Walls, Walling Materials, Preparation for Plastering and Bonding Patterns for SS 3

Class: SSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 1
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Block Laying, Brick Laying and Concrete Work
Curriculum Theme: Walls
Previous Lesson:
Topic: WALLS
Subject Matter: Types of walling materials: Process involved in preparation of wall for plastering and Bonding patterns for walling

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Identify at least five types of walling materials.
• Describe the steps involved in preparing a wall for plastering.
• Explain at least three different bonding patterns used in walling.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of proper wall preparation for plastering to ensure durability.
• Recognise the structural and aesthetic significance of various bonding patterns.

Psychomotor Domain

• Sketch two common bonding patterns for walling.
• Demonstrate (verbally or through simulation) the process of preparing a wall surface for plastering.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• Building Construction for Senior Secondary Schools, Book 3
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Samples of various walling materials (e.g., brick, concrete block, stone, timber offcut)
• Charts or diagrams illustrating different bonding patterns
• Tools used for surface preparation (e.g., wire brush, trowel, spirit level, plumb bob)
• Whiteboard and markers

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is essential for students to understand the foundational elements of building construction. Knowledge of walling materials, proper surface preparation, and bonding patterns is critical for constructing stable, durable, and aesthetically pleasing structures. This understanding forms the basis for practical skills in block and brick laying.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have basic knowledge of building construction terms and the importance of structural integrity in buildings.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

WALLS

Types of Walling Materials

Walling materials are diverse, each with unique properties, costs, and applications. Common types include:

1. Bricks: Manufactured units, typically made from clay or concrete, used for their durability, fire resistance, and aesthetic appeal.
2. Blocks: Larger than bricks, usually made from concrete (sandcrete blocks) or lightweight aggregates. They are efficient for faster construction.
3. Stones: Natural materials like granite, marble, limestone, and laterite. They are durable, strong, and offer a natural aesthetic, but can be expensive and difficult to work with.
4. Timber: Used for lightweight wall construction, especially in framed structures. It offers good insulation properties and is renewable.
5. Steel: Primarily used in framed structures for industrial or commercial buildings, providing high strength-to-weight ratio.
6. Glass: Used for aesthetic purposes, natural lighting, and modern architectural designs, often in combination with other materials.
7. Mud/Laterite: Traditional materials, especially in rural areas, offering good thermal insulation and affordability.

Process Involved in Preparation of Wall for Plastering

Proper wall preparation is vital to ensure plaster adheres well and provides a smooth, durable finish. The steps include:

1. Cleaning the Surface: Remove all dust, loose mortar, dirt, oil, grease, paint, or any other foreign material using a wire brush, chisel, or scraper.
2. Wetting the Surface: Thoroughly dampen the wall surface with water. This prevents the dry wall from absorbing water too quickly from the fresh plaster, which can lead to cracking and poor adhesion.
3. Raking Out Joints: For brick or block walls, rake out the mortar joints to a depth of about 10-15mm. This creates a rough surface (key) for the plaster to grip onto.
4. Repairing Defects: Fill any holes, cracks, or uneven areas with a suitable mortar mix before plastering begins.
5. Applying a Spatterdash/Key Coat (if necessary): For very smooth or non-absorbent surfaces (e.g., concrete), a thin, rough coat of cement-sand slurry (spatterdash) can be applied to provide an improved key for the subsequent plaster coats.
6. Fixing Screeds/Guides: Vertical or horizontal strips of mortar (screeds) are applied at intervals to act as guides for maintaining uniform plaster thickness and ensuring a plumb and level finish.
7. Checking for Plumb and Level: Use a spirit level and plumb bob to ensure the wall surface is perfectly vertical and level before applying plaster.

Bonding Patterns for Walling

Bonding patterns refer to the arrangement of bricks or blocks in a wall to ensure structural stability, distribute loads evenly, and provide a desired aesthetic. Common patterns include:

1. Stretcher Bond: All bricks are laid as stretchers (long face visible) in each course, overlapping by half a brick. It is commonly used for half-brick thick walls and cavity walls.
2. Header Bond: All bricks are laid as headers (short face visible) in each course, overlapping by half a brick. It is used for thick walls and curved walls.
3. English Bond: Alternating courses of headers and stretchers. Headers are centred over the stretchers in the course below, and stretchers overlap by half a brick. It is considered one of the strongest bonds.
4. Flemish Bond: Each course consists of alternating headers and stretchers. Each header is centred over the stretcher below it. It offers a more uniform appearance than English bond but is slightly less strong.
5. Garden Wall Bond: A variation of English or Flemish bond, typically with three courses of stretchers to one course of headers. It is less strong than English or Flemish bond but is economical for garden walls or boundary walls.
6. Raking Bond: Bricks are laid at an angle to the face of the wall, often used for decorative purposes or to increase strength in thick walls. Examples include herringbone bond and diagonal bond.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Demonstration, Explanation, Question and Answer, Visual Aids, Practical Activity (simulation)

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them to name different types of buildings they know and the materials used to construct their walls. The teacher then introduces the topic: “Walls, Walling Materials, Preparation for Plastering and Bonding Patterns.”

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond by naming buildings and some common walling materials like blocks, bricks, or wood.

Learning Point: Introduction to walls

Step 2: Types of Walling Materials

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays samples of different walling materials (bricks, blocks, stones, timber) and explains their characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. The teacher also shows pictures of steel, glass, and mud walls.

Pupils’ Activity: Students observe the samples and pictures, listen attentively, and ask questions for clarification.

Learning Point: Identification of walling materials

Step 3: Discussion on Material Properties

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Questioning

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher facilitates a discussion on why different materials are chosen for different types of walls, considering factors like strength, cost, availability, and aesthetics. The teacher also identifies suitable mix proportions of mortar for using different materials.

Pupils’ Activity: Students contribute to the discussion, comparing properties and suggesting appropriate uses for various materials.

Learning Point: Material selection criteria

Step 4: Preparation for Plastering – Cleaning and Wetting

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the initial steps of wall preparation for plastering: cleaning the surface and wetting it. The teacher demonstrates (using a small wall section or diagram) how to remove loose particles and properly dampen the surface.

Pupils’ Activity: Students observe the demonstration and listen to the explanation, understanding the importance of a clean, damp surface.

Learning Point: Initial wall preparation

Step 5: Preparation for Plastering – Raking and Repairing

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Guided discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher continues by explaining the importance of raking out joints and repairing any defects like holes or cracks before plastering. The teacher shows how these steps create a better bond for the plaster.

Pupils’ Activity: Students engage in a short discussion, asking how raking out joints helps the plaster adhere.

Learning Point: Surface keying and repair

Step 6: Bonding Patterns for Walling

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual demonstration/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays charts or sketches of different bonding patterns (Stretcher, Header, English, Flemish, Garden Wall) and explains the arrangement of bricks/blocks in each pattern, highlighting their structural and aesthetic differences.

Pupils’ Activity: Students observe the diagrams, identify the patterns, and try to understand the arrangement of bricks/blocks.

Learning Point: Understanding bonding patterns

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

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

1. Name three common walling materials.
2. State two important steps in preparing a wall for plastering.
3. Describe the main difference between English bond and Flemish bond.
4. Why is it important to wet a wall before plastering?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Assessment of understanding

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on walling materials, preparation for plastering, and bonding patterns into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson content

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarising/Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly summarises the key points of the lesson, reiterating the importance of choosing appropriate materials, proper wall preparation, and correct bonding for strong and durable walls. The teacher encourages students to observe wall construction in their environment.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and reflect on the lesson, consolidating their understanding.

Learning Point: Consolidation of learning

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework/Practice Exercise

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. List and briefly describe five types of walling materials you would recommend for a residential building in your area.
2. Explain the purpose of “raking out joints” when preparing a wall for plastering.
3. Sketch and label the English bond and Flemish bond patterns.
4. Research and write a short paragraph on why proper curing of plaster is important after application.

Lesson Keywords

• Walling Materials – Substances used to construct walls, such as bricks, blocks, or stones.
• Plastering – The process of covering a wall surface with a mixture of cement, sand, and water to achieve a smooth finish.
• Bonding Patterns – The specific arrangement of bricks or blocks in a wall to ensure stability and aesthetic appeal.
• Stretcher Bond – A bonding pattern where bricks are laid with their long faces visible.
• Header Bond – A bonding pattern where bricks are laid with their short faces visible.
• English Bond – A strong bonding pattern with alternating courses of headers and stretchers.
• Flemish Bond – A bonding pattern where headers and stretchers alternate within the same course.
• Raking Out Joints – The process of removing mortar from joints to create a key for plaster.
• Spatterdash – A thin, rough coat of cement-sand slurry applied to a smooth surface to improve plaster adhesion.

Differentiation

For learners who need support: Provide pre-drawn diagrams of bonding patterns for them to label. Focus on identifying common walling materials and the first three steps of wall preparation. Use simpler language and provide more direct examples.

For learners who need extension: Challenge them to research the advantages and disadvantages of using different types of mortar with specific walling materials. Ask them to design a wall section incorporating two different bonding patterns and explain their choices.

Suggested Lesson Videos

Search on YouTube for: “Types of walling materials construction”, “Wall preparation for plastering steps”, “Brick bonding patterns explanation”

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, gather actual samples of common walling materials like bricks, concrete blocks, and small stones. Prepare clear, large diagrams or sketches of the different bonding patterns (stretcher, header, English, Flemish, garden wall). If possible, have a small section of a wall or a model to demonstrate surface preparation steps like cleaning and raking joints. Begin by engaging students with questions about buildings and materials they see daily. Guide them through the explanation of walling materials, their properties, and suitable mortar mixes. Emphasise the practical importance of each step in wall preparation for plastering, perhaps simulating with a small board if a real wall section isn’t available. Clearly explain and illustrate the various bonding patterns, highlighting how they contribute to both strength and appearance. Encourage students to actively participate in discussions and ask questions. During Step 7 (Evaluation), ensure questions cover all key learning points. Remind students to copy the Board Summary notes neatly in Step 8. Conclude by reinforcing the practical relevance of the lesson to real-world construction. For safety, always stress the importance of personal protective equipment and safe working practices when discussing practical aspects, even if only in theory.