Occupations in Our Community – The Carpenter Vocational Aptitude Primary 1

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Subject: Vocational Aptitude

Class: Primary 1

Term: Second Term

Week: 6

Age: 5–6 years

Topic: Occupations in Our Community – The Carpenter

Sub-topic: Meaning, Tools, and What a Carpenter Does

Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioral Objectives:

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

  1. Say who a carpenter is in their own words.

  2. Mention at least four tools used by a carpenter.

  3. Say two things a carpenter does for people in the community.

  4. Identify carpentry work they have seen at home, school, or church.

  5. Role-play how a carpenter works.

Key Terms and Definitions:

  • Carpenter: A person who works with wood to build or repair things like chairs and tables.

  • Tools: The instruments carpenters use to do their work.

  • Hammer: A tool for hitting nails.

  • Saw: A tool for cutting wood.

  • Nails: Small metal sticks used to join wood together.

Set Induction (Real-life Classroom Interaction):

Teacher: “Children, who fixed your chair when it was shaking?”
Isiaka (smiling): “My mummy called one uncle with big belly and hammer!”
Teacher (laughing): “That uncle is a carpenter! Who else has seen a carpenter before?”
Esther: “Yes! The man that made my mummy’s wardrobe is a carpenter!”
Teacher: “Exactly! Today, we’ll learn about these amazing woodworkers in our communities!”

Entry Behavior:

Pupils have seen chairs, tables, doors, and shelves in their homes and schools. Some may have witnessed repairs or new furniture being delivered.

Learning Materials and Resources:

  • Pictures or real samples of: hammer, saw, nails, tape rule

  • Mini wooden chair or stool

  • Role-play costumes (cap, overall)

  • A short video or poster showing a Nigerian carpenter at work

  • Flashcards with carpenter tools

Building Background Knowledge:

Start by pointing to various wooden furniture items in the classroom—chairs, desks, cupboard. Ask:
“Who made all these things?”
Draw pupils’ attention to carpenters as builders of comfort—they make our furniture, fix broken ones, and help keep our homes neat and functional.

Embedded Core Skills:

  • Observation

  • Communication

  • Role play and dramatic expression

  • Vocabulary development

  • Appreciation of community helpers

Main Content:

Who is a Carpenter?

A carpenter is a person who works with wood. He builds and repairs things made from wood. He uses his tools to cut, shape, and join pieces of wood.

What Does a Carpenter Do?

  • Makes chairs, tables, and beds.

  • Repairs broken doors and shelves.

  • Builds cupboards, kitchen cabinets, and even roofing frames.

Examples of Carpenter’s Tools:

 

Tool What It Does
Hammer Hits nails into wood
Saw Cuts pieces of wood
Nails Joins two pieces of wood together
Tape Rule Measures the length of wood
Chisel Carves shapes or smooth edges
Plane Smoothens rough surfaces of wood

Classroom Story:

One rainy Monday, in a school in Abeokuta, the classroom chair of a pupil named Joseph broke. Everyone was scared it might hurt him. The teacher called Uncle Goke, the local carpenter. He came with his big bag of tools and fixed the chair in five minutes! The children were so happy. Joseph clapped and said, “Thank you, Uncle Goke! You saved my bum!”

From that day, the pupils began calling him Chair Doctor. They even made him a thank-you card with pictures of chairs!

Class Discussion (Pupil Contributions):

Teacher: “Who has seen a carpenter before?”
Musa: “The man in our street that always shouts ‘measure am well o!’”
Chioma: “My daddy’s friend has a workshop with plenty wood and dust!”
Teacher: “Yes! That place is called a carpentry workshop. It’s where they work every day.”

Activity – Fill-in-the-Blank (Multiple Choice):

  1. A carpenter works with ______.
    a) metal b) water c) wood d) firewood (Answer: c)

  2. A carpenter uses a ______ to hit nails.
    a) broom b) hammer c) spoon d) pencil (Answer: b)

  3. A ______ is used to cut wood.
    a) knife b) saw c) paper d) fork (Answer: b)

  4. A carpenter’s house is called a ______.
    a) factory b) classroom c) workshop d) shop (Answer: c)

  5. A carpenter helps to repair broken ______.
    a) pots b) food c) chairs d) pencils (Answer: c)

Theory Questions:

  1. Who is a carpenter?

  2. Mention three tools a carpenter uses.

  3. What does a hammer do?

  4. What do you call the place where a carpenter works?

  5. Mention two things a carpenter can build.

Teacher’s Role:

  • Use realia and images to stimulate curiosity.

  • Explain terms in simple language.

  • Guide pupils during the story, role play, and activity.

  • Encourage expression and feedback from all pupils.

  • Celebrate funny or honest answers to build confidence.

Pupils’ Role:

  • Listen attentively and ask questions.

  • Share their personal experiences.

  • Participate in role-play or object identification.

  • Complete exercises and sing the community helper rhyme.

Assessment:

  • Oral questioning

  • Identify tools from pictures

  • Role play: pupil acts as a carpenter “fixing” a chair

  • Small group drawing: “Draw a carpenter and his tools”

Conclusion (Warm & Reflective):

Today, we learned about the carpenter—one of the heroes in our community. Without him, we wouldn’t have desks to write on or beds to sleep in. Next time you see a carpenter, greet him and say “Thank you for building for us!” Remember, no job is too small when it helps people. Who knows? One of you might become a great furniture maker someday!

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