Emergency Sub Plans: No-Prep Activities for Middle & High School

It's 6 AM, your child is throwing up, and you need to call in sick — but you don't have sub plans ready. Every teacher has been there. Emergency sub plans are a lifesaver, but they need to be: no-prep (a substitute shouldn't have to make copies or set up materials), self-explanatory (clear directions a non-specialist can follow), and meaningful (not just busywork). This guide covers what to include in emergency sub plans, how to organize them, and where to find no-prep activities that actually work.

What to include in emergency sub plans

A complete emergency sub plan folder should include:

• Class rosters with seating charts
• Daily schedule (including bell times, lunch, prep periods)
• Emergency procedures (fire drill, lockdown, evacuation)
• Behavior management info (who needs seating near the front, who has a 504/IEP)
• Reliable students who can help the sub
• 2-3 days of no-prep activities per subject you teach
• Answer keys for all activities
• End-of-day feedback form for the sub

What makes a good sub plan activity?

The best sub plan activities share these characteristics:

• No prep — substitute doesn't need to make copies, set up materials, or use technology
• Self-explanatory — clear directions a substitute (who may not be a subject specialist) can follow
• Self-checking or easy to grade — answer key included
• Relevant — connects to your curriculum, not random busywork
• Engaging — students won't finish in 5 minutes and cause behavior issues
• Flexible — works for various class lengths and ability levels

Sub plans by subject

ELA Sub Plans

Good ELA sub activities include: reading comprehension passages with questions, grammar/editing worksheets, writing prompts, vocabulary activities, and literature response sheets. Avoid activities that require specific books students may not have access to.

Math Sub Plans

Good math sub activities include: spiral review worksheets, error analysis activities, real-world word problems, math vocabulary activities, and puzzle-style practice (math mazes, color-by-number). Avoid introducing new concepts — subs shouldn't teach new material.

Science Sub Plans

Good science sub activities include: science article reading with questions, video guides (with the video link), vocabulary activities, science documentary worksheets, and review activities. Avoid labs — substitutes typically can't supervise lab activities safely.

PE/Health Sub Plans

Good PE/Health sub activities include: health topic reading passages, fitness log activities, nutrition worksheets, sports rules reading, and vocabulary activities. PE subs often can't run the regular activity, so have classroom-based alternatives ready.

Free sub plan resources

We offer free samples of several sub plan resources. Try them out to see if the format works for your classroom before buying the full bundles.

Premium sub plan bundles

We offer complete sub plan bundles for multiple subjects:

• Middle School ELA Sub Plans — no-prep activity bundle with answer keys
• High School Emergency Sub Plans — 5-day no-prep bundle
• PE & Health Sub Plans — no-prep activities for grades 6-12
• Science Documentary Worksheets — 20 video guide sub plans
• Primary Source Analysis Packet — social studies sub plans

How to organize your emergency sub plans

Once you have your sub plans ready, organize them so they're actually useful:

1. Use a dedicated sub binder or folder — clearly labeled 'EMERGENCY SUB PLANS'
2. Keep it in an obvious location — tell your department head and a neighboring teacher where it is
3. Include a 'Start Here' page — overview of what's in the binder and what to do first
4. Make extra copies — store them in the binder so the sub doesn't need to find the copy room
5. Update quarterly — refresh activities, update rosters, check that answer keys are current
6. Have a digital backup — upload to Google Drive and share with your admin