AI Sub Plans That Actually Work: My 5-Minute Emergency Template + 4 Free Tools I Use When I’m Sick

Last month I woke up with zero voice and a 102° fever.
Report cards were due in two days.
Instead of dragging myself in, I opened my phone, spent exactly 7 minutes, and sent the sub the best plans they’d ever seen.

Sub texted me at lunch: “Your kids were angels and the plans were PERFECT. Feel better!”
Here’s the dead-simple system I now use every single sick day (and every time I just need a mental health day).

My Emergency 5-to-7 Minute Workflow (Copy This)

1. Minute 0–2: MagicSchool.ai → type “emergency 1-day sub plans for [grade] [main subject] with built-in brain breaks” → generate
2. Minute 2–4: Canva Magic Studio → “fun review worksheet on [current topic]” → download PDF
3. Minute 4–5: Curipod → duplicate my “Emergency Review” template → change 3 questions → copy share link
4. Minute 5–7: ChatGPT → paste class list + 3 quick behavior notes → “write warm sub notes with seating chart description” → copy

The Exact Sub Plan Template I Copy-Paste Every Time

Emergency Sub Plans – [Your Name] – [Date]

Thank you SO much for covering! My kids are sweet but thrive on routine ❤️
Seating chart: Wiggly ones circled in red, quiet leaders circled in green.

Daily Schedule (everything linked or printed)
8:00–8:20 Morning meeting – Curipod warm-up game (link below)
8:20–9:30 Main lesson – MagicSchool full lesson PDF (on my desk + Google Drive link)
9:30–10:00 Independent practice – Canva worksheet (answer key page 2)
10:00 Recess → 10:20 Read-aloud (bookmarked page in The Wild Robot)
10:20–11:00 Choice stations (instructions printed)
Lunch 11:15–11:55 → Specials 12:00–12:45

If you finish early (you probably will):

1. Curipod review game (link)
2. Draw “One thing I loved learning this week” – I’ll display them tomorrow
3. Silent dance party (playlist link in Drive)

Quick heads-up:
– Jayden needs movement breaks every 20 min (timer on my desk)
– Sofia finishes fast – extra challenge sheet in the “Early Finisher” folder
– No glue sticks for Table 3 until after 10 a.m. (long story 😂)

You’re a lifesaver. Coffee gift card on my desk with your name on it!
– [Your Name]

Real Example From My Last Sick Day (4th Grade – Dec 3)

Generated in 6 minutes 42 seconds while drinking Theraflu.
Sub wrote on the note: “Best plans I’ve ever had. Kids asked if you trained the sub yourself.”
I just replied, “AI did 95% of it 😉”.

The 4 Free Tools I Actually Trust

• MagicSchool.ai – Full lesson plans with timers and brain breaks (free tier is plenty)
• Canva Magic Studio – Gorgeous worksheets that don’t scream “AI garbage”
• Curipod – Zero-prep interactive review slides kids beg for
• ChatGPT/Claude – Warm sub notes that sound like a human who loves their class

Bonus Hacks I Use When I’m Really Dying

• Add to MagicSchool prompt: “include 10-minute brain breaks every 25 minutes”
• Tell Canva: “make it black-and-white printer friendly”
• Curipod has a “Surprise Mode” – kids lose their minds in the best way
• End ChatGPT prompt with “add one funny teacher anecdote” – subs love it

Drop your grade + subject below and I’ll generate a full ready-to-go sub plan for you right now, for free (takes me 60 seconds).

Save this post. Your future sick self will thank you.