Kindergarten Emergency Sub Plans for The Itsy Bitsy Spider and a Freebie

As a kindergarten teacher, you understand the importance of being prepared for anything. Whether it’s an unexpected sick day or a last-minute meeting, having a reliable set of sub plans on hand can make all the difference. That’s why it’s helpful to have a resource like the Itsy Bitsy Spider Emergency Sub Plans—a low prep resource  that can keep your classroom running smoothly, even when you can’t be there.

Why the Itsy Bitsy Spider Sub Plans are a Game Changer

These sub plans aren't just a collection of worksheets; it’s a well-thought-out, comprehensive plan designed to engage your students with a classic nursery rhymes while covering essential kindergarten skills. The activities included are not only educational but also incredibly fun for your students, as well as easy to follow for the sub making the sub day experience seamless for everyone involved. 

Each activity is clearly explained to the sub on a cover sheet so all you have to do is print, write the suggested time and enjoy your worry free day out of the classroom! 

What’s Inside the Sub Binder?

These comprehensive sub plan revolves around the classic Itsy Bitsy Spider rhyme, offering a variety of engaging activities that blend fun and learning. With resources ranging from literacy and math worksheets,  this packet ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience for both students and substitutes. The activities are crafted to captivate your students'' attention, making it easier for substitutes to keep the classroom running smoothly. Additionally, the flexible plans can be adapted for use throughout the school year, providing continuous support whenever it's needed.

1. Student Emergent Reader Books: These reader books are perfect for coloring and practicing reading skills, making literacy learning enjoyable. Included are two versions: a simple version for tracing numbers and a more advanced version with additional wording to cater to varying skill levels.

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1. Story Sequencing Activities: Help students grasp the flow of events with engaging story sequencing tasks. These plans include large picture cards for whole group retelling, as well as a cute student version that includes the words to the poem. 

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Vocabulary and Grammar: You will also find a range of vocabulary and grammar activities, including picture labeling (with and without words for matching), a vocabulary flip book, and mixed-up sentence exercises. Lightly shaded words are provided if needed, making it easier for them to match the words correctly, or if using this product early in the school year.  




3. Phonemic Awareness and Phonics: The phonemic awareness activity includes syllable practice from words in the story. The large pictures cards from sequencing activity offer a great whole group warm up. This activity works great early in the year in kindergarten if needed.  
4. For phonics activity, students will complete a short vowel color by code with the vowel sound, as well as a simple s sound worksheet that can be used earlier in the school year.
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6. Writing and Warm Up The writing section is designed to be easily differentiated based on your students' needs. Early in the school year, students can start by rainbow writing letters as a warm-up, followed by a simple fill in your name and draw a picture activity. As the year progresses, they can advance to writing a story based on the Itsy Bitsy Spider using transition words as well as some fun directed drawings!
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8. NOTE: As a freebie, you can grab the directed drawing sentence writing activity at the end of the post.

9. Math Practice Pages: Keep your students’ math skills sharp with over 15 different practice pages to choose from. Options include roll and trace number tracing, ideal for the start of the year, as well as more advanced kindergarten concepts like addition and subtraction. These practice sheets provide versatility to match your classroom's evolving needs.
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    1. Bonus Activities: Includes a story crown, word search, story elements and more for added excitement. This again contains more than enough activities for a variety of skill levels in your classroom.
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Be Prepared with the Itsy Bitsy Spider Sub Binder

Don’t let an unexpected absence interrupt you or your students day!  With the Itsy Bitsy Spider Emergency Sub Plans, you can rest easy knowing your students are learning and having fun, even when you’re not there. 

Check can check out the Spider Freebie here 

Ready to make sub days stress-free? Get your Itsy Bitsy Spider Emergency Sub Binder here and ensure your students are always in good hands!

Kindergarten Emergency Sub Plans for the Three Little Pigs and a Sequencing Freebie

I always like to be prepared in case of an absence.  I remember when I first started teaching it would seriously takes me HOURS and HOURS to take a day off.   I needed everything all laid out perfectly but it would take me FOREVER.  I created Kindergarten Emergency Sub Plans for the Three Little Pigs  as a print and go packet as an easy solution to that and I hope that it can help you as well.  

While I am gone, it is important for my students to have meaningful work that reinforces the skills we are learning... not just busy work.   I made sure the activities align to what we are doing in the kindergarten classroom while still being engaging to students.  I based the sub plans on the story Three Little Pigs Book (affiliate link) which is a story that I always loved sharing with my students.   I love the rhyme and repetition of the story and it is always enjoyed by my students.  

You can also find it on YouTube.  

The Three Little Pigs Activities

I have included a full day (possible even two days) worth of activities.  Everything is so easy to copy and just go. Each activity in the packet comes with a simple sheet that explains the activity and a place that you can just write the time on for your sub.  I copy everything in advance to have ready for a stress free day off.  Then when needed I simply write the times on each of the activities and lay them out.  

Emergent Reader

I always love getting students little hands on their own books.  Included is a simple to read emergent reader with the predictable text "I see a  (images from the text)".

It is easy to copy and prep and fun for your students to have their own little book.  This will also help with them sequencing by becoming familiar with the order that everything appears in the story.  I always allow my students to color as well.

Sequencing

Since retelling and sequencing events are always important for comprehension, included are color picture cards that can be used for a whole group sequencing and well as two printable student sort. 

A link to the simple printable student sort is included as a freebie at the end  of this post.

Phonemic Awareness/ Rhyming and Phonics 

Phonemic awareness is so important in a kindergarten classroom and rhyming is something that we practice a lot and is always great to review.

Included is a fun interactive no prep Google Slides rhyming activity where students are presented with two pictures and drag a thumbs up or a thumbs down to show if they words rhyme.  This is a great and colorful whole class warm up to do with students.  

Also included is a printable rhyming worksheet for students to complete independently as well as a phonics short vowel color by code activity.  

Sight Word Flip Book

This fun to create flip book uses the same predictable sentence frame from the emergent reader.  Students cut and staple to create a flip book with the sentence "I see the_____"  which is a great vocabulary activity.

Students can then copy the sentences from their flip book and practice reading them.

Writing

You will also find a variety of writing tasks for your students. As a writing warm up, they can copy easy to read sentences, remembering to leave spaces and capitalization, or a more difficult versions where students can correct errors.  Also included is a mixed up sentence activity, where students form a sentence from mixed up words.   These activities both work well as a writing warm up.  There is then a writing task for students with both a simple version as well as a more complex version.  

Differentiated Math

There are a variety of math activities to choose from depending on when you choose to use these sub plans during the school year or the levels of your students.

Included is a simple shape activity which a whole group activity as well a student practice sheet.

After reviewing shape names, whole group you can play shape memory where students match the shape pig to the real world shape, and then independently students can complete their own match. This activity can easily be used at the beginning of the year. 

There are also sheets focusing on simple skills such as counting and numbers to 10.  

As well as counting and ordering numbers to 20 and numbers in a tens frame, that can be use later in he year in kindergarten.  

With a wide variety of options based on kindergarten common core standards, it will be sure to fit the needs of your students in your classroom. 

Extras 

Additionally, you will find a variety of "extras" that can be used to substitute or supplements based on the needs of your students, such as a rainbow writing, a story retelling graphic organizer, a word search and more!

These activities can be used for a wide variety of levels and allow you to help meet the individual needs of students in your class.  

What Else Is Included For Sub Plans?

It is also important to communicate other important information to your sub and I have also included editable form to fill in while you are out.  I always include a class list, class rules, a schedule and common classroom procedures.  

You can type in this document or print it out and write in the info and is great info for your sub to have.  

You can find all of these resources in my Kindergarten Emergency Sub Plans for the Three Little Pigs 

They are so easy to print, copy and store in advance for a stress free day off.  

You can find it discounted 25% in my Week Long Fairy Tale Kindergarten Sub Plans Bundle with 5 days worth of sub plans, each focusing on a different fairy tale. 

This makes for no stress days off that can be prepped in advance.  Each resource has the materials and format with a new story as the focus making it easy for the sub as well as the students. 

Or you can grab the Free The Three Little Pigs Sequencing Worksheet

I Have Who Has Kindergarten Cooperative Learning Game: How to Play + Free Alphabet Version

One of my favorite classroom cooperative learning games to use with my kindergartners is "I Have, Who Has." If you haven't tried it yet, you are going to love it! It is such a great way to reinforce or review skills and once you teach students how to play, you can use it for almost any content just by switching out the cards. Not only does it solidify skills, but it also keeps students excited and engaged the whole time. Let's dive into everything you need to know about this fun kindergarten game!

What Is the I Have Who Has Game?

"I Have, Who Has" is a whole-class card game where every single student gets a card and participates. One card says "I have START" and another says "END," and the chain of cards connects everyone in between. Students have to listen carefully so they know when it's their turn to respond which means the whole class stays engaged from beginning to end.

It sounds simple, and it is! That's part of what makes it so perfect for kindergarten.

How to Play I Have Who Has in Kindergarten

Playing "I Have, Who Has" with kindergartners is easier than you might think. Here's how to get started:

Step 1: Hand out the cards.
Give each student one card. If you have more students than cards, pair students up as buddies. If you have more cards than students, some students can hold two cards.

Step 2: Find the START card.
The student holding the "I have START" card begins the game by reading their card aloud.

Step 3: Follow the chain.
Each card has two parts: "I have ___" and "Who has ___?" The student whose card answers the "Who has?" question reads next. The game continues until the student with the END card finishes.

Step 4: Try to beat the clock!
Once your students know how to play, add a timer to make it even more exciting. Kids love trying to beat their own record and it's a great way to build fluency and listening skills at the same time!

Why I Love This Game for Kindergarten

This isn't just a fun filler activity but it really does build important skills! Here's why I keep coming back to it all year long:

Active listening: Students have to stay tuned in because they never know exactly when their turn is coming. This naturally builds listening skills in a way that feels like a game, not a lesson.

Whole-class participation: Every single student has a role. There's no sitting on the sidelines, which is huge for keeping kindergartners engaged.

Easy to differentiate: If you have a student who needs extra support, simply partner them with a buddy. If a student is ready for more challenge, give them two cards to manage.

Flexible for any skill: That's the real magic of this game. Once your students know how to play, you can swap in new cards for any skill you're working on and they already know exactly what to do.

When to Use I Have Who Has in Kindergarten

This game works great in so many different parts of the day! Here are a few of my favorite times to use it:

Morning meeting — a quick, low-prep way to kick off the day with a skill review
Transition time — perfect for those few extra minutes before lunch or specials
Whole group review — great before an assessment or at the end of a unit
Small group — use just a portion of the cards for a focused small group activity

What Skills Are Included?

I put together an "I Have, Who Has" bundle specifically for kindergarten that covers both math and phonics skills your students are working on all year.

Math skills included:

• Identifying numbers 1–25
• Numbers on ten frames 1–20
• 2D shapes and 3D shapes

Phonics skills included:

• Beginning sounds
• CVC words
• CVCe words
• Rhyming
• Nonsense words

They are easy to print and laminate so you can have them ready to grab whenever you need a quick review or have a few extra minutes in your day.

Grab the Bundle or Try It Free!

Ready for the full set? The I Have, Who Has Kindergarten Bundle has everything you need for math and phonics reviews all year long.

👉 Check out the I Have Who Has Kindergarten Bundle here

If you want to try the game before committing to the full bundle, You can grab the FREE I Have Who Has Alphabet Freebie here to download and use right away! It's a great way to introduce the game to your students and see how much they love it.

I hope that you and your students enjoy playing this game!