You woke up feeling like warmed over troll snot and now you are gonna have to take one of “those teacher sick days”.  You know the kind, where you are almost in tears trying to throw something together for the sub. These are the days you’ll be proud of the past version of you that thought ahead with your substitute lesson plans for science.

Importance of substitute lesson plans in science education

If you are like me, I would literally teach at death’s door rather than take a day because of the amount of work that went into missing a day of school.  I’ve taught with the flu (didn’t realize it was the flu at the time), bronchitis, and walking pneumonia because I didn’t have a sub plan and the energy it would require to create a good sub plan just wasn’t there.  I’ve taught with no voice (complete laryngitis) and had to write everything down.

After scrolling through Pinterest, I realized that I’m not the only one that doesn’t expect the unexpected.  You probably need some good emergency sub plans in your back pocket.  So I decided to make some.  These are substitute lessons plans for science  that can be used as middle school life science lesson plans or in high school biology lesson plans.

The idea of these lessons is that they could be printed off and used immediately or put into a folder ahead of time.  These ideas don’t have to be used by a sub either.  Each of these is a detailed lesson plan in science.

Benefits of engaging substitute lesson plans

Engaging substitute lesson plans ensure that students can continue their learning journey seamlessly, regardless of the presence of their regular teacher. This helps maintain consistency and prevents any disruption in the learning process.  This type of planning also makes administrators happy!

No one wants to feel like they are doing busy work.   When students are presented with exciting and interactive lesson plans, they become more engaged and enthusiastic about learning. Engaging substitute lesson plans capture students’ attention, spark their curiosity, and encourage active participation.  This also makes it easier on the sub.

Now that we understand the importance and benefits of engaging substitute lesson plans, let’s delve into some practical ideas and strategies for creating captivating substitute lessons in science.

Virtual and online resources for substitute lessons

In today’s digital age, virtual and online resources offer a wealth of possibilities for engaging substitute lessons in science. These resources provide access to interactive simulations, virtual laboratories, and educational videos that can bring science to life in the classroom.

1. Take your students on virtual field trips to explore different ecosystems, visit museums, or discover famous scientific landmarks. Online platforms such as Google Expeditions and virtual museum tours provide an immersive and educational experience.

2. Use interactive simulations to demonstrate complex scientific phenomena that may be difficult to replicate in a traditional classroom setting. Simulations allow students to manipulate variables, observe outcomes, and deepen their understanding of scientific concepts.

3. Incorporate educational videos into your substitute lesson plans to enhance student engagement and comprehension. Platforms such as YouTube and TED-Ed offer a wide range of science-related videos that cover various topics and can be used as a starting point for classroom discussions.

Virtual and online resources provide flexibility and accessibility, allowing students to explore science beyond the confines of the classroom. By incorporating these resources into your substitute lesson plans, you can create a dynamic and interactive learning experience for your students.

Factors to consider when creating substitute lesson plans (and things to include):

• Information pages:

  • note to the teacher (overview of the lesson)
  • standards correlation
  • class periods page (editable)
  • class schedule (editable)
  • seating charts (editable)
  • roll book (editable)
  • how to turn on the equipment (editable)
  • other needs to know (editable)

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Sub Note ( with YouTube Playlist Link):

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Student Activities:

Each lesson includes a primary activity and secondary activity (for early finishers or further study)

Not just for sick days

While these are perfect for those last minute emergencies.  Since you are getting a detailed lesson plan in science (that actually covers material in the standards), these lessons could also work well as large group work while you are work with smaller groups doing individual conferences with students, have small lab groups working on a separate issue, or if you need to catch up on grades or other paperwork.

The current life science topics are:

• DNA & Punnett Squares
• Cell Membranes
• Biodiversity

Engaging substitute lesson plans are essential for maintaining a positive and productive learning environment in the absence of a regular teacher. By incorporating hands-on experiments, virtual resources, games and activities, collaborative group projects, field trips, and technology, educators can create substitute lesson plans that captivate students’ attention and foster a love for science.

Remember, the key to creating engaging substitute lesson plans lies in providing interactive and meaningful learning experiences. By infusing creativity, variety, and student-centered approaches into your substitute lesson plans, you can ensure that students remain excited, engaged, and motivated to learn.

So, let’s step outside the traditional classroom box and embrace substitute lesson plans that ignite curiosity, spark imagination, and make science come alive for our students. With these 10 engaging substitute lesson plans for science, you have the power to transform the way your students learn and inspire a lifelong love for science.