · no paper · no screen · 10–30 minStudents read their own books for fifteen minutes, then write one sentence about what happened in the part they read. Collect the sentences for the teacher.
You need: Students' own books; paperGrades: 1–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 15–30 minThe substitute shows a read-aloud on the projector, reads it to the class, and asks the discussion questions printed with the story.
You need: The read-aloud pageGrades: K–5 · no paper · projector · 15–30 minStudents read their own books for twenty minutes and fill in their reading log. The substitute reads too, which keeps the room quiet.
You need: Students' own books and reading logsGrades: 1–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 15–30 minAfter the read-aloud, students fill in a story map: characters, setting, problem, events and solution.
You need: Printed story mapsGrades: 1–4 · paper · no screen · 15–30 minKeep a set of sudoku puzzles at two levels in the folder. Students who finish one try the harder one.
You need: Printed sudoku puzzlesGrades: 2–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 15–30 minKeep copies of a ready-made crossword in the folder, such as space or weather. Students solve it in pairs.
You need: A printed themed crosswordGrades: 3–8 · paper · no screen · 15–30 minMake a word search from your current word list once and keep copies in the emergency folder. Students find the words, then write sentences with three of them.
You need: A printed word searchGrades: 1–5 · paper · no screen · silent · 10–30 minLeave a class set of a grade-level passage with its questions in the sub folder. Students read and answer independently; the sub collects them.
You need: Printed passages at your gradeGrades: 1–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 20–45 minLeave a class set of a math sheet on a topic the class already knows well, so the substitute doesn't need to teach anything new.
You need: Printed practice sheetsGrades: 1–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 20–45 minStudents read their own books for fifteen minutes, then write one sentence about what happened in the part they read. Collect the sentences for the teacher.
You need: Students' own books; paperGrades: 1–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 15–30 minStudents read their own books for twenty minutes and fill in their reading log. The substitute reads too, which keeps the room quiet.
You need: Students' own books and reading logsGrades: 1–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 15–30 minKeep a set of sudoku puzzles at two levels in the folder. Students who finish one try the harder one.
You need: Printed sudoku puzzlesGrades: 2–8 · paper · no screen · silent · 15–30 minKeep copies of a ready-made crossword in the folder, such as space or weather. Students solve it in pairs.
You need: A printed themed crosswordGrades: 3–8 · paper · no screen · 15–30 minUp: Substitute teachers · 25 sub-day activities · Brain breaks
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