Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS 1)
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 6
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Block Laying, Brick Laying and Concrete Work
Curriculum Theme: Entrepreneurship (Trade Subjects)
Previous Lesson: Properties and Types of Blocks and Bricks.
Topic: TOOLS AND EQUIPMENTS FOR CONCRETING
Subject Matter: Concreting tools, concreting equipment, uses of concreting tools

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define concreting tools and equipment.
List various examples of concreting tools and equipment.
State the uses of different concreting tools and equipment.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the importance of using the correct tools for concreting tasks.
Show interest in identifying and understanding the function of concreting tools.

Psychomotor Domain:

Identify common concreting tools and equipment by sight.
Demonstrate the basic handling of some concreting tools.

Work cooperatively with peers to identify and discuss concreting tools.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Basic Technology (Trade Subjects)
State Unified Scheme of Work for Senior Secondary School Block Laying, Brick Laying and Concrete Work
Basic Technology for Senior Secondary Schools by E. O. Agbato et al.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq_u5Xg7m3A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM2z9_f2XhA

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Live concreting tools (e.g., shovel, head pan, trowel, spirit level, measuring tape)
Charts showing various concreting tools and equipment
Pictures or diagrams of concreting equipment (e.g., concrete mixer, vibrator)

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the essential implements used in concrete work. Knowing the correct tools and their uses enables pupils to perform concreting tasks effectively and safely, which is a fundamental skill in construction trades.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are assumed to have basic knowledge of construction materials and simple hand tools from their previous lessons.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR CONCRETING

Concreting Tools

Concreting tools are hand-held implements used for various stages of concrete work, including mixing, placing, compacting, and finishing. They are essential for achieving the desired quality and finish in concrete construction.

Examples of concreting tools include:

Shovel
Head pan
Trowel (steel float, wooden float)
Wheelbarrow
Watering can
Measuring box/Gauge box
Screed board
Tamper/Rammer
Spirit level
Measuring tape

Concreting Equipment

Concreting equipment refers to machines or larger devices used to handle larger volumes of concrete or to perform tasks that are difficult or impossible to do by hand. They increase efficiency, speed, and quality in large-scale concrete construction projects.

Examples of concreting equipment include:

Concrete mixer
Vibrator (internal, external)
Concrete pump
Dumper/Truck mixer

Uses of Concreting Tools and Equipment

Each tool and piece of equipment serves a specific purpose in the concreting process, contributing to the overall quality and efficiency of the work.

The uses of some common concreting tools and equipment are:

Shovel: Used for scooping and mixing aggregates (sand, gravel) and cement, and for placing concrete.
Head pan: Used for carrying mixed concrete or aggregates over short distances.
Trowel (Steel float): Used for smoothing the surface of fresh concrete to achieve a fine finish.
Trowel (Wooden float): Used for leveling and compacting the surface of concrete, removing minor imperfections before final finishing.
Wheelbarrow: Used for transporting larger quantities of aggregates, cement, or mixed concrete around the construction site.
Measuring box/Gauge box: Used to ensure consistent proportions of aggregates in the concrete mix.
Screed board: Used to level the concrete surface to the required height and slope.
Tamper/Rammer: Used to compact freshly laid concrete, removing air voids and increasing density.
Spirit level: Used to check if a surface is perfectly horizontal (level) or vertical (plumb).
Concrete mixer: Used for thoroughly mixing cement, aggregates, and water to produce a uniform concrete mix.
Vibrator: Used to compact concrete after placing, eliminating air bubbles and improving strength and finish.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and reviews the previous lesson briefly. The teacher then introduces the new topic by asking pupils what tools they think are used when building with concrete.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and recall previous knowledge.
Learning Point: Pupils are prepared for the new lesson and connect it to prior knowledge.

Step 2: Presentation of Concreting Tools

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher presents various live concreting tools (e.g., shovel, head pan, trowel, spirit level) to the pupils, naming each one clearly. The teacher also displays charts showing other tools and equipment.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the tools, listen attentively, and identify the tools as they are named.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to common concreting tools and equipment.

Step 3: Identification of Concreting Tools and Equipment

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Identification
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher holds up each tool or points to a picture on the chart and asks pupils to identify its name. The teacher also helps pupils differentiate between tools and equipment.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively participate by identifying the tools and equipment.
Learning Point: Pupils can identify various concreting tools and equipment by name.

Step 4: Explanation of Uses of Concreting Tools

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Lecture
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the specific use of each tool and equipment presented, emphasizing why the right tool is important for a particular task.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and ask questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the functions and importance of each concreting tool and equipment.

Step 5: Discussion on Practical Applications

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion/Engagement
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on how these tools and equipment are used in real-life construction scenarios, encouraging pupils to share any observations from construction sites.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils contribute to the discussion, share experiences, and relate the lesson to practical applications.
Learning Point: Pupils connect theoretical knowledge to practical construction work.

Step 6: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Define concreting tools.
List five examples of concreting tools.
Mention two examples of concreting equipment.
State the use of a shovel and a steel trowel in concreting.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 7: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Assignment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, reiterating the importance of knowing and using correct concreting tools and equipment. The teacher then gives pupils homework to draw and label five concreting tools.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy the homework assignment.
Learning Point: The lesson is reinforced, and pupils have a follow-up task.

Lesson Keywords

Concrete – A construction material made from cement, aggregates (sand and gravel), and water.
Tools – Hand-held implements used for specific tasks.
Equipment – Larger machines or devices used for construction tasks.
Trowel – A small hand tool with a flat, pointed blade, used for spreading, shaping, and smoothing concrete.
Shovel – A tool with a broad scoop or blade and a handle, used for digging and moving loose materials.

Differentiation

The teacher will provide additional support to struggling pupils by offering one-on-one explanations and visual aids. Advanced pupils will be encouraged to research more specialized concreting equipment and their functions.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should ensure that actual tools are available for pupils to see and touch, as this enhances practical understanding. Safety precautions should be observed if pupils are allowed to handle tools.