Lesson Plan - House Builders

Purpose:
To develop and understanding of specific jobs of various construction workers.
To become familiar with tools and equipment of various workers.
To understand how each trade person works together to build.


Review Background
Discuss type of workers one would find at a building site (define "site", or use different term). Students may discuss workers from previous lesson or name others they might recognize

 
Importance of this Lesson
This lesson will develop a more in-depth understanding of how a house is built, the work that is involved, and the general process of each workerís job.

 
Objectives
At the end of this lesson the learner will demonstrate an understanding of different jobs by:

Orally naming various workers (use technical names)
Selecting tools used by different workers
Labeling the different parts of a house for which individual workers are responsible
 

Motivation
Exhibit various tools and materials. Allow students to discuss what they think several are, and how each item is used.

 
Activities/Procedures

• Review the jobs of the architect and contractor.
• Briefly discuss sequence of building (provide more detail as each worker is discussed).

  space is cleared
  foundation poured
  plumbing laid in foundation
  "skeleton", or frame is built
  walls are put up
  windows and doors are installed
  wiring installed
  mason lays brick
  house is painted
  

• Discuss different workers, foundation workers, plumber, electrician, mason, painter and carpenter.
• Relate each worker to the materials required for the job
• Discuss the job of each worker
• Match materials to the jobs
• Complete activity sheet
• "Shadow Match" (provided).
• Discuss the initial importance of the foundation as it relate to the floor, plumbing, and holding up walls.
• Use small boxes ( such as a shoe box) to make a "one level" house (directions provide).
• Use corrugated cardboard, with one side peeled away to illustrate how plumbing is put inside walls. þ Relate the "framing" of a house to the bodyís skeleton, discuss.
• Make a "frame" using pipecleaners.
• Discuss different jobs the carpenter does.
• Complete activity by selecting parts of the house (outside) that a carpenter would be responsible for completing.
• Discuss the electrician and the jobs he performs.
• Illustrate where wiring would be placed in a house.
• Complete "wiring" activity. þ Discuss how after a building is framed the mason completes the brickwork. Use Lego "bricks" to simulate the masonís job. Discuss how the house is painted.
• Have children to "build" and paint a house using shoe boxes.

 
Materials
Pictures of workers
Cardboard
Shoeboxes
Lego set
Bits and pieces of the following construction materials:

wood wire nails pipe

brick paint brushes various screws

 
Tools:

hammer square wrench paint level

saw tape measure carpenterís apron roller pliers

glue
sandpaper
safety goggles
activity sheets
pencils
construction paper

 

Lego Worlds web site
 

Early Finishers (Enrichment)
Choose a worker and write a story titled, "My Best Day on the Job". Complete a folder activity entitled "What Came First"; sequence building phases.
Read a story from the unit collection.

 
Special Needs
Many of the activities included will allow for group interaction that will stimulate verbal development. Visual skills will be enhanced through the use of pictures, models, and related materials. Motor skills will be developed through involvement in the construction activities.

 
Closure
Students will state the sequence of a building project and the job of each person contracted to work.

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