Carpentry

Program Overview

This program provides students the opportunity to learn building layout, framing, roofing, window and door installation, and finish trim work. On-site projects include the use of hand and power tools to do building layout, flooring, framing and wall construction, roofing, and the application of exterior and interior finishes. Upon graduation, students can continue their education through local union apprenticeships, a variety of partnering college programs, or the Association of Builders and Contractors.

Through this project-based program, students learn about hand and power tool safety, measuring, layout, basic blueprint reading, basic wood joints, and material sizing. Additionally they learn basic trim methods, advanced framing methods, interior trim package installation, exterior, roofing, window and door installation, blueprint reading, and estimation.

Advancement in the program means students will be eligible to increase their knowledge on roof framing, building layout, advanced exterior finishes, advanced interior finishes, blueprint reading, deck construction, and advanced estimation.

* Blueprint Reading is a required course for this program of study.

Skill Alignment Chart (Click to Expand)
Educational & Physical Attributes Expectations
Program Safety & Physical Considerations
  • Ability to lift 50 lbs overhead
  • Ability to work in all weather conditions
  • Ability to work independently
  • Good eye/hand coordination
  • No fear of heights or working in closed spaces
  • Physical strength and stamina
  • Hair pulled back
  • Safety equipment worn
Essential APTITUDES for this lab–Recommended Levels
  • Eye/hand/foot coordination
  • Flexibility
  • Critical thinking
  • Active listening
  • Judgement, decision making and self–control
  • Finger dexterity
  • Ability to recognize shapes and patterns
  • Manual dexterity
  • Spatial aptitude
  • Ability to work independently and in groups
Reading
  • Explain the main ideas or draw accurate conclusions after reading text
  • Follow a complex multi–step procedure independently
  • Evaluate how key words and phrases shape meaning and tone in texts
  • Comprehend written text and apply it to understand tables, charts, and other visuals
  • Learn and apply content–specific symbols, acronyms, and abbreviations correctly
  • Apply content–specific vocabulary correctly
  • Identify and explain how different ideas connect throughout text
  • Read and understand blueprint data to solve a problem
  • Compare & contrast information in a text
  • Summarize information from different written resources
  • By the end of grades 9–10 & 11–12 read & comprehend technical texts independently & proficiently
  • Evaluate the hypotheses, data, analyze and conclusions in a technical text
  • Textbook: Residential Construction Academy Carpentry, Average grade reading level: 10.43
Writing
  • Write with a sharp, distinct focus identifying topic, task, and audience
  • Develop and analyze the topic with relevant, well–chosen, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic
  • Use precise language, domain–specific vocabulary, and techniques such as metaphor, simile, and analogy to manage the complexity of the topic
  • Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone
  • Produce clear & coherent writing
  • Constructively evaluate arguments while fairly supplying evidence to justify different viewpoints
  • Develop and strengthen writing by brainstorming, revising, editing & rewriting
  • Write with awareness to audience using program–specific vocabulary
  • Write routinely over short/long time frames for a range of tasks, purposes & audiences
  • Clearly convey with precision step–by–step work completed
  • Write fast–paced, accurate work reports
  • Use technology to produce, publish or share writing
Math Levels

    Numbers and Operations:

  • Grade 6 – Fluency in operations with whole numbers and decimals
  • Grade 6 – Fraction computations
  • Grade 6 – Whole number exponents
  • Grade 7 – Fraction to decimal conversion
  • Grade 7 – Percent and ratio problems
  • Grade 8 – Decimals to rational number (fraction) conversion
  • Grade 8 – Estimate the value of irrational numbers.
  • Algebra 1 – Problem solving with real world units, including conversions
  • Measurement:

  • NG – Units: English Precision: Nearest 1/64 inch
  • Grade 6 – Unit conversion within and between measuring systems
  • Grade 7 – Area, volume surface area of objects composed of triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, and right prisms
  • Grade 7 – Area and circumference of a circle
  • Grade 8 – Volume of cone, cylinder, sphere
  • Geometry – Apply volume formulas – including pyramid
  • Algebraic Concepts:

  • Grade 6 – One–step equation solutions – one variable with all non–negative components
  • Grade 8 – Slope
  • Algebra 1 – Calculate and use slope
  • Geometric Concepts:

  • Grade 7 – Angle measure problems (supplementary, complementary, adjacent, angles of a triangle, parallel lines cut by transversal)
  • Grade 7 – Scale drawings of geometric figures
  • Grade 8 – Pythagorean Theorem
  • Grade 8 – Transformation properties and showing congruence/similarity
  • Geometry – Transformations in the plane – congruence and similarity
  • Geometry – Theorems about lines, angles, triangles, and parallelograms
  • Geometry – Scale models and drawings
  • Geometry – Coordinate geometry
  • Data and Probability:

  • Grade 6 – Mean, median, mode, range, interquartile range, and mean absolute deviation
  • Grade 7 – Make predictions/inferences about populations using random samples
  • Algebra 1 – Interpret data on various displays – use to make predictions
Theory Time
  • About 45 minutes/day
Lab Time
  • About 4.75 hours/day
Homework

    No more than 1 hour/week

  • Study guides
  • Daily trade term review
  • Studying for quizzes
Tests
  • Quarterly review quizzes
  • About 4 quizzes per marking period
  • NOCTI (mandatory for all CTE programs)
POS Academics and Electives Recommended
  • English & Math are a component of the DCTS program
  • Possible electives (Blueprint Reading, Entrepreneurship)
Study & Other Skills
  • Work ethic
Technology Skills/Knowledge
  • Use and navigate school–issued laptop
  • Web navigation
  • Email management
  • Navigate learning management system and instructional technology tools
  • Video conferencing
  • Database navigation
Post–Secondary Options and Continuing Ed

    Option to pursue additional education in:

  • Construction Management
  • Remodeling
  • Other construction trades (i.e. masonry; heating,ventilation, and air conditioning; electrical construction and maintenance; plumbing, etc.)
  • Local/state postsecondary schools (i.e. Pennsylvania College of Technology, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, HACC)
  • SOAR Articulations

  • Harrisburg Area Community College (9 credits)
  • Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (9 credits)
  • Commonwealth Technical Institute (11 credits)
  • Delaware County Community College (8 credits)
  • Johnson College (10 credits)
  • Orleans Technical Institute (1.5 credits)