Lesson Plan - Walls, Floors, Windows, and Doors

Purpose:

• To understand how outer walls are constructed.
  
• To become acquainted with different workmen.
  
• To understand how one job relates to another.
  
• To recognize tools used for specific jobs.
  
• To understand how windows and doors are installed.
  
• To become aware of the different types of floor-covers.
  

Review Background:
Have students review the importance of the foundation, support structure, and the roof. Recall how these elements "tie" the project together.


Importance of the Lesson:
This lesson will provide insight into specific procedures for adding other important features to the house. This will also demonstrate the progress toward completion of the house.


Objectives:
At the end of this lesson the learner will demonstrate an understanding of how wall, floors, windows, and doors are constructed by:

• Orally naming materials that can be used for building outer walls for structures.
  
• Listing the sequence of jobs as one relates to another.
  
• Selecting from lumber catalogs materials that are used in building during this phase of construction.
  
• Matching tools to a particular job.
  
• Verbally explaining general steps in the installation of windows and/or doors.
  
• Drawing a pattern for laying bricks.
  

Motivation:
Provide store brochures or magazines containing simple house
plans, allow student to make a list of what they would like to have in a "dream house."


Activities and Procedures:
The teacher and/or student will:

• Discuss the number of workers they think will be needed to add walls, floors, windows, and doors.
  
• Discuss the mason and the carpenter.
  
• Introduce new vocabulary.
  
• Provide different kinds of tools, discuss the purpose of each.
  
• Invite a carpenter and mason to speak to the class about his/her job.
  
• Have students select milk cartons, shoe boxes or some other small cardboard box and outline where they would place windows and doors.
  
• Discuss different exterior wall coverings; wood, siding, brick, etc.
  
• Have students draw different block patterns for laying brick; stack bond, half lap, running bond, etc. See activity page for examples.
  
• Discuss mortar and how it holds together brick.
  
• Use wafer cookies to "lay" bricks. Use milk cartons, see activity page included.
  
• Discuss how windows can be purchased in a frame that fit directly into an opening left during framing.
  
• Discuss different types of windows; fixed - cannot be opened and operating - can open.
  
• Introduce different types of doors; panel, flush, and glaze. See activity section.
  
• Provide magazines for students to locate and draw several doors of their choice.
  
• Discuss flooring, make students aware of the many choices in floor coverings.
  
• Introduce the types of floor covers; wood, carpet, vinyl, ceramic, etc.
  
• Discuss material installed before the chosen floor is put in; sub-floor (planks or plywood).
  
• In a box-top, have students use contact or construction paper to make "floors."
  
• Write a story about what it feel like to be a floor. See activity section.
  

Materials:

vocabulary words milk cartons magazines contact paper markers pictures of doors cake frosting pictures of tools

tools for a carpenter and mason box lids construction paper scissors samples of flooring wafers (cookies) plastic knife activity sheets (included)

Early Finishers (Enrichment):
Allow students to select a blank house (included) and complete by drawing doors, windows, and some type of exterior material.


Special Needs:
The variation in difficulty and variety of activities will enable students to develop verbal, mental, and motor skills.


Closure:
Have students select one element from the lesson and write a paragraph describing.

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