COMMON TOOLS

Ernest FERRER

Activities. Lesson 1

Lesson 1 Presentation
Activity 1
Watch the power point presentation about tools and devices. You must
complete the sentence introduced in each page of the presentation by using
words from the word banks below. Be aware that some words can be used
several times meanwhile some others cannot be used at all.
Equipment parts: Machines, tools, devices, utensils, mechanisms, etc.
Used by/for: builder, electrician, carpenter, cutting, teacher, cook, locksmith, sweeper,
plumber, student, sawing,
Check your bilingual dictionary to find what word fits better. Then you must look for definitions
in an English dictionary and copy them
A device is __________________________________________________________________
A mechanism is ______________________________________________________________
A tool is _____________________________________________________________________
A machine is _________________________________________________________________
A power tool is _______________________________________________________________

Activity 2
Link each slide in the presentation with the kind of tool group we are using it for. Is it...
a) a professional set of tools? b) a set of tools needed to make something? c) a set of
tools that perform the same action?

Activity 3
Place a cross where suitable according to the characteristics of the tools and machines
presented.

Tools

Need your
power?

Need your guidance

during operation?

Hand tool
Power tool
Semiautomatic machine
Fully automatic machine
Give an example of each kind of tool.

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Stop after
each
operation?

Keep going
without stop?

Ernest FERRER

COMMON TOOLS

Activities. Lesson 1

Activity 4
Here you see some pictures and photographs and the name of the object. Classify
each one into the corresponding category: hand tool, power tool, semi-automatic
machine or fully automatic machine?

Pliers

Coffee maker

Duplicate key

Drill

Hammers

Tape measurer

Photocopier

Coping/jigsaw

Mars pathfinder

Order the tools/machines chronologically? Whats the simplest, the oldest tool? What is the
most complex, modern tool/machine?
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Ernest FERRER

Common tools

Activities. Unit 2. Lesson 2

Lesson 2 Tool types. Grouping

Activity 1
Family tools word search. Find the following words in the puzzle:
MEASURING, MARKING, SHAPING, CUTTING, SAWING, DRILLING, FILING,
SANDING, HITTING, HOLDING, JOINING
A

Activity 2
Mark the odd tool out. Then write down to which family tool the right ones belong to.

Sand paper

Rasp

Files

The tool family is________________

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Chisel

Ernest FERRER

Common tools

Activities. Unit 2. Lesson 2

etc
Handsaw

Craft knife

Copying saw

Hacksaw

The tool family is________________

etc
Adjustable wrench Screwdriver

Allen key

Dividers

The tool family is________________

etc
Pillar Drill

Bench vice

Pliers

F-clamp

The tool family is________________

Activity 3
Tool dominoes. Play the game in groups of four. Match each dominoes tool
family with next dominoes tool.
Here you have an example

SQUARE

HOLDING

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PLIERS

CUTTING

Ernest FERRER

Common tools

Activities. Unit 2. Lesson 2

Frame structures for language usage while playing:

PLAYING
Its your turn
Ive finished
Do you want another try?

I just have one, two... dominoes left

You are the winner
Yes, please / No, thank you

CORRECT/INCORRECT
Thats fine
Well done

Your match is incorrect

This tool doesnt do this action

Activity 4
Memory game. Tool photo and tool name
Play the game in groups of 2-4 students. Mix all the cards. Then display face
down in rows and columns. The first player chooses a card, turns it over and
reads/shows the card. Then he does a second card choice and also turn it
over. If both cards are the same, the player keeps them with him and scores 1 point. If they are
not, he replaces them face down. Now its the second players turn. Once all the cards have
been paired up, the player with the most points wins.

Pillar
drill

Adjustable
wrench

Use the same frame structures for language from the last exercise to help you speaking
English whilst playing

Activity 5
Label the workshop tools. Write down labels using technical lettering retolaci with the
name of the tool and the tool family it belongs. Then stick the label on the tool and wrap
it with adhesive band. If you have several identical tools it is interesting to number them
in order to check them easily.
SQUARE-2
Measuring

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Ernest FERRER

Common tools

Activities. Unit 2. Lesson 3

Lesson 3 Comparing tool families

Activity 1.
Read the following diagram about sawing and cutting tools. Ask the teacher if you
dont understand the meaning of any words.

Similarities

Differences

Sawing tools
Cutting tools
They are used to divide objects into two parts
They have a handle and a blade
They split materials by eroding the
They split materials into two parts
object, so they produce sawdust or
without releasing sawdust or wood
wood shaving
shaving.
New pieces together are smaller than New pieces together are equal to the
the original
original
They work on a backward and
They work on one way movement
forward movement
They have teeth, a sort of row of
They just have a very sharp blade
points which stick out from the blade
You must consider sawing out of the
line of division to foresee the loss of
You can cut following lines of division
material

Now complete the diagram filling the cells with YES or NO.
Sawing tools

Cutting tools

Used to divide objects

Used for thick objects
Used for slim (thin) objects
Handle
Blade
Teeth
Wasting stuff
Result is equal to original
Works on the line of division

Finally write/complete/choose and circle an explanation about one sawing/cutting tool.

The _____________ belongs to the _____________ tools family. It is used for
_____________________.
It has several parts: 1) _________ used for ________________ 2) _________ used for
________________ 3) _________ used for ________________.
To use this tool you have to cut/saw following/outside the line mark because it produces
sawdust/doesnt make waste, so the new pieces are the same/smaller than the original ones.

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Ernest FERRER

Common tools

Activities. Unit 2. Lesson 3

Activity 2
Read the following diagram about kinds of joins. Ask the teacher if you dont
understand the meaning of any word.

Similarities

Differences

Reversible join
Definitive join
They are used to assemble different pieces to make an object
You need a join and also a tool to use it
Used for easily made objects, like Do Used for cheap and common objects
It Yourself (D.I.Y)
Used for complex objects where join
Used for complex objects where join
endurance is less than object
endurance is longer than object
endurance.
endurance.
You can check the join and change it, To check the join you must break it
without destroying it.
and put in a new one
This join is expensive and slow to
This join is cheap and quick to
assemble
assemble
Danger: could be loosened by
Danger: It is difficult to maintain.
vibration, strikes, etc

Now complete the diagram filling the cells with a cross where needed.

Reversible join
Eiffel Tower, Newcastle and Sidney bridge
Screw, washer and screwdriver
Hammer and nails
Ships and planes
Meccano Shelves
Wood furniture: chairs, tables, cupboard
Adjustable wrench
A thermoplastic toy with parts glued together
A riveted backpack, suitcase, etc.
A welded building structure, a car, etc.

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Definitive join

Ernest FERRER

Common tools

Activities. Unit 2. Lesson 3

Finally write/complete/choose an explanation about one object around you made by

assembled parts.
The _____________ is made by ______(number) parts. They are kept together due to
a reversible/definitive join.
The join is made using ____________________ because it is cheap/easy to assembly/ easy to
check/ has a long endurance, etc.__________________________ (add any other comments
about advantages and inconvenience of the join)

Activity 3
Sizes and standardization.
Look at these pictures. Describe what you see.

Sand paper grades

Scissors set

Coping saw set

etc

Metric screw

Screw assortment

Screwdrivers set

What is the
tool nameScrewdriver
and what are they used for?Allen
Could key
you explain the
purpose of
Adjustable
wrench
Dividers
so many sizes or types of the same tool? Think of a situation where you would need to
use several sizes of any of the tools proposed.

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Ernest FERRER

Common tools

Activities. Unit 2. Lesson 3

To make the answer easier for you, complete the sentences and choose the right answer
where necessary.
The (tool name) ___________________ is/are used for_______________________________.
It has several parts: 1) _________ used for ________________ 2) _________ used for
________________ 3) _________ used for ________________.
They have several sizes because we have: different materials to work with / different kinds of
work to do / different people use these tools, (suggest other possible explanations)
__________________________________________________________.
For instance for (work example) _________________ you could use a big/medium/small size
_________ (tool name or tool part) while for (work example) __________________ it is better
to use a big/medium/small size ______________________ (tool name or tool part)
Do you think it is interesting to have different types or sizes for tools?
I

think

it

is

interesting

to

have

different

types

or

sizes

for

tools

because

___________________________________________________________________________.
Are tool sizes free range or do they follow a pattern? I think tool sizes are free range/follow a
pattern because ______________________________________________________________.
What does standardization means? Check the meaning in your English dictionary.
Standardization:______________________________________________________________.
Translation into Catalan: _______________________________________________________.
Find out other examples of standardization around you at school, at home, in your city, etc.

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Ernest FERRER

Common tools

Activities. Unit 2. Lesson 3

Activity 4
Fill in tool cards. Working with your partner, complete the information requested on the
following tool cards. 1) Tool name in English, Catalan and Spanish. 2) Mark & write
down the tool parts on the picture.3) Tool family it belongs to 4) Explain what kind of material
we can work on.5) Explain the correct way to use it and how it works. 6) Explain how to ask for
suitable tools for our work at ironmongers.(tool size, kind of teeth, etc.)
Finally all the group together compare and check the information gathered, and with the help of
your teacher fill in any information gaps you have left.

10/16

Ernest FERRER

Common tools

Activities. Unit 2. Lesson 3

Activity 5
Link each tool with the safety procedure and/or advice about how to use it
Tools

Advice or safety procedure

Rasp

Use soft materials to protect your work and the table from marks

Vice bench

Put one hand on the handle and the other on top of the body

G-clamp

Hold with two hands and keep the cable away from the working place

Handsaw

Put one hand on the knife and keep the other away from the cutting
path

Craft knife

Use gloves and goggles and make sure the work is held securely

Screw driver

Always work on your own and use some soft jaws to protect your work

Pillar Drill

Put one hand on the handle and the other near the tool edge to ensure
the tool doesnt miss the screw

Ruler

Always work on your own and hold the tool firmly

Jigsaw machine

Put one hand on the handle and the other on top of the body

Chisel

Hold with one open hand and measure on the sloped side

Activity 6
Your teacher will show you several broken tools. What part is missing / broken or has fallen
away? How was this tool broken?
This tools is a/an____________________.
The missing/broken part is ______________________________.
I think it broke because ________________________________________.

11/16

Ernest FERRER

Common tools.

Activities. Unit 2.Lesson 4

Lesson 4 Final Revision

Activity 1
Tools word search.
Find the following words in the puzzle:
screwdriver, craftknife, sandpaper, benchvice, scissors, divider, hacksaw,
handsaw, goggles, square, chisel, hammer, mallet, pliers, wrench, gloves, punch,
clamp, apron, rule, file, rasp, glue,
MEASURING, MARKING, SHAPING, CUTTING, SAWING, DRILLING, FILING,
v
h
p HITTING,
o
p HOLDING,
r
s JOINING
n
c
p
b
v
g
j
m
SANDING,
u

Activity 2
Read the text and mark true or false against the following statements
according to what you have just learnt in this unit.
1. A power tool is a self powered auto-guided tool.
2. The tools for a specific job could belong to several family groups.
3. We use only tools at workshops.
4. I use a mallet and a chisel to mark the surface of piece of wood.
5. Using a rivet tool is a cheap way to assemble pieces, but its difficult to make the join
with it.
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Ernest FERRER

Common tools.

Activities. Unit 2.Lesson 4

6. To save material, I should try to cut instead of saw when shaping.

7. General purpose pliers could be used to cut and hold, so they belongs to both tool
families.
8. When using any power tool I should wear an apron, gloves and goggles.
9. It is difficult for students to manage some tools because tools have only one size that
fits all adults.
10. We have to clean up all the waste when we finish our work in the technology workshop

Activity 3
Select the tools needed for a specific job or purpose. You are going to see a
list of jobs and work situations. Think about what tools do you need and the
family they belong to.
You are going to do some seafood cooking and later to lay the table to eat them:

You have just received a packed new washing machine at home...

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Ernest FERRER

Common tools.

Activities. Unit 2.Lesson 4

Your technology teacher asks you to build a small wood box...

You have noticed a flat tyre on your car. Be ready to replace it using the spare tyre.

Activity 4
Checking your home tools suitcase.
Make a table with information about each tool: tool name, tool family, used for/still not
used, price. Complete at least ten home tools information
Tool
name
file

picture

family

It is used for

Sanding
& filing

Remove waste and

polish/finishes material

Price

Other:
require
other
tools, Maintenance, tool
set, changeable, etc.
File removable from
handle. Steel file
cleaning brush required.

Think about your home tools. Do you think you need a tools you dont have? Why? Do you
think you have a useless tool at home? Why? Write a sentence following the pattern proposed:
I think we should buy a_______________ because we need it for_______________________.
I think we dont need the ____________________ because we hardly used it/we dont know
how to use it/ it is difficult to manage it.
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Ernest FERRER

Common tools.

Activities. Unit 2.Lesson 4

Activity 5
The hang man game
Think of a common tool and write it down on your notebook, checking the spelling. One
student writes on the blackboard the first letter of his tool and leaves behind it as many
spaces as there are letters the tool word has. The rest of the students guess the letters
used to make the tool name. Each success is displayed in the word; each mistake leads to a
part of a hang man. You should try to guess the complete name before you are hanged!
H_ _ _ _ _ _

Activity 6
Guessing a workshop tool
Guess a tool using up to 10 questions where answers can only be affirmative or
negative. If you guess the tool name incorrectly you lose your go and the next team
has the chance.
Which tool am I thinking of?

POSSIBLE ANSWERS
YES
It is
It has
In a certain way

NO
It isnt
It hasnt
definitely

?
I dont know
Im not sure

SUGGESTED QUESTIONS

General
Is it a

hand tool, a power tool, a semiautomatic

machine, an automatic machine

Function/use
Is it used for
Could be used by a/an
Is it used for working with

marking, shaping, joining, finishing materials

carpenter, electrician, plumber, watchmaker,
engine mechanic
wood, metal, plastic, tissue, paper, masonry

Visual description
Does it have
Is it made completely/partially of
Is it, does it have any part
Is it, does it look
Does it look like a

several parts, mobile parts, a blade, a

hardened/sharp surface, a mouth
metal, wood, plastic
red, brown, grey, black, orange coloured
long, small, big, heavy, light, thin
tube, letter, mouth, worm

GUESSING
Does it belong to
Is it a/an, is it called a/an

Family tool
Tool name

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Ernest FERRER

Common tools.

Activities. Unit 2.Lesson 4

Activity 7
You are going to watch a cartoon film about robots and tools called Robots.
You have to get into teams of two. Even though the characters are going to
speak quite quickly, you will have English subtitles to help you comprehend.
As the 1st member of your team you should listen carefully to the film and write down as many
actions related to tools, engines and machines as you can hear.
As the 2nd member of your team you should watch the film carefully and write down or draw as
many tools as you can see. If you see a new tool or machine that you havent seen before just
try to understand and write the action it takes/what its purpose is.

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