Let’s be honest: No matter how much you plan, the day never goes exactly as scheduled. Assemblies end early, specials get canceled, the fire alarm goes off, or testing throws the whole routine off track…and suddenly, you’ve got 15 minutes (or 40!) to fill. That’s when having a set of filler activities ready to go makes all the difference.
I’ve collected my favorite seven low-prep and no-prep filler activities to give you a set of backup activities to keep on hand. Every one of these has been used in my own classroom, and they’ve been tested with students ranging from early elementary school through middle school.
These activities work best when your classroom routines and expectations are clear. Students follow instructions faster and stay engaged…and the classroom stays calm.
Take it from someone who’s been there: Don’t wait until the last minute to pull something together. Here are seven of my favorite filler activities to keep in your back pocket.
1. Line Designs: my favorite creative filler activity
If I had to pick a favorite filler activity, it would be Line Designs. They’re creative, quiet, and endlessly adaptable…plus, they double as a perfect sub plan or reward activity.
Line Designs take a bit more work to prepare (unless you get a set of already-done designs), but they’re worth it.
Start with a black marker squiggle or shape. Students finish the drawing without using black (so the original shape can still be seen). Each student can use a different shape for variety, or you can give each student the same shape, but with rules. (For example, “The squiggle is not a worm” or “The zig zags are not stairs.”)
Pro tip: Hang completed Line Design drawings in the hallway or on a classroom bulletin board to show off your students’ fantastic imaginations!
2. Read a Book: the easiest no-prep filler activity
This no-prep activity is best with students who can read independently, but even little kids can flip through pictures (wordless picture books, anyone?) and sound out words.
Pro tip: This goes smoother if students already have books with them.
To set up, have students pick a book from the class or school library, or bring one from home. They should put the book under their desk or chair.
When they finish early, or if there’s extra time before the next activity, have them pull out their books and read a few pages.
(If you do this often enough, you might have trouble getting them to put the books down!)
3. Draw a Picture: a time filler for fast finishers
This works great when students are working on a test or worksheet with a blank back. If they finish early, just have them flip the paper over and draw on the back.
You can give students a prompt (draw an alien visiting our school) or just let them free-draw.
Drawing tends to calm the room and keeps early finishers busy without disrupting others.
Pro tip: Be prepared for someone to ask for colored pencils.
4. Write: an easy no-prep filler activity
Some students will love this activity; others would rather do push ups. Giving students a prompt prevents the dreaded “I don’t know what to write about” whine. (If you need some writing prompts, check out this blog post. Even though it says “back-to-school,” the prompts can be used any time throughout the year.)
If you teach writing, students could also use this time to revise an old piece of writing instead of drafting something new.
5. Coloring Pages: A Low-Prep Filler Activity
Kids of all ages love coloring. (True story: my 8th graders used to beg me for Hello Kitty coloring sheets.)
A few tips:
- Make copies ahead of time.
- Rather than copying the same picture, get a variety so kids can choose.
- Have some pages be detailed and complex while others are more simple (like Hello Kitty).
Seasonal coloring pages (like this North Pole Adventures set) work well for quiet moments before break starts.
6. Perplexors: Some Pre-Teaching Required
This is a specific type of logic puzzle with clues that need to be sorted out; you can probably find the books on Amazon. (Just search “Perplexors.”) They’ve been around for years, but they’re still gold for both keeping kids occupied and teaching critical thinking skills.
You’ll want to block out some time to teach the process and practice a few together, but once students know how to solve them, they’re the perfect quick classroom activity to pull out in a pinch.
Pro tip: Save these for sub days. They’re academic enough that the day won’t feel like a waste, but low-prep enough that the sub doesn’t need a master’s degree in teaching to supervise the activity.
7. Silent Ball: a fun filler activity for the whole class
This time-filler can take as much or as little time as you want. I’ve stretched it to an entire class period (40 minutes) or played it for a quick 5-minute brain break between test sessions.
To play, all you need is…a ball (foam or Nerf works great).
Here are the rules:
- Students sit on their desks. (Trust me, this is the best part!)
- The room must be completely silent. No talking!
- Students pass the ball around the room. If they drop it, talk, or break the rules, they’re out
- If they get out, they sit in their seat
Some other ways to get out are:
- Throwing a ball that’s “uncatchable”
- Throwing a ball that hits someone in the head
- Talking
- Leaving their desk to catch a ball
The last person on their desk is the winner.
Optional twists:
- “Hot potato” style with a time limit to pass the ball
- Required passes (can’t throw back to the person who threw it to you; boys pass to girls, girls pass to boys, etc.)
- Any sound (claps, snaps) also count as noise
(You can find Silent Ball and more in this free download.)
Filler Activities: A Busy Teacher’s Best Friend
Whether you’re looking for something easy to pull out because the specials teacher was absent, or looking for a filler activity to cover an awkward time gap, these seven low- and no-prep activities have been teacher-tested and student-approved.
Which one’s your favorite? Leave a comment below!
(And if you’re looking for a longer, Fun Friday-style filler, or some whole class reward ideas, check out this post!)
FAQ
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with reading. It’s quiet, contained, and boosts reading skills.
Pull out a no- or low-prep filler activity. I’ve played silent ball for an entire class period with my students because a favorite specials class was cancelled, and they viewed it as a reward.
Have a no- or low-prep filler activity handy. Some silent independent activities that work well for this are: read a book, draw a picture, write, color a coloring page, or Line Designs.
Choice itself is a reward. Give kids the option to sit with friends and pick a fun filler activity – coloring pages, Perplexors, and Line Designs, and they’ll feel like they hit the jackpot.
Reading a book, drawing, or writing are the easiest filler activities. You don’t need to prepare anything or teach any skills before asking students to do these activities.
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