Basic 9 · Career Technology · Term Project

Term Project: Planning and Making

In this topic you will apply the term's learning through a practical project, using tools, materials, safety practices and design skills to plan and make a useful product.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

Plan a practical project with a clear brief
Select suitable materials and tools
Make the product safely

What you already know

All topics covered in Career Technology this term

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Lesson 1

Strand: Health & Safety
Sub-strand: Term Project

Introduction

This project shows what you have learned. You will solve a real problem by making a useful product.

1. Project Options

Project options

Option	Product	Learning used
hygiene	handwashing station or grooming kit	hygiene
food	safe snack for a school sale	food hygiene
safety	safety signs for the workshop	safety
sanitation	labelled bins for sorting waste	sanitation
clean energy	simple briquettes or a solar cooker	clean energy
materials	bag, stool or storage box	materials

2. Writing the Brief and Specification

A design brief says what you will make and for whom. A specification lists exactly what the product must do. For example: "A bag that can carry 2 kg, costs under GH₵40, is washable and is made from used fabric." These requirements give you clear targets, and at the end you will use them to judge your work. If you do not state your goals clearly, then you will not know whether you have achieved them.

3. Planning Resources

Project plan

Item	Details
materials	list with quantities and costs
tools	list and availability
time	days and tasks
people	who does what
safety	hazards and controls

Students sketching a product plan

Figure 1: Planning a project Write a specification for your product.

4. Costing Your Product

Costing

A group plans to make 10 hand-sanitiser stands. Materials cost GH₵250 and transport GH₵50. What is the cost of each stand?

Total cost: 250 + 50 = 300.
Cost each: 300 ÷ 10.

Answer: GH₵30 each

Include all costs: materials, tools, transport and any labour. Decide on a fair price if you plan to sell. Keep your receipts and records.

5. Sharing Roles

Choose a project leader, a treasurer, a safety officer and a record keeper. Everyone should share in the making. A safety officer checks PPE and hazards, and a treasurer keeps the money records. Meet briefly each day to check progress. Clear roles reduce confusion, and they help everyone to practise skills that are valued in workplaces. Share problems early, so that the group can help you.

6. Checking the Plan

Show your plan to your teacher before buying anything, and change it if a step looks unsafe or too costly.

New words

specification: A detailed list of what a product must do.
treasurer: A person who keeps the money.
brief: A statement of a task.
resources: Materials, tools, time and people.

Summary

Choose a project that addresses a real need.
Write a brief and a specification.
Plan resources, costs and roles.

Class activity: Project Plan

Choose a project.
Write the specification and a cost plan.
Show your plan to the teacher.

You need: Safety goggles, Tape measure, Kente fabric offcut

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

1. A list of what a product must do is a…
- A. specification
- B. receipt
- C. meniscus
- D. rivet
Show answer
Answer: specificationPlan.
2. Who looks after hazards and PPE in a group?
- A. safety officer
- B. treasurer
- C. customer
- D. visitor
Show answer
Answer: safety officerRole.
3. A plan should include costs.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueBudget.
4. A person who keeps the money is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: treasurerRole.
5. List four resources for a project.
Show answer
Answer: Materials, tools, time and people.Resources.
6. 20 items cost GH₵500 to make. Find the cost per item and the selling price with 20% profit.
Show answer
Answer: GH₵25 each, sold at GH₵30.Costing.

Lesson 2

Strand: Health & Safety
Sub-strand: Term Project

Introduction

Good workers follow their plan, take care with every step and stop when something does not look right.

1. Before You Start

Check your plan and drawings.
Collect your materials and tools.
Inspect each tool.
Put on your PPE.
Clear your work area.
Review your hazards and controls.

2. Measuring, Cutting and Joining

Use the skills you have practised. Measure accurately, and mark with the correct tool. Cut carefully, then check your pieces before joining them. Choose joining methods that suit your material, such as sewing for fabric, nails or screws for wood, and rivets for metal. Test-fit parts before fixing them permanently. Use clamps and vices, so that both of your hands are free and safe.

3. Keeping Records

Daily record

Date	Task	Problem	Solution
Monday	cut the fabric	one piece too small	recut with allowance
Tuesday	stitched seams	needle broke	replaced needle
Wednesday	fitted handles	uneven	re-measured

Your records show what you did and how you solved problems. Photographs can show each stage. These records will help you to write your report, and they are valuable evidence for assessment.

Students making a wooden project

Figure 2: Making a product Fill in a daily project record.

4. Food Projects

If your project involves food, follow the rules of food hygiene strictly. Wash your hands and all utensils. Cover your hair, and keep raw and cooked foods apart. Measure ingredients properly, and taste with a clean spoon. Package the food in clean containers, and record the date. Label any allergy risks, such as peanuts. Sell only food that was safely prepared on the same day.

5. Quality Checks

Quality check

Question	Result
Does it meet the specification?	yes or no, with notes
Is it strong enough?	test it
Is it safe?	check edges and joints
Does it look neat?	check its finish
Is it within budget?	check your records

Fix any problems before you finish. Good workers take pride in details that others might miss. When you complete your product, clean all tools and return them to their places. Leave your workspace cleaner than you found it.

New words

test-fit: Trying parts together before fixing them.
evidence: Proof of what has been done.
quality check: Testing that work meets standards.
allergy: A harmful body reaction to a substance.

Summary

Check tools, PPE and plans before you begin.
Keep records and photographs of the work.
Check quality before finishing.

Class activity: Making Session

Make your product using your plan.
Keep a daily record.
Carry out a quality check.

You need: Safety goggles, Tape measure, Kente fabric offcut

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

1. Before starting, you should…
- A. inspect your tools
- B. skip PPE
- C. clear nothing
- D. rush
Show answer
Answer: inspect your toolsSafety.
2. Clamps help by…
- A. keeping hands free
- B. cutting wood
- C. adding colour
- D. making noise
Show answer
Answer: keeping hands freeHolding.
3. Photographs can be evidence of work.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueRecords.
4. Trying parts together before fixing them is a test-______.
Show answer
Answer: fitTechnique.
5. Give three parts of a quality check.
Show answer
Answer: Meets the specification, is safe and looks neat.Any three.
6. Why should you keep a daily record?
Show answer
Answer: It shows how problems were solved and provides evidence for assessment.Records.

Homework

Update your project diary with photos and notes.