Low-Prep Agriculture Sub Plans for High School: Activities Subs Can Actually Manage
If you teach high school agriculture, you already know: sub plans hit different in the ag classroom. Between labs, equipment, animals, and the general energy level of teenagers in a hands-on learning space, you can’t just leave a worksheet and hope for the best.
Sometimes you need sub plans because you’re sick. Sometimes you're out for FFA. No matter the reason, having structured, low-prep, curriculum-aligned ag activities ready to go is the key to keeping your classroom running smoothly even when you’re not there.
Over my years teaching agriculture, the two biggest challenges I faced on sub days were keeping students engaged to avoid behavior problems and finding activities simple enough for a substitute to manage without ag experience. If those sound familiar, this post is for you.
Below are practical strategies, systems, and ready-made activity types that will help you build reliable agriculture sub plans—plus links to fully planned resources you can plug in immediately.
Why Sub Plans Are Harder in an Agriculture Classroom
Ag teachers teach everything from animal science to plant systems to ag mechanics—and each comes with its own set of safety considerations and materials. A substitute teacher might feel totally comfortable leading a reading assignment, but probably not a soldering activity, a floral lab, or a discussion about managing ruminant nutrition.
That’s why the best ag sub plans are:
Curriculum-aligned
Independent and structured
Low-prep
Safe for all students
Simple enough for any sub to run
And—most importantly—they keep students busy with meaningful work so you don’t walk back into a classroom of missing chairs, dented clipboards, or mystery liquids.
What Makes a High-Quality Agriculture Sub Plan?
A strong ag sub plan should be:
1. Curriculum-Aligned
Students shouldn’t feel like sub days are “throwaway days.” When activities reinforce your current unit or build background knowledge for upcoming lessons, they support long-term learning.
2. Low-Prep
Let’s be honest: most sub plans are written at 6 AM with a cup of coffee in hand. You don’t need extra steps, printing nightmares, or complicated demonstrations.
3. Independent and Easy to Follow
Subs should be able to manage the class without needing ag-specific knowledge. Activities should come with enough structure that students can work without constant clarification.
4. Behavior-Friendly
The more structured and engaging the task, the fewer issues that arise. Independent, text-based, or tech-based activities are especially helpful here.
Four Low-Prep Agriculture Activities that Make Perfect Sub Plans
These are the activities I found most reliable for sub days—and they align beautifully with the needs of agriculture classrooms. I now create them for other teachers because they truly work.
1. Reading Comprehension Worksheets
Why they work:
100% sub-friendly
Completely independent
No materials needed other than a pencil
Keeps students focused and minimizes off-task behavior
Reading comprehension activities work well for reinforcing topics like animal welfare, soil science, plant systems, and agricultural careers. They also build literacy skills—an easy win for administrators who want to see cross-curricular learning.
Browse ready-made agriculture reading comprehension worksheets here
2. Webquests
Why they work:
Students love tech-based tasks
Guided structure keeps them on task
Subs don’t need any background knowledge
Great for research-based learning
Webquests are ideal for days when students can use laptops or classroom devices. They encourage curiosity and allow students to learn directly from reputable sources. Think topics like turkey production, nitrogen in agriculture, or cut flower sustainability.
See the full collection of agriculture webquests here
3. Task Cards
Why they work:
Perfect for review days
Can be used individually or in groups
Provide structured movement that reduces behavior issues
Work with nearly any topic
Task cards are especially effective for sub days during review weeks or any time you want students to reinforce key concepts. They're flexible enough to use as stations, early-finisher activities, or partner work.
Explore agriculture task cards here
4. Vocabulary Activities
Why they work:
Reinforce essential ag terminology
Quiet, focused, structured
No-prep and sub-proof
Great for days when you need simple, reliable work
Vocabulary is foundational in every agriculture course—animal science, plant science, environmental science, and more. Vocabulary activities make excellent bell ringers, whole-class assignments, or fillers for unexpected downtime.
Browse agriculture vocabulary activities here
How to Build a Plug-and-Play Agriculture Sub Folder
A ready-to-go sub folder saves future-you from panic prepping on a sick morning. Here’s a simple structure:
Include at least:
2–3 reading comprehension worksheets
1–2 webquests (paper or digital)
A class set of task cards
A few vocabulary activities
Clear directions for the substitute
A short note about safety expectations
Ideal tip: Rotate a new reading passage or webquest into your folder occasionally to keep it fresh.
Final Thoughts: Sub Plans Don’t Have to Be Stressful
High school agriculture teachers juggle more responsibilities than nearly anyone else in the building. Preparing high-quality sub plans shouldn’t be another burden on your plate. With a small collection of reading comprehension worksheets, webquests, task cards, and vocabulary activities, you can walk out of your classroom with confidence—knowing students are engaged, learning, and staying out of trouble.
If you’re ready to build a dependable sub-plan system, check out these ready-made, teacher-tested resources:
These low-prep, high-engagement activities are designed specifically for high school agriculture classrooms—and they make your sub days so much easier.
