Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1 / SSS 1)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 5
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Furniture Making
Curriculum Theme: Trade
Previous Lesson: Machines Uses And Safety Precautions: Operating Workshop Machines Safely.
Topic: Timber Preparation
Subject Matter: Cutting timber to size, Marking timber, Planing to final size, Face and edge marks

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Define timber preparation.
State the steps involved in cutting timber to size.
Explain the importance of accurate marking in woodworking.
Identify the purpose of face and edge marks.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the need for precision and safety in timber preparation.
Show interest in learning proper woodworking techniques.
Value the importance of preparing timber correctly for projects.

Psychomotor Domain:

Demonstrate how to measure and mark timber for cutting.
Practice cutting timber to a specified size using a saw.
Plane a piece of timber to a final dimension.

Work cooperatively with peers when sharing tools and materials.
Discuss challenges and solutions during practical activities.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Basic Technology (JSS 1-3) & Senior Secondary Technical College Curriculum (SSS 1-3).
State Unified Scheme of Work for Furniture Making, SSS 1.
Akinola, O. (2018). Woodwork Technology for Senior Secondary Schools. Ibadan: Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited.
https://www.furnituremakingresources.com/timber-preparation
https://www.woodworkingbasics.org/marking-and-cutting

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Hand plane
Measuring tape
Saw (hand saw or tenon saw)
Pencil
Marking gauge
Try square
Timber samples of various sizes
Workbench with vices

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the fundamental steps required before joining or assembling wood pieces. Proper timber preparation ensures that furniture projects are accurate, strong, and aesthetically pleasing. It is an important skill for any aspiring furniture maker.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have basic knowledge of different types of timber and the identification of common hand tools used in woodworking.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Timber Preparation

Timber preparation involves all the processes carried out on rough timber to get it ready for use in furniture making. These processes ensure that the timber is cut to the correct size, marked accurately, and planed to the required dimensions and finish.

Cutting Timber to Size

Cutting timber to size is the initial step where rough timber is reduced to approximate lengths and widths required for a project. This helps in managing the material efficiently and removing obvious defects.

The following are steps for cutting timber to size:

Measure: Use a measuring tape or rule to determine the required length.
Mark: Use a pencil and try square to draw a clear cutting line across the timber.
Secure: Hold the timber firmly in a vice or against a workbench stop.
Saw: Use an appropriate saw (e.g., hand saw, tenon saw) to cut along the marked line, ensuring a straight and square cut.

Marking Timber

Marking timber involves drawing precise lines and points on the wood to guide subsequent operations like cutting, planing, and jointing. Accurate marking is essential for achieving precise dimensions and joints.

The following are common marking tools:

Pencil and Rule: Used for general layout lines.
Try Square: Used to mark lines at 90 degrees to an edge.
Marking Gauge: Used to mark lines parallel to an edge, often for thickness or width.
Mortise Gauge: Used to mark two parallel lines simultaneously for mortise and tenon joints.

Planing to Final Size

Planing to final size involves using a hand plane to reduce timber to its exact required dimensions, ensuring surfaces are flat, smooth, and square. This process improves the timber’s appearance and prepares it for accurate jointing.

The following are general steps for planing:

Secure the timber: Place the timber firmly in a workbench vice.
Establish a face side: Plane one flat surface to be perfectly flat and true (the “face side”).
Establish a face edge: Plane one edge square to the face side (the “face edge”).
Mark thickness/width: Use a marking gauge to mark the final thickness from the face side and the final width from the face edge.
Plane to lines: Plane down to the marked lines for both thickness and width, ensuring all surfaces are square and parallel.

Face and Edge Marks

Face and edge marks are specific symbols or markings applied to the working surfaces of timber to indicate which surfaces have been planed true and square. These marks serve as reference points throughout the furniture making process.

The following are common face and edge marks:

Face Side Mark: A single, short, diagonal line (or a “face mark”) drawn on the first planed flat surface. This indicates the primary reference surface.
Face Edge Mark: A “V” shape or a short, diagonal line drawn on the edge that has been planed square to the face side. This indicates the primary reference edge.
Reference for other faces: All subsequent planing and marking operations are referenced from the face side and face edge to ensure squareness and parallelism.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

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

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 think needs to be done to a rough piece of wood before it can be used to make furniture. The teacher then introduces the topic: Timber Preparation.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the topic and its relevance.

Step 2: Cutting Timber to Size

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what it means to cut timber to size and demonstrates the process using a timber sample, measuring tape, pencil, try square, and saw. The teacher emphasizes safety precautions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the demonstration, ask questions, and take notes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the initial step of timber preparation and how to cut timber safely.

Step 3: Marking Timber

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the importance of accurate marking and demonstrates the use of a pencil, try square, and marking gauge to mark lines for cutting and planing on a timber sample.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the marking techniques and note the different marking tools and their uses.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about various marking tools and the importance of precision in marking.

Step 4: Planing to Final Size

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the process of planing timber to achieve flat, smooth, and square surfaces. The teacher demonstrates how to use a hand plane to plane a face side and a face edge on a timber sample.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the planing technique and the correct use of the hand plane.
Learning Point: Pupils learn the technique of planing timber to achieve accurate dimensions and smooth surfaces.

Step 5: Face and Edge Marks

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the purpose of face and edge marks as reference points in woodworking and demonstrates how to apply these marks to the timber sample that has been planed.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils understand the significance of face and edge marks and observe how they are applied.
Learning Point: Pupils learn to identify and apply face and edge marks for consistency in woodworking.

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 timber preparation.
List three tools used for marking timber.
Explain why accurate marking is important in furniture making.
What is the purpose of a face side mark?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 7: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Assignment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, reiterating the importance of proper timber preparation. The teacher assigns pupils to practice marking and cutting simple timber pieces at home or in the workshop.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and are given practical tasks to reinforce understanding.

Lesson Keywords

Timber Preparation – The processes of getting rough timber ready for use in furniture making, including cutting, marking, and planing.
Face Side – The first flat and true surface planed on a piece of timber, used as a primary reference.
Face Edge – The first edge planed square to the face side, used as a secondary reference.
Marking Gauge – A tool used to mark lines parallel to an edge or surface.
Hand Plane – A tool used to shave thin layers of wood to achieve flat, smooth, and dimensionally accurate surfaces.
Try Square – A tool used to mark and check lines at 90 degrees to an edge.

Differentiation

For struggling learners, the teacher will provide more one-on-one guidance during practical demonstrations and simplify marking tasks. Advanced learners will be challenged with more complex cutting and planing exercises, such as preparing timber for a basic joint.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure all tools are in good working condition and safety rules are clearly communicated and enforced during practical demonstrations and pupil activities. Provide ample timber offcuts for pupils to practice on. Emphasize the connection between careful preparation and the quality of the final furniture piece.