🇺🇸 Sub plans · K-12 · no prep

No-prep sub plans by grade and subject

Ready-to-run activity ideas with timings, a checklist of what to leave your substitute, and a generator that writes the whole sub plan for your topic in about a minute.

Generate a sub plan free →Free sub plan binder template

Choose a grade or subject

Each page is written for that age and subject: what good sub plans look like there, activities with timings and what to leave your substitute.

Emergency sub plans →
Any subject, K-12 · 6 activities
Evergreen content: Choose skills that are useful in any month, like reading comprehension, math fluency or writing a paragraph, so the plan never goes out of date.
Elementary sub plans →
Kindergarten to grade 5 · 6 activities
Follow the daily schedule: Write the plan in the same order as your normal day, with times, so the substitute and the students both know what comes next.
3rd grade sub plans →
Grade 3 (ages 8-9) · 6 activities
Reading to learn: Use short informational passages with questions that require evidence from the text, a core skill throughout grade 3.
Middle school math sub plans →
Grades 6-8 · 6 activities
Only review what you taught: Practice on the current or previous unit, never a new standard. Reteaching after a sub day costs more time than it saves.
Middle school science sub plans →
Grades 6-8 · 6 activities
No labs or equipment: Keep lab materials put away. Data analysis and experimental design on paper teach the same practices safely.
Middle school ELA sub plans →
Grades 6-8 · 5 activities
Short, complete texts: A short story, poem or article students can finish in one period beats a novel chapter that depends on what came before.
High school English sub plans →
Grades 9-12 · 6 activities
Rigorous short texts: Speeches, op-eds, poems and short essays give a complete reading experience in one period and work across any unit.
High school science sub plans →
Grades 9-12 · 6 activities
Labs on paper: Provide a lab scenario with real-looking data. Students analyze, calculate and evaluate without touching equipment.
High school history sub plans →
Grades 9-12 · 6 activities
Background first: A short context reading ensures every student can understand the sources, even if they missed recent classes.

Sub plans - FAQ

What is a no-prep sub plan?

A sub plan a substitute can run straight from the page: clear directions, timed activities on paper, an answer key and the classroom information they need, with nothing to set up.

How many emergency sub plans should I keep?

Two or three evergreen plans per class, kept in a sub binder with seating charts and procedures, cover most sudden absences. Review them each grading period so they still match your students.

Can LessonHQ write a sub plan for my exact topic?

Yes. Choose the grade and subject, type the topic and LessonHQ writes a full sub plan with word-for-word sub directions, timed phases, a student sheet and answers in about a minute.

Is it free?

You can start free with no card. Paid plans add higher monthly limits. Every plan exports to Word, Google Docs or PDF.