Wood and Hardware: Industrial Arts Class Resources
Industrial arts classes, commonly referred to as “shop classes” in the United States, are educational programs which teach and practice the fabrication of objects in metal and/or wood using various machine and hand powered tools. Many programs also offer technical drawing, automobile maintenance, and small engine repair as part of the curricula. Industrial arts class exposes students to general home repair, machine safety techniques, and manual craftsmanship. As students design their projects, they must overcome challenges, work with materials, and ultimately complete a solution. These programs have evolved over the years, allowing girls to participate in co-ed classrooms that were once a boys-only program. Industrial arts has also developed a demand for individuals with skills in a particular area, such as innovative appliance design. A career in industrial arts in modern times allows a student to incorporate evolving technology into a design using training for a craft comprised of manual labor.
Lesson Plans
The general purpose of industrial arts classes is to incorporate the technological training learned with personal career development. Students who are trained in industrial arts have the capabilities to contribute their training in society, whether it’s a career in design or manufacturing. Many common skills are taught in these “shop classes”, such as basic welding skills, woodcutting, general machine shop practices, and shop safety. The following lesson plans and educational aids can be used by shop class educators to teach industrial arts students.
- Construction and Trade Lesson Plans: Large collection of lesson plans and activities for carpentry, electricity, construction, HVACR, painting, repair, plumbing, engineering, manufacturing, masonry, and welding.
- Wood Shop Class Lesson Plans: Nearly five hundred wood class lesson plans for students of all grade levels.
- Production and Tool Safety: Lesson plan for students to practice safe tool handling skills while working on projects.
- Carpentry Shop Student Manual: List of lesson plans, comprehensive skills, and projects related to carpentry techniques.
- Health and Safety in the Arts: List of toxic woods commonly used in woodworking projects that can cause health problems in humans.
- Eye and Face Protection: Tips on how to choose protective equipment for the eyes and face while working in shop class to prevent hazards.
- Technical Drawing Tools: Hundreds of step-by-step tutorials and lesson plans for technical drawing related projects.
- Welding Curriculum Guide: Safety information, training checklists, and course components when teaching welding to students.
Projects
Industrial arts classes incorporate a broad range of materials into its projects, commonly wood and metal. Shop class teachers can provide smaller projects for students to complete, such as a tissue box holder or picture frame, or larger projects, such as a workbench. Popular projects to make in shop classes include jewelry boxes, wooden signs, coat racks, bird houses, and hanging male holders. Besides wooden projects, metal can be bent and welded to create a tool box, planter, folding shovel, and wine rack.
- Lowe’s Creative Ideas: Building instructions for a variety of shop class woodworking projects for the home and garden.
- Arts & Crafts Workbench: Instructions on how to create a multi-purpose workbench.
- Metal Project Plans: Find metal working projects and plans for a tool box, hack saw, wine rack, go kart, tape dispenser, and many other metal projects.
- Little Steam Engines – Free Building Plans: Curriculum support site that offers free project plans for technical students.
- Woodworking Plans and Shop Tips: Collection of woodworking plans and projects, such as a porch swing and garden bench.
- Plans, Patterns and Projects Using Wood: List of popular woodworking projects, such as a quilt rack and sectional desk.
- Metal Fabrication Page: Beginners guide to welding with a list of metal shop projects and welding information and tips.
- Welding System Projects: Students can practice their welding skills with these metal working projects for all grade levels.
Use What You’ve Learned
Training in the industrial arts is a major step required to begin a career in this industry. Technical drawing can lead to careers in engineering drawing, architectural drawing, or computer animation. Industrial artists serve many purposes in society, from computer-aided drafting to automobile design. The following resources will provide additional information on these popular professions of the industrial arts.
- Technical Drafters: Occupational outlook handbook for technical drafters from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Careers that Involve Architectural Drafting: Popular career choices for students interested in the architectural and engineering industries.
- Animation Career: Training in the industrial arts can lead to a career in computer animation and technology.
- Computer Aided Drafting: Learn about the qualifications required to become a computer drafting technician.
- Automotive Designer: Tips and information on how to start a career in automotive design.
- Electrician Careers, Jobs, and Training: Job highlights and career information about entering the field of electricians and construction.
- Careers in Woodworking: If you prefer manual labor, various careers in woodworking can be a creative outlet for students.
Become an Industrial Arts Educator
Industrial arts teachers educate students in computer-aided design and manual construction and manufacturing of metal and wood objects. To obtain a degree in the industrial arts, the curricula will cover each of these areas, as well as coursework in multi-cultural education, instructional psychology, and teaching strategies of different age groups. Educators with an associate degree are able to teach at vocational schools. Those with a bachelor’s degree can lead to middle school or high school teaching careers.
- Berea College: Degree overview from the Department of Technology and Industrial Arts about two Bachelor of Science degree programs.
- Academy of Art University: This school of industrial design offers several programs with a variety of majors.
- Millersville University: College dedicated to preparing industrial arts teachers to educate students.
- The Art Institute of Pittsburgh: Browse through a variety of design programs for industrial arts students.
- The University of the Arts: Obtain a bachelors degree in industrial design that can lead to a wide range of career choices in this field.
- Sacramento City College: Program information and requirements about an industrial technology degree.
- University of Washington School of Art: Undergraduate degree requirements for students majoring in industrial design.