It’s not as easy as that is it? A supply teacher may not know what year group, what subject, what time assembly is, what time break is or what time the day ends!

Coming up with a lesson idea for you, I have to take that into consideration. Improvisation is key. Your key skill. You may have to develop your improvisation skills if you are to be a confident supply teacher!

Try now. There’s no time like the present!

Here’s an exercise for you:

1. Consider this image:

A squirrel.

Literacy idea? You’ve got 10 seconds. Go!

Well done. A poem, alliteration, similes, descriptive writing.

Numeracy idea? Go!

Well done again! Counting nuts, how many nuts needed for hibernation if they eat 3 a day and hibernate for 145 days, how long will it take to collect 20 nuts if it take 40 seconds to collect one nut.

Science idea? Go!

Hehe, you’re getting the hang of this now! Habitats, adaptation. Where do squirrels live, would they be better suited to living in a house. Could a dog live in a squirrel’s drey? Fur, feathers or fins? Similarities / differences with pets, ocean dwelling creatures, humans.

For more one-off supply lesson ideas see my Emergency Lesson Plans here.