Emudraw

Free art sub plan: a 30-minute no-prep drawing lesson

Print this and hand it to a substitute, or run it yourself on a day with no plan. Four short drawing games, timing, a written objective, a National Core Arts Standards anchor and an exit ticket — pencils and paper are the only materials. No account, no sign-up, nothing collected from students.

Need a sub plan? Plan an Emudraw activity for a future day, then use the ready-to-go Teacher and Student pages for your substitute. For an extension, add a Large Drawing page from Find an Emudraw.

K–2 | 3–5 | 6–8

See the daily classroom sheet

Tip: in the print dialog choose "Save as PDF", set paper to US Letter and turn off double-sided printing. Page 1 is the teacher plan; page 2 is the student page.

Emudraw · Free sub plan · Grades K–6 · 30 minutes

Drawing games lesson — teacher page

Today we will: Students will use line and gesture to generate a quick observational drawing within a set time limit.

VA:Cr1.1.3 — Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work · National Core Arts Standards, Visual Arts · Grade 3

Timing

30 minutes · about 6 min per game (4)

Materials

Paper (or a sketchbook) · Pencil and eraser · Optional: colour pencils, markers or crayons

Wrap up

On the back of your paper: write your title and one thing you'd add if you had five more minutes.

The games (4)

1. Speed Draw — prompt: a bicycle6 min

Setup: Project the word and set the countdown. Paper and pencil only. Say: Draw today's word before the clock runs out — the time limit changes each day.

2. Blind Memory — prompt: a house with three windows and a tree beside it6 min

Setup: Project the picture for 7 seconds, then hide it and start the timer. Say: Study the picture for a few seconds, then draw it once it disappears.

3. Partial Draw — prompt: a fish (start from a curved line already on the page)6 min

Setup: Project (or print) the partial drawing so students can see the starting strokes. Say: A few strokes are already on the paper — complete the drawing of the given word.

4. Mirror Match — prompt: a butterfly (one wing is drawn, mirror the other)6 min

Setup: Project the half-picture. Remind students to draw the centre line first. Say: One half is drawn. Mirror it on the other side of the line as closely as you can.

Discussion & reflection

  • • What was the hardest part of this drawing?
  • • Which artistic choice are you most pleased with?
  • • Describe your drawing using three adjectives.
  • • What would you change if you drew it again?

Early finishers

  • • Add 5 more details.
  • • Add a background.
  • • Add a pattern somewhere.
  • • Add shading.
emudraw.app — a new drawing challenge every day. No student accounts, nothing collected.

Emudraw · Free sub plan

Today's drawing games

Name: ______________________

1. Speed Draw — a bicycle

  1. Draw today's word before the clock runs out — the time limit changes each day.
  2. Use as much of the page as you can.
  3. There is no wrong answer — keep it classroom appropriate.

2. Blind Memory — a house with three windows and a tree beside it

  1. Study the picture for a few seconds, then draw it once it disappears.
  2. Use as much of the page as you can.
  3. There is no wrong answer — keep it classroom appropriate.

3. Partial Draw — a fish (start from a curved line already on the page)

  1. A few strokes are already on the paper — complete the drawing of the given word.
  2. Use as much of the page as you can.
  3. There is no wrong answer — keep it classroom appropriate.

4. Mirror Match — a butterfly (one wing is drawn, mirror the other)

  1. One half is drawn. Mirror it on the other side of the line as closely as you can.
  2. Use as much of the page as you can.
  3. There is no wrong answer — keep it classroom appropriate.

When you finish early

  • • Add 5 more details.
  • • Add a background.
  • • Add a pattern somewhere.
  • • Add shading.

Before you hand it in

On the back of your paper: write your title and one thing you'd add if you had five more minutes.

emudraw.app — a new drawing challenge every day.

How to run it

  1. Warm-up (3 min): Loosen up: scribble lines and shapes on scrap paper.
  2. Draw (8 min): The daily challenge, lightly at first.
  3. Develop (6 min): Bigger, bolder, more of the page used.
  4. Colour or value (6 min): Add colour, shading or both.
  5. Extension (4 min): Pick an extension bubble and go further.
  6. Reflect (3 min): Give it a title. Share one artistic choice.

Want a fresh set of prompts every morning, with a projector view, a class timer and editable objectives? See the teacher tools.