Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1 / SSS 1)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 7
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Printing Craft
Curriculum Theme: Trade
Previous Lesson: Maintenance Of Printing Workshop Equipment: Tools Identification And Care Procedures.
Topic: HAND COMPOSITION
Subject Matter: Tools and facilities for hand composition, Techniques and principles of composition, Terminologies used in hand composition, Types of alloy and typeface, History from Gutenberg and foundry metal composition, Constituents and percentages in type alloys

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Define hand composition.
List the tools and facilities used for hand composition.
Explain the basic techniques and principles of composition.
State common terminologies used in hand composition.
Identify different types of alloy and typeface.
Describe the history of type, including Gutenberg’s contribution.
Mention the constituents and their percentages in type alloys.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the importance of safety rules in a composing area.
Show interest in the historical development of printing.

Psychomotor Domain:

Observe safety precautions while handling composition tools.
Identify and differentiate various typeface structures.

Collaborate with peers in identifying and discussing composition tools.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Printing Craft (Senior Secondary Education)
State Unified Scheme of Work for Printing Craft (SSS 1)
Printing Craft for Senior Secondary Schools by [Author/Publisher, e.g., A.O. Okoro]

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Metal type pieces
Composing stick
Typecase tray
Measuring gauge
Safety gloves
Charts showing different typefaces and tools

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the foundational methods of arranging type for printing, which is essential for grasping modern printing processes. It also introduces them to the historical context of printing, connecting past techniques to current practices and promoting an appreciation for precision and safety in craftwork.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are expected to have some basic understanding of printing as a craft and the general concept of arranging text.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

HAND COMPOSITION

Introduction to Hand Composition

Hand composition is the traditional method of setting type by hand, where individual metal types are arranged piece by piece into lines and columns to form pages for printing. It requires skill, precision, and knowledge of various tools and materials.

Tools and Facilities for Hand Composition

The following are essential tools and facilities for hand composition:

Composing Stick: A metal or wooden tool used to hold types as they are being set into lines.
Typecase Tray: A partitioned tray where individual metal types are stored according to character, size, and font.
Metal Type Pieces: Individual pieces of metal, each bearing a character (letter, number, symbol), cast in relief.
Measuring Gauge (Pica Pole/Type Gauge): A ruler used for measuring type sizes and line lengths, usually in picas and points.
Safety Gloves: Worn to protect hands from sharp edges of type and chemicals.
Tweezers/Bodkin: Used for making small adjustments or picking out individual types.
Galley: A shallow tray used to hold composed lines of type before they are locked up in a chase.
Chase: A metal frame used to hold the composed type and blocks together for printing.
Quoins and Key: Devices used to lock up the type within the chase.

Techniques and Principles of Hand Composition

The following are techniques and principles involved in hand composition:

Setting Type: Arranging individual characters from the typecase into the composing stick, reading from left to right and upside down for correct orientation.
Justification: Adjusting the spacing between words to make lines of equal length. This involves using spaces of varying widths (e.g., thin, en, em spaces).
Leading: Adding strips of metal (leads) between lines of type to increase line spacing.
Kerning: Adjusting the space between specific character pairs for better visual appearance.
Proofreading: Carefully checking the composed type for errors before printing.
Distribution: Returning used type to the correct compartments in the typecase after printing.

Terminologies Used in Hand Composition

Common terminologies in hand composition include:

Font: A complete set of characters (letters, numbers, symbols) of a specific typeface, size, and style (e.g., Arial 12pt Bold).
Typeface: The design of a set of characters (e.g., Times New Roman, Arial).
Point: A unit of measurement for type size (1 point = 1/72 inch).
Pica: A unit of measurement for line length and spacing (1 pica = 12 points).
Em: A square unit of measurement equal to the current type size.
En: Half an em.
Slug: A thick metal strip used for spacing between paragraphs or sections.
Reglet: Wooden spacing material.
Ligature: Two or more characters joined as a single unit (e.g., fi, fl).

Types of Alloy and Typeface

Types of Alloy:

Type alloys are metals used to cast printing types. They are chosen for their ability to cast sharply, wear resistance, and relatively low melting point.

Types of Typeface:

Typefaces are broadly categorized based on their design characteristics:

Serif Typefaces: Have small decorative strokes (serifs) at the end of character strokes (e.g., Times New Roman, Georgia).
Sans-serif Typefaces: Lack serifs (e.g., Arial, Helvetica, Calibri).
Script Typefaces: Mimic handwriting or calligraphy.
Display Typefaces: Designed for headlines and short bursts of text, often decorative.

History of Type from Gutenberg and Foundry Metal Composition

History from Gutenberg:

Johannes Gutenberg is credited with inventing the movable type printing press in the mid-15th century. His innovation involved creating individual metal types that could be arranged, printed, and reused, revolutionizing book production and information dissemination. Before Gutenberg, books were copied by hand or printed using carved wooden blocks.

Foundry Metal Composition:

Foundry metal refers to the specific alloy used for casting metal type.

Constituents and Percentages in Type Alloys

Type alloys are typically composed of a mixture of three main metals:

Lead: Forms the bulk of the alloy (around 75-85%). It provides a low melting point and good flow for casting.
Antimony: Added for hardness and to prevent shrinkage upon cooling, ensuring sharp, durable type (around 10-20%).
Tin: Improves fluidity during casting and adds to the hardness and wear resistance of the type (around 3-5%).

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 asks them what they understand by the word “composition” in general terms. The teacher then relates their answers to arranging things, specifically text for printing, and introduces the topic: Hand Composition.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the questions and listen attentively to the introduction of the topic.
Learning Point: Pupils are prepared for the lesson and understand the basic concept of composition.

Step 2: Presentation of Tools and Facilities

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays various hand composition tools (composing stick, typecase, metal types, measuring gauge, safety gloves) and facilities. The teacher explains the name and function of each tool, demonstrating their use where possible, and emphasizing safety precautions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the tools, listen to the explanations, and ask questions for clarification. They also note the safety rules.
Learning Point: Pupils identify and understand the purpose of various tools and facilities for hand composition and learn safety rules.

Step 3: Explanation of Techniques and Principles

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the fundamental techniques and principles of hand composition, such as setting type, justification, leading, kerning, proofreading, and distribution. The teacher uses examples to illustrate each principle.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and participate in the discussion by asking questions about the techniques.
Learning Point: Pupils grasp the methods and rules guiding the arrangement of type in hand composition.

Step 4: Introduction to Terminologies

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Definition/Clarification
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces and defines key terminologies used in hand composition, such as font, typeface, point, pica, em, en, slug, and ligature, writing them on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils write down the terminologies and their definitions, asking for further explanations if needed.
Learning Point: Pupils learn the specific vocabulary associated with hand composition.

Step 5: Discussion of Types of Alloy and Typeface

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the concept of type alloys and discusses different types of typefaces (serif, sans-serif, script, display), showing examples on charts or using actual type pieces.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify different typeface types and understand the purpose of type alloys.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the materials used for type and the visual variety of typefaces.

Step 6: History and Foundry Metal Composition

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Lecture/Narration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher gives a brief history of printing from Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of movable type. The teacher then explains the constituents and their approximate percentages in type alloys (lead, antimony, tin).
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the historical account and note the composition of type alloys.
Learning Point: Pupils appreciate the historical development of printing and understand the material science behind type.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

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

Define hand composition.
Mention three tools used for hand composition.
State two principles of hand composition.
List the three main constituents of type alloy and their primary functions.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 0 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson on hand composition, its tools, techniques, history, and materials. The teacher assigns homework for pupils to research more on modern typesetting methods.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding and are encouraged to explore further.

Lesson Keywords

Hand Composition – The traditional method of arranging individual metal types by hand to form text.
Composing Stick – A tool used to hold individual types during composition.
Typeface – The design of a set of characters.
Font – A complete set of characters of a specific typeface, size, and style.
Justification – Adjusting spacing to make lines of type equal length.
Type Alloy – A mixture of metals (lead, antimony, tin) used for casting printing types.
Gutenberg – Inventor of movable type printing.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can ask them to explain how hand composition differs from modern digital typesetting. For pupils who need more support, the teacher can provide labeled diagrams of tools and a simplified glossary of terms, allowing them to identify tools physically and practice arranging simple words.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

It is important to have actual or clear visual aids of the tools and type pieces for this lesson to be effective. Emphasize the practical nature of the subject and the importance of precision and safety. Encourage pupils to handle the materials carefully if available. Connect the historical aspects to the evolution of printing technology.