Science sub days come with a firm rule: no labs. A substitute should never supervise chemicals, heat or sharp equipment, so middle school science sub plans need to build lab skills on paper instead. Analyzing data from an experiment, designing an investigation, reading about real science and modeling a process with a labeled diagram all practice science and engineering skills without risk. Pair them with vocabulary review and students will make real progress while you are out.
Keep lab materials put away. Data analysis and experimental design on paper teach the same practices safely.
Start with a puzzling real-world event, like why ice floats, so students have a reason to read and think.
Claim, evidence and reasoning paragraphs are excellent sub work: structured, independent and easy for you to assess later.
A word bank on every page helps students with weaker reading and English learners keep up without help.
Avoid leaving a video as the whole lesson; even a good one turns into background noise without a task. Also avoid textbook 'read and answer' questions that can be copied straight from the page. Questions that ask students to explain, predict or use data give you much better evidence of learning. If your class is mid-way through a lab, leave work on analyzing results they already have or on background reading for the next step, rather than anything that requires materials.
Mix and match to fill the period. Every one works on paper with no specialist knowledge.
A photo or short description of a real phenomenon with the question 'What do you think is happening and why?'
A data table from an experiment on the current unit. Students graph the data, describe the trend and draw a conclusion.
Students plan an experiment on paper: question, hypothesis, independent and dependent variables, controls and steps.
A short article on a real discovery or issue linked to the unit, with questions on key ideas and vocabulary.
Students write a claim, evidence and reasoning response to the warm-up phenomenon using what they learned.
A quick match-up of unit vocabulary to definitions to close the period.
The checklist that stops the sub day going wrong before it starts.
Type your topic and LessonHQ writes a sub plan with sub directions, word-for-word scripts, timed tasks, early-finisher work and an answer key, already set to Grades 6-8. Edit it, then download as Word, Google Docs or PDF.
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It should not. LessonHQ sub plans are built to avoid labs and specialist equipment, using reading, questions and written explanation instead, so students practice science safely.
Set your state in your profile and type the topic, and the sub plan is pitched to that grade and your state's standards.
No labs or equipment, Phenomenon first, CER writing, Vocabulary support. Keep lab materials put away. Data analysis and experimental design on paper teach the same practices safely.
The 6 activities on this page add up to about 45 minutes, so pick the ones that fit your class period or block. LessonHQ lets you set the length from 30 to 120 minutes and times every section for you.
A clear note that no labs, chemicals or equipment are to be used; Lab safety rules for the room and where the safety equipment is; Seating charts for every period. Our free sub plan binder template has space for all of it.
Yes, you can start free with no card. Paid plans add higher monthly limits. Every sub plan exports to Word, Google Docs or PDF, fully editable.