INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE: TOOLS OF THE TRADE
LESSON PLAN OVERVIEW
Career: Industrial maintenance mechanics or what is known as industrial machinery mechanics, maintain and repair factory equipment and other industrial machinery such as conveyor systems (move materials from one location to another), production machinery (produce a product), and packaging equipment (packages products for shipping).
Lesson: This lesson plan will introduce students to some of the basic tools used by maintenance mechanics. Students will also play a game that mimics one of the main tasks of maintenance mechanics: maintaining machines to keep them in good working condition.
Grade Level: Elementary Grades
Learning Objectives:
〉 Students will explore the career of industrial maintenance mechanics and learn how they schedule and perform routine equipment maintenance in a manufacturing plant or factory.
〉 Students will learn about some of the tools an industrial maintenance mechanic uses to maintain equipment.
〉 Students will learn about the importance of maintenance by playing a game in which the maintenance mechanic must decide which machine to fix as a set of machines get closer to breaking down.
〉 Students will gain a basic insight into the career
Materials Needed:
Activity #1: Tools of the Trade
〉 Student worksheet
〉 Crayons, markers, colored pencils
〉 Scissors, stapler, tape, glue
〉 String or construction paper (to make a tool belt)
Activity #2: Machine Maintenance Game
〉 Student worksheets
〉 Six-sided die
〉 5 paper brad fasteners
TEACHER GUIDE
Lesson Instructions: The following lesson plans will help you introduce the career of industrial maintenance to students and learn about some of the tools and procedures used by industrial maintenance mechanics. Begin each lesson by reading the Class Message below to your students, then have them watch the recommended Video Introduction. Afterwards, facilitate a discussion with the Class Questions listed below.
After the discussion, students will work on the included activities. Each activity has a printable worksheet with student instructions and areas to record their work. Familiarize yourself with the student worksheets and go over them with students before beginning each activity to ensure they know what to do. Provide assistance as needed and facilitate the discussion at the end of the activity.
Class Message: Today we are going to learn about industrial maintenance mechanics and what they do in their jobs. Maintenance mechanics work in factories. A factory is a place where people and machines make things. One kind of factory you might know about is a car factory. This is where cars are made. Another type of factory is a furniture factory where big machines are used to build furniture. Almost everything you see around you, like tables and chairs, refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, and TVs, was built in a factory. An industrial maintenance mechanic’s job is to make sure that all the machines in a factory work like they are supposed to.
In this lesson, learn about some of the tools mechanics use and play a game to learn about things a mechanic does
Let’s watch this short video about the maintenance mechanic job
Class Discussion Questions:
〉 Have you ever heard the word, maintenance, before? Do you know what maintenance means?
〉 Does anyone in your family work in a factory? If so, what do they do at the factory?
〉 What do you think would happen if a machine stopped working at a factory? Would the workers have to stop working, too?
Activities Overview: This lesson plan includes two student activities. Activity #1 introduces some of the tools a maintenance mechanic uses on the job. In Activity #2, students will play an educational game to help them understand why maintaining machinery is important.
Activity #1: Tools of the Trade
Students will cut out and match tools to make a tool belt.
Activity Instructions:
〉 Hand out the student worksheet.
〉 Facilitate an introduction of the activity.
〉 Students will color and cut out the tools then glue/tape them onto a tool belt using string or construction paper.
〉 After completion, facilitate a discussion using the questions for the activity.
Activity Results: Students match the tools to the correct items and make and wear their Tool Belt.
Hammer to Nails
Wrench to Nuts
Screwdriver to Screws
Pencil to Plans
Activity #2: Machine Maintenance Game
Students will learn about the importance of machinery maintenance by playing a game where a mechanics tries to prevent multiple machines from breaking down.
Activity Instructions:
〉 Divide students into groups of 6: 5 students will be machines 1 student will be the Industrial Machinery Mechanic.
〉 Cut-out the 6 Maintenance Cards and give them to the Industrial Machinery Mechanic. (If there are less than 5 students playing machines, randomly remove Maintenance Cards until there is only 1 more Maintenance Card than Machines.)
〉 Cut out the 5 Machine Counters and Counter Wheels. Attach a wheel to each counter with a paper brad fastener.
〉 Play the game following the rules below
Object of the Game: K eep all 5 Machines working properly and prevent them from getting 10 broken parts and breaking down completely
Rules of the Game:
〉 At the start of the game, give each machine one of the Machine Counters and turn each Counter Wheel to “0 Broken Parts.”
〉 Each round, all Machines that have not broken down will roll one die. Have each machine add the number rolled to the number of broken parts they already had. Turn the Counter Wheel on each Machine Counter to the new number of broken parts for that machine.
〉 If any Machine reaches 10 or more broken parts, that Machine has broken down completely and stops working. Have the broken down machine randomly remove one of the Maintenance Cards from the Mechanic’s set of cards.
〉 The Mechanic will give 1 Maintenance Card to each working machine. (This will mean the Mechanic has one unused card at the end of each round.) Each machine will follow the instructions on their card.
〉 At the end of the round, have each Machine that is still working give their Maintenance Card back to the Mechanic.
The game continues for 5 rounds. After 5 rounds, count the number of broken down machines and broken parts to find the Mechanic’s score:
〉 For each broken down Machine, the Mechanic gets no points.
〉 For each Machine that’s working but has broken parts, the Mechanic gets 1 point.
〉 For each Machine that’s working and has NO broken parts, the Mechanic gets 2 points.
〉 Each new game, the Machines will start with no broken parts, and the Mechanic will start with all of the Maintenance Cards. Have a new student be the Mechanic until each student has had a chance to be the Mechanic at least once.
CAREER INSIGHT
Career Highlight: This lesson plan highlights some of the skills an Industrial Machinery Mechanic uses on a daily basis to maintain industrial equipment, tools, and machinery. See Employers in My Area section to contact businesses and organizations in your area about classroom demonstrations, on-site visits, or other additional career exposure opportunities
Featured Career:
Industrial Machinery Mechanic
Career Descriptions: Industrial machinery mechanics and machinery maintenance workers maintain and repair factory equipment and other industrial machinery.
Industrial machinery mechanics typically:
〉 Read technical manuals to understand equipment and controls
〉 Disassemble machinery and equipment when there is a problem
〉 Repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components
〉 Perform tests to make sure the machine is running smoothly
〉 Clean and lubricate equipment or machinery
〉 Move machinery and equipment
Most Nurses work as part of a team with physicians and other healthcare specialists. Some Registered nurses oversee Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN), nursing assistants, and home health aides.
Other Names for this Career: Industrial Machinery Mechanic, Industrial Mechanic, Mechanic, Master Mechanic, Maintenance Technician, Maintenance Mechanic, Machine Adjuster, Fixer, Loom Fixer, Overhauler
STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
Activities #1 and #2
Mathematics: Geometry
〉 Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings, sounds, acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations.
〉 Add and subtract within 10 to solve contextual problems using objects or drawings to represent the problem.
〉 Add and subtract within 20 to solve contextual problems, with unknowns in all positions, involving situations of add to, take from, put together/take apart, and compare. Use objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem. (See Table 1 - Addition and Subtraction Situations)
〉 Understand subtraction as an unknown-addend problem. For example, to solve 10 –8 = ___, a student can use 8 + ___ = 10.
〉 Understand the meaning of the equal sign (e.g., 6 = 6; 5 + 2 = 4 + 3; 7 = 8 - 1). Determine if equations involving addition and subtraction are true or false.
Science and Engineering Practices
Engaging in argument from evidence to identify strengths and weaknesses in a line of reasoning, to identify best explanations, to resolve problems, and to identify best solutions.
Developing and using models to develop explanations for phenomena, to go beyond the observable and make predictions or to test designs.
Planning and carrying out controlled investigations to collect data that is used to test existing theories and explanations, revise and develop new theories and explanations, or assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and durability of designs under various conditions.
〉 Engineering Design 1) Solve scientific problems by asking testable questions, making short-term and long-term observations, and gathering information.
〉 Links Among Engineering, Technology, Science, and Society 1) Use appropriate tools to make observations, record data, and refine design ideas.
EDUCATOR RUBRIC
ITEM
Follow Rules of the Game
Work with Subtraction Equations
Does Not Meet Expectations
Student was not able to follow the rules of the game throughout the entirety of the activity, impacting the ability of others to play the game.
Student struggled with the subtraction equations.
Team Work Student did not work well in their team.
Meets Expectations Exceeds Expectations
Student followed the rules of the game for the entirety of the exercise.
Student followed the rules of the game for the entirety of the exercise and exhibited leadership skills helping others stay focused.
Student successfully completed the subtraction equations.
Student worked will in their team and contributed equally.
Student successfully completed the subtraction equations. Student also clearly understood the metaphor to the career of Industrial Maintenance.
Student worked well in their team, contributed equally and exhibited leadership.
ACTIVITY #1: MACHINERY MAINTENANCE
Introduction: Many factories work every day of the week, so someone has to make sure all of the machines in the factory are working like they should. If a machine is not working, it could cause big problems. When a machine quits working, the maintenance mechanic uses tools to fix the machine.
Activity Description: In this activity, you will make a tool belt and learn about some of the basic tools maintenance mechanics use to fix machines
Activity Procedure:
Part 1: Match Tools with Their Jobs
〉 Draw a line to match the tool to the correct item it is used with.
Part 2: Create a Tool Belt
〉 Color and cut out the tools on the worksheet.
〉 Make a belt from either string or strips of construction paper.
〉 Attach the tools to the belt to make your tool belt.
Activity Discussion:
〉 Have you seen any of these tools at your home?
〉 Has one of your parents let you help with a home project using these types of tools?
〉 What do you think a mechanic would use these tools for in a factory?
ACTIVITY #2: MACHINE MAINTENANCE LOTTERY
Introduction: Today, we are going to play a game to help you understand the importance of regularly maintaining machinery.
Activity Procedure:
〉 Divide students into groups of 6: 5 students will be machines 1 student will be the Industrial Machinery Mechanic.
〉 Cut-out the 6 Maintenance Cards and give them to the Industrial Machinery Mechanic. (If there are less than 5 students playing machines, randomly remove Maintenance Cards until there is only 1 more Maintenance Card than Machines.)
〉 Cut out the 5 Machine Counters and Counter Wheels. Attach a wheel to each counter with a paper brad.
〉 Play the game following the rules below.
Object of the Game: K eep all 5 Machines working properly and prevent them from getting 10 broken parts and breaking down completely.
Rules of the Game:
〉 At the start of the game, give each machine one of the Machine Counters and turn each Counter Wheel to “0 Broken Parts.”
〉 Each round, all Machines that have not broken down will roll one die. Have each machine add the number rolled to the number of broken parts they already had. Turn the Counter Wheel on each Machine Counter to the new number of broken parts for that machine.
〉 If any Machine reaches 10 or more broken parts, that Machine has broken down completely and stops working. Have the broken down machine randomly remove one of the Maintenance Cards from the Mechanic’s set of cards.
〉 The Mechanic will give 1 Maintenance Card to each working machine. (This will mean the Mechanic has one unused card at the end of each round.) Each machine will follow the instructions on their card.
〉 At the end of the round, have each Machine that is still working give their Maintenance Card back to the Mechanic
The game continues for 5 rounds. After 5 rounds, count the number of broken down machines and broken parts to find the Mechanic’s score:
〉 For each broken down Machine, the Mechanic gets no points.
〉 For each working Machine that has broken parts, the Mechanic gets 1 point.
〉 For each working Machine that has NO broken parts, the Mechanic gets 2 points.
Each new game, the Machines will start with no broken parts, and the Mechanic will start with all of the Maintenance Cards. Have a new student be the Mechanic until each student has had a chance to be the Mechanic at least once.
Activity Discussion:
〉 Did this game show the importance of maintaining machines?
〉 What do you think would happen if a Machinery Mechanic didn’t regularly inspect the machinery?
〉 What are some machines in your home that need to be regularly inspected to make sure they keep working?
