Worcester Technical High School
Carpentry Department
Syllabus: Freshman Carpentry
Instructor Contact Information
Shop Instructor: Mr. Lussier
Phone: (508) 751-7683
Email: lussierk@techhigh.us
Address: 1 Skyline Dr
Worcester, Ma 01605
Extra Help: Wednesday
I. Course Description
The house construction industry is an exciting, highly technical, and diverse industry
offering an array of career opportunities. Each area of this industry requires people with a
vast field of skills, and attributes. This course is designed to teach students a more in
depth study into the discipline of carpentry. This includes care and use of hand tools and
portable power tools as well as stationary power equipment. Assignments will require
students to first complete a scale drawing of their project, create a stock list and
construct the project.
Prerequisites: None
II. Instructional Philosophy
The Instructor will introduce the students to the Worcester Technical High School
Carpentry program including course expectations and shop policies. The course will
include lectures on proper safety as it relates to the specific tasks assigned by the
instructor. The material will be presented in a hands-on and interactive learning
environment.
III. Course Goals/Vocational Technical Education Frameworks
Students are expected to successfully complete all of the course goals outlined
below, and be able to demonstrate the skills needed to advance to the next year. Students
are also expected to meet high industry standards in the construction industry, and the
standards set by the Worcester Technical High School Carpentry Department.




Demonstrates positive work habits, such as time management, importance of
workplace etiquette, professionalism, reliability, honesty, responsibility, and ethics.
Shows the eagerness to learn and improve. (4.D.01a, 4.D.02a, 4.D.03a, 4.D.10a)
Identify, describe, and demonstrate personal, shop, and job site safety practices
and procedures (1.B.01a, 1.B.02a, 1.B.03a, 1.B.04a, 1.B.05a, 1.B.06a, 1.B.07a, 1.B.08a,
1.B.09a, 1.B.10a)
Read and interpret construction blue prints and working drawings
(2.A.03c)
Identify, develop and complete material quantity takeoff sheets (2.A.06c)







Identify and explain proper application and storage of basic building materials
(2.B.01, 2.B.08)
Understand basic math used in carpentry (2.B.06)
Understand and demonstrate how to read a ruler (2.B.07, 2.C.01)
Understand and demonstrate the use of stationary machines to square a board
(2.B.11)
Demonstrate the use and maintenance of hand tools (2.C.01, 2.C.02, 2.C.03, 2.C.04,
2.C.05)
Understand and demonstrate the proper usage of nails, screws, and other fastening
methods used by a carpenter (2.C.02)
Demonstrate the use and maintenance of power tools (2.D.02, 2.D.04, 2.D.05, 2.D.06,
2.D.07)
IV. Major Course Assignments and Projects
Students will be required to draw and construct the following:
 Joint Blocks
 Tool Box
 Miter Box
 Four sided joint box
 Foot stool
 Saw horse
 Cupboard
 Night stand
V.
Assessment
1. Daily Time Card Assessment/Employability Skills/Professionalism 40 %
 Attendance
 Promptness
 Behavior
 Honesty
 Respect for self and others
 Communication skills
 Staying on task
 Required items
 Safety glasses and proper attire
 Maintaining a clean and safe working environment
 Attitude
2. Student Projects 40%
3. Quizzes/Tests 20%
VI.
Shop Policies
1. Students are responsible for their own learning. Each student must be an active
participant in his or her learning process.
2. Shop Attire
 Proper shop attire will consist of long white or tan carpenter pants worn with a
belt at the waistline.
 Short sleeve shirts or tee shirts shall be worn tucked into pants. No short,
tank tops, no sleeves to be cut off shirts.
 Work boots are required, which are to be fully laced through each eyelet and
or support and tightly tied.
 Outer clothing will not be worn in the shop. This includes but is not limited to
the following: sweatshirts, jackets, coats, double shirts, etc.
 Hairnets will be worn by all students with a hair length longer than eyebrow
length in front and at shirt collar length in back. Hairnets if needed will be
supplied by the student.
 Note: All clothing and work boots worn in shop must be free from holes, loose
or torn material that will create a safety hazard. Students are not to write or
draw on shirts, pants, or boots. The student will not be able to wear them in
the shop if this occurs.
 Students should be dressed in shop attire and ready for work at 8:52 A.M.
 Cell phones and or iPods/mp3 players and other electronic devices may not be
used during school hours.
 No food or drink allowed in the shop
3. Tools and Equipment
 The student is responsible for the use of tools, equipment, and materials used
in the shop. Any student who damages, breaks, misplaces, or defaces any of
the equipment or adds additional marks to the work benches or chairs will be
required to pay for them.
 Each student is required to have their own hand tools (refer to the tool list
attached) each tool should be properly identified with the students name and
or I.D. number.
 Students shall supply and lock tool boxes.
VII. Grading Scale/Performance Standards
A 90-100 Independent Learner
This learner demonstrates mastery of the knowledge skills and attitudes described
in the unit syllabi; produces high quality work; demonstrates through understanding of
subject matter: student is punctual, works diligently and efficiently on a daily basis,
participates in class discussions, accomplishes tasks with little assistance from the
teacher; conduct appropriate.
B 80-90 Semi Independent Learner
This learner demonstrates mastery of most of the knowledge skills and attitudes
described in the unit syllabi; needs some help from the teacher; consistently produces
quality work with few flaws; demonstrates good understanding of subject matter;
participates in class discussions, conduct appropriate.
C. 70-80 Semi Dependent Learner
This learner demonstrates some of the attributes described in the unit syllabi;
consistently produces less than quality work with some flaws; demonstrates some
understanding of the subject matter; needs help from the teacher; limited class
participation, conduct appropriate.
D. 65-70 Dependent Learner
This learner demonstrates attributes which meet minimum standards as described in
the unit syllabi; quality of work consistently does not exceed minimal standards;
demonstrates minimal understanding of the subject matter; very little participation;
conduct inappropriate.
F 0-65 Failure
This learner has not yet attained the minimum standard of knowledge and/or skills as
described in the unit syllabi; consistently produces work that is below standards; does
not demonstrate minimal understanding of subject matter; no participation; conduct
inappropriate.
Worcester Technical High School Carpentry Department
Shop Rules
1. ALWAYS wear safety glasses in shop
2. No lose fitting clothing that might get caught in a machine.
3. All hair longer than shirt collar length MUST be in a hair net.
4. NO RUNNING or FOOLING AROUND in the shop.
5. DO NOT talk to or disturb anyone operating a machine.
6. Use the proper tool for the proper job.
7. DO NOT wear jewelry in the shop.
8. DO NOT operate machines without permission of the instructor.
9. DO NOT operate machines when the instructor is not in the shop.
10. KEEP FINGETRS AWAY from sharp objects, cutters and blades of
machines and hand tools.
11. ALWAYS USE GUARDS on the machines.
12. PROPER attire must be worn in the shop at all times
13. OBSERVE ALL safety practices that may be given by the instructor.
14. WORK AREAS must be kept clean and neat at all times.
15. No SITTING on the benches
Worcester Technical High School
Carpentry Shop Contract
We have gone over these policies carefully in shop, please take them home, discuss them
with your parent or guardian and sign it. Signing this contract means that you are aware of
the policies that apply in the Carpentry shop stated in the syllabus. These policies apply to
all students in the Carpentry program.
Student signature:______________________________________________________
Parent/guardian signature:________________________________________________
Student ID #:_________________________________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________________
Phone # parent/guardian can be reached:_____________________________________
Date:________________________________________________________________