Students explore their school building to discover the different tradespeople who helped build it. They learn that many skilled workers - electricians, plumbers, carpenters, painters, and more - worked together to create their learning space.
Learning Objectives
- Identify at least 5 different trades that helped build the school
- Understand that buildings require teamwork from many skilled workers
- Connect visible building features to specific trades
For the Teacher
- - Trade Cards (printable below)
- - School building tour permission
- - Camera or tablet (optional)
For Each Student
- - Trade Scavenger Hunt worksheet
- - Crayons or markers
- - Clipboard (for walking tour)
Look for: Lights, outlets, switches
Look for: Sinks, toilets, water fountains
Look for: Doors, shelves, wooden trim
Look for: Painted walls, colorful murals
Look for: The roof that keeps us dry
Look for: Heating and cooling vents
Step 1: Introduction (10 min)
Ask students: "How do you think our school was built?" Discuss that many different workers with special skills worked together. Introduce the concept of "trades" - jobs that require special training and tools.
Step 2: Trade Card Review (10 min)
Show each trade card. Ask students what they think each tradesperson does. What tools might they use? Have students ever seen these workers in their neighborhood?
Step 3: Scavenger Hunt Walk (20 min)
Walk through the school with clipboards. Students check off items when they spot evidence of each trade. Stop at interesting features: "Who installed this light switch?" "Who put in the water fountain?"
Step 4: Discussion & Drawing (15 min)
Back in class, discuss what students found. Each student draws their favorite trade and one thing that tradesperson built in the school. Share drawings with the class.
Students check each box when they find evidence of that trade in the school.
Invite a Guest: Ask a local tradesperson to visit and show their tools.
Map It: Have students draw a simple map of the school showing where they found each trade's work.
Home Connection: Students identify trades in their own homes and report back.
folio-pin Connection: If available, show students how trade work is mapped on folio-pin in the community.
Social Studies
Community helpers, roles in society, neighborhood geography
Science
Observing and recording, basic engineering concepts
ELA
Vocabulary development, oral presentation, following directions
Art
Drawing, visual representation, creative expression