Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1 / SSS 1)
Term: Second Term
Week: 9
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Printing Craft
Curriculum Theme: Trade
Previous Lesson: Excursion To Printing Press: Observing Printing Industry Workflow.
Topic: PROJECT
Subject Matter: Making a wooden frame, Stapling and mounting mesh or silk on frame, Applying gum adhesive for mesh mounting, Preparing a screen for printing, Designing a sticker, Simple finishing steps

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Identify the materials needed for making a screen printing frame and designing a sticker.
State the steps involved in making a wooden frame for screen printing.
Explain how to mount mesh or silk on a wooden frame.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the importance of careful preparation in screen printing projects.
Show interest in practical craft work and project development.
Value teamwork when working on a project.

Psychomotor Domain:

Construct a simple wooden frame for screen printing.
Mount mesh or silk securely onto a wooden frame.
Design a simple sticker suitable for screen printing.

Collaborate with peers during practical project activities.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Printing Craft (Senior Secondary Education).
State Unified Scheme of Work for Senior Secondary School Printing Craft.
Akinwande, A. (2018). Basic Printing Craft for Senior Secondary Schools. Lagos: Craft Publishers.

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Pieces of wood for frame making
Staple gun and staples
Mesh or silk fabric
Gum adhesive
Scissors
Ruler
Pencil
Drawing paper/cardboard for sticker design

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the practical steps involved in preparing a screen printing project, from frame construction to sticker design. It enables them to apply theoretical knowledge to hands-on activities, which is important for developing their craft skills and appreciation for printing processes.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should have basic knowledge of simple tools and measurements, as well as an understanding of what screen printing is from previous lessons.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

PROJECT: Screen Printing Preparation and Sticker Design

1. Introduction to Project Work in Printing Craft

Project work in printing craft involves practical application of learned skills to create a finished product. For screen printing, this often starts with preparing the screen and designing the artwork.

2. Materials for Screen Printing Project (Screen Preparation)

The following are essential materials for preparing a screen for printing:

Wooden strips (for frame)
Staple gun and staples
Mesh or silk fabric
Gum adhesive (e.g., contact adhesive or wood glue)
Scissors or utility knife
Ruler and pencil

3. Making a Wooden Frame for Screen Printing

The wooden frame holds the mesh taut. Steps include:

Cut four wooden strips to the desired dimensions (two longer, two shorter for a rectangular frame).
Join the strips at the corners using wood glue or nails to form a rigid rectangular or square frame. Ensure the corners are at right angles.
Allow the frame to dry and strengthen.

4. Mounting Mesh or Silk on the Frame

Mounting the mesh creates the printing surface. Steps include:

Place the wooden frame on a flat surface.
Cut a piece of mesh or silk slightly larger than the frame.
Lay the mesh over the frame, ensuring it is straight and covers the entire opening.
Begin stapling one side of the mesh to the frame, pulling it taut as you go.
Move to the opposite side, pulling the mesh very tightly across the frame before stapling.
Repeat for the remaining two sides, ensuring the mesh is uniformly stretched and free of wrinkles.
Apply gum adhesive along the edges where the mesh meets the frame to secure it further and prevent ink leakage. Allow to dry completely.

5. Designing a Sticker for Screen Printing

A sticker design is the artwork that will be transferred onto the printing screen. Steps include:

Decide on the message or image for the sticker.
Sketch the design on a piece of paper using a pencil.
Refine the design, ensuring clear lines and shapes suitable for screen printing.
Transfer the final design onto a transparent film or a stencil material if required.

6. Simple Finishing Steps (Overview)

After printing, finishing steps for stickers may include cutting the printed material to size, peeling off backing paper (if using self-adhesive stock), or applying a protective coating.

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, reviews the previous lesson briefly, and introduces the concept of project work in printing craft, relating it to practical applications like making stickers or posters. The teacher asks pupils if they have ever seen a screen-printed item.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, recall previous lessons, and share their experiences with printed items.
Learning Point: Pupils are reminded of the relevance of printing craft and introduced to project-based learning.

Step 2: Presentation of Topic and Objectives

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explaining
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher writes the topic “PROJECT: Screen Printing Preparation and Sticker Design” on the board and states the specific objectives of the lesson. The teacher explains that today’s lesson will focus on the initial stages of preparing for a screen printing project.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and copy the topic and objectives into their notebooks.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the focus and expected outcomes of the lesson.

Step 3: Making a Wooden Frame

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates the steps involved in making a simple wooden frame suitable for screen printing, showing how to cut and join the wood. The teacher emphasizes precision and sturdy construction.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the demonstration carefully, ask questions, and take notes.
Learning Point: Pupils learn the practical steps and techniques for constructing a screen printing frame.

Step 4: Mounting Mesh or Silk on the Frame

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Practical Application
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates how to correctly place and staple the mesh or silk onto the prepared wooden frame. The teacher also shows how to apply gum adhesive for extra security, stressing the importance of a taut, wrinkle-free mesh.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils pay close attention to the stretching and stapling techniques, noting the role of the adhesive. They may assist in holding the frame or mesh if possible.
Learning Point: Pupils understand how to properly mount the printing mesh onto a frame, preparing the screen for printing.

Step 5: Designing a Sticker

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Instruction/Guidance
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the principles of designing a simple sticker for screen printing, focusing on clarity, bold lines, and suitability for stencil creation. The teacher shows examples of simple sticker designs.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the examples and listen to the design principles, beginning to conceptualize their own sticker designs.
Learning Point: Pupils learn the basic considerations for designing effective stickers for screen printing.

Step 6: Pupils’ Practical Engagement/Design

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Facilitation/Supervision
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides materials (paper, pencils, rulers) and guides pupils as they begin to sketch their own simple sticker designs based on the principles taught. The teacher moves around, offering assistance and feedback.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively engage in sketching and designing their stickers, asking for clarification where needed.
Learning Point: Pupils apply design principles to create their own sticker artwork.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

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

Mention three materials needed for making a screen printing frame.
State two important steps in mounting mesh on a wooden frame.
Why is it important for the mesh to be taut when mounted on the frame?
What should be considered when designing a simple sticker for screen printing?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarizing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key steps covered in preparing a screen printing project, from frame making to sticker design. The teacher encourages pupils to continue practicing these skills and hints at future lessons on actual printing.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and prepare for the next lesson.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and anticipate future project stages.

Lesson Keywords

Wooden Frame – A rectangular structure, usually made of wood, used to hold the printing mesh.
Mesh – A fine fabric (e.g., silk, nylon, polyester) stretched over a frame to form the printing screen.
Staple Gun – A hand-held tool used to drive staples into wood or other materials, often used for securing mesh to a frame.
Gum Adhesive – A sticky substance used to bond materials, in this case, to secure the mesh edges to the frame.
Screen Printing – A printing technique where ink is forced through a mesh screen onto a substrate, with unblocked areas forming the image.
Sticker Design – The artwork or graphic created for printing onto self-adhesive material.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can challenge them to design more complex stickers or research different types of mesh used in screen printing. For those needing more support, the teacher will provide closer guidance during the practical frame making and sticker design activities, offering simplified tasks or one-on-one assistance.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure all materials for demonstration are readily available before the lesson. Safety precautions, especially when using tools like staple guns or cutting instruments, should be emphasized and strictly observed. Encourage active participation and hands-on experience as much as possible to reinforce learning.