Grades 4–5
Sub Day Number Puzzles
Eight number puzzles for 4th and 5th grade sub days: mystery numbers, missing operations, patterns and a magic square row, with an answer key.
Classroom management printable · Substitute teacher activity packets
Sub Day Science Riddles
Eight science riddles for 3rd to 5th grade sub days, about the moon, plants, magnets, the water cycle and animals, with an answer key.
- Grade level
- Grades 3–5
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Answer key
- Yes, page 2 of the PDF
- Kids practice
- Planning for a substitute, Independent work, Classroom routines
What kids do
“Solve each science riddle. Use what you already know, and guess smart if you aren’t sure.”
Printed on the sheet:
- 1. I pull things toward the ground. Without me you would float away. What am
- 2. I am water that falls from clouds. What am I?
- 4. I am a rock that was once hot, melted lava. What kind of rock am I?
- 6. I change from a caterpillar inside a chrysalis. What am I?
- 9. Write your own science riddle. Put the answer upside down!
Teacher tip
Let kids work in small groups and share their answers at the end.
How to use it
- Keep a full sub folder ready at all times, not just for planned days off.
- Choose activities kids can do with little help.
- Slide it into a sheet protector and use a dry-erase marker to reuse it all year.
Watch for
Private student information left in the open. Keep health and family notes in a sealed folder.
Talk about it
- What does a great sub day look like?
- How can this help you be ready to learn?
Take it further
Practice a sub-day routine once with another teacher so kids know what to expect.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More substitute teacher activity packets
Grades 1–3
Sub Day Story Starter
A sub day writing page for 1st to 3rd grade: a story about a mystery visitor in the classroom, with a quick plan, writing lines and a picture.
Grades 1–5
How Did Today Go With Our Guest Teacher?
A student reflection for the end of a sub day: a 1 to 5 rating, what went well, what was hard, how I helped and a note for the guest teacher.
Grades K–5
Substitute Teacher Info Sheet
One page for the sub folder: the daily schedule, helpers, procedures, students who need extra support and where things are.
Free for teachers
Get the free Classroom Drawing Kit
12 printable pages: six step-by-step lessons, a grid activity, draw-and-write sheets and teacher notes, sent with your welcome email. After that, new classroom printables by email.