Wood and Hardware: Industrial Arts Class Resources

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.

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.

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.

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.