Teacher Resources · 49-page printable PDF + editable DOCX

Grade 5 Emergency Substitute Teacher Kit

The Grade 5 Emergency Substitute Teacher Kit is a ready-to-leave plan for three full substitute days in a Grade 5 classroom. The content is original and written specifically for Grade 5: three linked case-file days covering reading and evidence work, math, writing, and science or social studies, with 30 student masters, teacher setup and substitute guidance, an early-finisher menu, quiet backup activities, a substitute report, and answer keys. No technology, internet access, outside books, or paid resources are required for the instructional activities.

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Substitute days: 3
Printable pages: 49
Student masters: 30

$Grade 5 Emergency Substitute Teacher Kit listing image showing the kit cover, sample reading and fraction worksheet pages, an editable classroom-information form, and a 49-page printable PDF digital download$

What's included

Everything in the download

Listed plainly so you know exactly what arrives.

Three complete instructional days
A 49-page US Letter printable PDF
30 student masters
An editable classroom-information DOCX corresponding to PDF pages 5–7: Classroom Information, Emergency and Important Information, Daily Schedule
Teacher setup and substitute guidance
An early-finisher menu and quiet backup activities
A substitute report
Three answer-key pages plus open-response/writing guidance

Day structure

Three complete days, written for Grade 5

Each day is a full day of work rather than a set of loose worksheets, so a substitute can follow it in order.

Day 1

The Missing Link at Willow Pond

Reading and evidence/inference work, decimal place value with rounding and addition/subtraction, explanatory food-web writing, and science content on ecosystems and food-web change.

Day 2

The Bell and the Photograph

Source comparison and historical evidence using a fictional historical case file, multi-digit multiplication and division, narrative writing, and work with primary sources and corroboration.

Day 3

The Carton Challenge

Engineering evidence, fraction operations, volume and fraction data, opinion/argument writing, and science content on forces and paper-package design.

Included across the days

Reading
Writing
Math
Science / social studies
Mixed review
Early finishers
Substitute guidance
Answer keys

Self-contained core

The core lessons do not require internet access or outside books, so the day does not depend on logins, devices, or a specific classroom library.

Guidance and closeout

Substitute guidance is included alongside the lessons, with early finisher activities for students who finish ahead and answer keys for reviewing completed work.

Who it's for

When this is useful

Grade 5 teachers preparing an emergency folder before it is needed
Planned absences such as appointments, training days, or leave
Unexpected absences where there is no time to write plans
Substitutes who arrive without prepared material
Schools or grade teams keeping a Grade 5 backup folder on hand

How it works

Using it, step by step

Step 1
Download and print
The PDF is print-ready. Print the pages you want available and place them in a folder or binder for the substitute.
Step 2
Fill in your classroom information
Open the editable DOCX (it corresponds to PDF pages 5–7) and enter your schedule, procedures, and classroom details, then print it into the front of the folder.
Step 3
Leave it ready
The three days are self-contained and can be taught in order. Nothing needs to be assigned or set up on the day of the absence.
Step 4
Use answer keys to close out
Answer keys are included so the substitute can review work, and early finisher pages cover students who complete tasks ahead of the group.

Files and delivery

What you download

Instant digital download through Etsy
One printable PDF (49 US Letter pages, including 30 student masters)
One editable DOCX (classroom information, corresponding to PDF pages 5–7)
Requires a PDF reader for printing and a word processor that opens DOCX files for the editable pages

Good to know

Scope and requirements

Written for a Grade 5 classroom. The content is grade-specific rather than blended across grade levels.
Digital download only — no physical product is shipped.
The editable file is a DOCX and needs software that can open and edit DOCX documents.
Printing is required to use the material as intended.

FAQ

Questions about the Grade 5 Kit

How many days does the kit cover?: Three complete substitute days.
Does the substitute need internet access or extra books?: No technology, internet access, outside books, or paid resources are required for the instructional activities.
Is this for Grade 5 only?: Yes. This kit is written for Grade 5, with original, grade-specific content. The Grades 3 & 4 Emergency Substitute Bundle covers Grade 3 and Grade 4 only and does not include Grade 5.
What can I edit?: The classroom-information DOCX is editable, and it corresponds to pages 5–7 of the PDF. The lesson pages are provided as a print-ready PDF.
How is it delivered?: As a digital download through Etsy. Purchase, payment, and file delivery are handled by Etsy.
Are answer keys included?: Yes — three answer-key pages, plus guidance for the open-response and writing tasks.
What do the three days cover?: Day 1 is The Missing Link at Willow Pond; Day 2 is The Bell and the Photograph; Day 3 is The Carton Challenge. Each day pairs reading and evidence work with math, writing, and science or social studies content.