Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2
SUBSTRUCTURE AND SUPERSTRUCTURE
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SUBSTRUCTURE AND SUPERSTRUCTURE
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Subject: Applied Technology
Class: SHS 2
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 2
Grade code: 2.3.2.LI.7
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 2.3.2.CS.1
Indicator code: 2.3.2.LI.7
Theme: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY
Subtheme: SUBSTRUCTURE AND SUPERSTRUCTURE
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Welcome, learners! Look around our classroom, think about your homes, the community clinic, or the market stalls in town. Every building stands up because it has a strong skeleton, just like a human being. This "skeleton" carries all the weight and keeps the building from collapsing, especially during strong winds or even minor earth tremors we sometimes feel in Ghana. Today, we will learn to identify the parts of a building's "skeleton" (the load-bearing parts) and the parts that are more like the "skin" or internal dividers (the non-load-bearing parts). Understanding this difference is crucial for anyone who wants to build, renovate, or simply live safely in a building.
A. Recap: Substructure vs. Superstructure
Before we dive in, let's remember the two main parts of any building: Substructure: This is the part of the building that is below the ground level. Its main job is to transfer the entire weight of the building to the soil. It includes the foundations. Superstructure: This is the part of the building that is above the ground level. It is the visible part we live and work in. It includes the walls, columns, beams, floors, and roof.
Our focus today is on the Superstructure. B. What is a "Load" in a Building?
A "load" is simply a force or weight that a building must resist to stand safely. Think of it as anything that pushes or pulls on the building's structure. There are two main types: Dead Loads: These are the permanent, fixed weights of the building itself. This includes the weight of the concrete blocks, roofing sheets, beams, floor tiles, plastering, etc. They don't change. Live Loads: These are the temporary or moving weights. This includes people walking inside, furniture, cars parked in a garage, water in a tank, and even heavy rainfall on the roof.