LESSON PLAN Rigor/Relevance

Framework
Area and/or Course Horticulture C D
Assimilation Adaptation
_______ ___X____

Lesson Title Hand Tools for Pruning

A B
No. Periods 2 (73-minute periods) Acquisition Application
_______ _______

Teacher Goal(s): 1 2 3 4 5
1. Students will understand the importance of hand tools Application
in pruning and proper tool identification.
2. Students will develop and understand the importance
of hand tool safety.

Objectives:

The student will be able to (TSWBT). (Oregon Skill Set numbers in parentheses at the
end of the objective statement.)
1. Identify pruning hand tools with 100 % accuracy (PST 01.03)
2. Develop a plan for the safe handling, storage, and usage of hand tools (PST 01.03)
3. Articulate the importance of sharp tools (PST 01.03.01.b)
4. Demonstrate the correct method for sharpening hand tools (02.01.03.a)

State Standards met by Objectives:

Subject Strand Eligible Content
1. English EL.HS.RE.08 Understand, learn, and use new vocabulary that is
introduced and taught directly through
informational text, literary text, and information
across subject areas.
2. Agriculture 10.02.01 Select the appropriate tool to perform a given task
3. Agriculture 10.02.03.05 Describe the safety regulations associated with
specific tools and equipment
4. Agriculture 10.02.03.04 Demonstrate the safe use of a tool or piece of
equipment
5. Agriculture 10.02.02.01 Describe the characteristics of a tool in need of
maintenance
6. Agriculture 10.02.02 Maintain tools for efficient work use
7. Plant 01.02 Apply knowledge of plant anatomy and the
functions of plant structures to activities associated
with plant systems

Knowledge: 1=awareness; 2=comprehension; 3=application; 4=analysis; 5=synthesis; 6=evaluation

Application: 1=knowledge in one discipline; 2=apply knowledge in one discipline; 3=apply knowledge across disciplines; 4=apply knowledge to real-world predictable situations; 5=apply
knowledge to real-world unpredictable situations
Materials, Equipment, References:
Audio-Visual Aids: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/HO-4.pdf
1. Lopping shears
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/exten sion/pruning/pruning.html
2. Hand shears
3. Pole pruners http://www.gardenerstoolshed.com/pruning_tools_maintenace.html
4. Hedge shears
5. Pruning saws
6. PowerPoint presentation
7. Hand files
Anticipatory Set/Introduction/Motivation/Interest Approach:

Review Yesterday’s Lesson:

From yesterday’s lesson we learned that an employee is someone who does what? A: Works for
someone else. If you have a career in horticulture then you are there for the long haul. Think of a
career is something you do not mind to coming in to work everyday, in fact, work does not even
seem like work. When you have a career you are happy to be there and love what you are doing.

Set:

The teacher will bring out common hand tools used in woodworking such as a hammer,
screwdriver, etc. Explain how just like those tools have their specific purpose and methods of
handling, pruning hand tools are designed to accomplish a given task.

The teacher will show students a screwdriver and ask them if this should be used to pound in
nails. The answer will be no. Students will not be using hand shears (show to class) for sawing
off large branches.

Transition (Use Objective):

Identify pruning hand tools with 100 % accuracy. Develop a plan for the safe handling, storage,
and usage of hand tools. Articulate the importance of sharp tools. Demonstrate the correct
method for sharpening hand tools

Identify pruning hand tools with 100 % accuracy

Develop a plan for the safe handling, storage, and usage of hand tools
Articulate the importance of sharp tools
Demonstrate the correct method for sharpening hand tools
Strategy – Includes Teacher Subject Matter Outline/Problem and Solution (Application
Activity, Student Activity, Points Lace in Throughout Lesson) (Modeling, Guided
Questions/Answers and Practice, and Content)
Objectives

Objective #1 Knowing your tools

(Q)Why is it important to Many people in the horticulture industry incorporate pruning

know the correct names of the into their operations. There are many companies and people
tools? who make their living off of strictly removing plant material.

Understanding the correct names and purposes for all of the

The teacher will have the hand tools we are discussing today is important
actual tools out for students to
look at, instead of using a
PowerPoint

(Q)What are some examples of 1. Hand Shears- used for branches up to ¼“ diameter.
important hand tools used in
pruning? The smaller a branch is when pruned, the sooner the wound
created will heal. Hand pruners or pruning shears are used to
(A) Shears, saws, loppers, etc. prune small branches and many different kinds are available.
Hand pruners can be grouped into by-pass or anvil styles based
(Q)Will wounds from pruning on the blade configuration. Anvil style pruners have a straight
larger branches or smaller blade that cuts the branch against a small anvil or block as the
branches heal faster? handles are squeezed. By-pass pruners use a curved cutting
blade that slides past a broader lower blade, similar to scissors.
(A)Smaller To prevent unnecessary tearing or crushing of tissues, it is best
to use a by-pass style pruner.
Students will use their hand
tool handout to identify tools Important parts to know on hand shears are:
as the teacher explains each
tool Blades- which type they are. By-pass or anvil style

(Q) How do I know if the cut
is too big for hand shears?
Handles- should only be used with one hand. If you have to pry
down on the shears with two hands, it’s probably time to
upgrade to a larger size shears.
-Safety close lock

(A) If I’m prying down with
two hands, then most likely
I’m using too much force
which is not good for the
pruners
2. Lopping Shears (loppers) - used for branches up to 1½” in
diameter.
Slightly larger branches that cannot be cut with a hand pruner
may be cut with small pruning saws or lopping shears ( up to
2.5" safely ) with larger cutting surfaces and greater leverage.

(Q) Can I use both hands with
lopping shears?
(A) Yes! Both hands should be
used with lopping shears to be
safe
(Q) What is the difference
between the teeth on the
pruning saw and this hack
saw?
(A) The hack saw has very
small teeth.
(Q) What is the application for
pruning saws?
(A) Larger branches
(Q) What does the name
hedging shears tell you about
the application of this common
hand tool?
(A) The hedging shears are to
be used on hedges, shrubs, and
other bushes.
Objective #2
(Q)What are some key points
of safe handling in pruning
equipment?
Students will pick out a hand
tool and work in groups to
develop a list of safety
precautions for each pruning
hand tool on their worksheet.
Lopping shears are also available in by-pass and anvil styles.
Lopping shears have long handles that are operated by both
hands. Even the least expensive can cut material ½ inch in
diameter. Better ones can slice through branches up to 2 inches
or more depending on species. Some species like oak will be
stronger than pine and condition such as dead wood being
harder than alive wood until decay has set in.
3. Pruning Saws- Pruning saws are for branches over 1½ inches
in diameter.
The coarse teeth are designed to minimize gumming?
Gumming is the term used in Horticulture to describe the act of
the blade not being able to run through the material because of
the density of the material being cut.
Pruning saws, both rigid or folding, are very useful for cutting
larger branches that are too large for hand shears. Tree saws are
available for removing large tree branches that are too large for
hand shears. Pruning saws, which usually cut on the pull
stroke, are preferred over a carpenter’s saw because they cut
faster and easier. The teeth in these saws are set for a wider cut
allowing the sawdust to kick out resulting in less binding in
green wood. Bow saws are good only where no obstructions
exist for a foot or more above the area to be cut.
4. Hedge shears- used mainly for shearing into hedges or
formal shapes. The most common type is manually operated;
however if large areas of hedges are involved, power-driven
shears may be more practical.
Safe Handling of Tools
Keeping pruning equipment sharp is important for extending
the life of the tools.
Follow manufacturer’s recommendations by following
instructions and keeping current on maintenance.
(Q)Before tools are put away,
what are the procedures we
need to take in order to
maintain them?
(A) Cleaning, Oiling, and
sanitizing
Objective #3
(Q)Why is it important to
maintain sharp tools?
(A) So that the tools make
clean cuts and do not damage
plants
(Q) What kind of tool would
be appropriate for sharpening
tools?
(A) Files
(Q) What angle is important to
maintain when sharpening
hand tools?
(A) 45 degrees
The teacher will demonstrate
and show how to make the 45
degree sharpening motions
Clean tools- this includes removing any material left over from
the job.
Oiling- the tools need to be oiled before they are put away to
ensure their longevity.
Sanitizing- Key to well performing pruning tools is keeping
them clean. Disease can spread from plant to plant and sap can
gum up the works. It's a good idea to carry a rag in your pocket
to wipe down blades between uses. If you’ve been pruning
away diseased branches, you need to wipe down the blade with
alcohol before moving to another plant.
Maintaining Sharp Tools
To ensure that satisfactory cuts are made and to reduce fatigue,
keep your pruning tools sharp and in good working condition.
Hedge shears, hand pruners and lopping shears should be
periodically sharpened with a carborundum sharpening stone or
graphite rod. Replacement blades are available for many styles.
Pruning saws should be professionally sharpened or
periodically replaced. To reduce cost, many styles have
replaceable blades.
Keeping garden tools such as lawn mowers, pruning shears and
loppers is suggested to be a very important function in every
gardening book.
Beware of using a powered grinding wheel. If you are not
skilled with such a device, you can take much too much metal
off your garden tool in a few seconds of not paying attention.
Once you’ve invested in good quality pruners and loppers it is
important to maintain a sharp cutting edge. Sharp pruning and
cutting tools produce cleaner cuts that are easier to perform and
are better for the health of the plant.
Keeping a 45 degree angle is important to making sharp blades.
Move the file in a single motion across the entire blade. For by-
pass type hand shears, sharpen the side of the blade which
shows when the blades are locked closed. Ex. When the blades
are closed, the side of the blade you can see is the side which
you will sharpen.

Objective #4
Each student will be assigned
a tool to sharpen. In order to
receive full points, students
will be asked to bring the tool
to the teacher and illustrate:
- The tool has been
properly sharpened
- All rust has been
removed using emory
cloth or sandpaper
- Hand tools have been
oiled, cleaned, and
sanitized
In the anvil type, it is acceptable to sharpen both sides of the
blade.
Sharpening Process
To sharpen blades of by-pass tools, close the blades. The side
of the blade you can see when closed is the side to sharpen. Use
a 45 degree angle with the flat hand file and run the file across
the entire blade.
To sharpen blades of anvil style sharpen both sides of the
blade. Do not sharpen the anvil. Use the same 45 degree angle
as the by-pass style using a flat hand file.
When sharpening the pruning saw, use a 45 degree angle with
the round file in one direction on each individual blade.
Running the file across the blade using the entire file.
Closure/Summary/Conclusion (Tie in Objectives)

The proper maintenance and usage of pruning hand tools will enable them to last considerably
longer. Smaller branches should be removed with smaller tools and larger branches removed
with lopping shears.

Identify pruning hand tools with 100 % accuracy

Develop a plan for the safe handling, storage, and usage of hand tools
Articulate the importance of sharp tools
Demonstrate the correct method for sharpening hand tools

Evaluation: (Authentic forms of Evaluation, Quizzes, or Written Exam)

1. Participation
2. Class discussion
3. Review questions
4. Completion and organization of notes

Assignments: (Student Activities Involved in Lesson/Designed to Meet Objectives)

1. Compete Tree Parts worksheet

2. Daily Calendar
3. Complete Hand Tool Identification worksheet
4. Hand Tool Quiz
5. Sharpening Activity

Lesson Reflection

Many students knew the names of the tools, but were unable to articulate the importance of the
tool, its proper safe handling, or how to sharpen the tool. By asking the students to clean,
sharpen, and put the tools away they had a better understanding of how I would like the class to
end everyday during the pruning work sample. A few students complained about sharpening the
tools and one student cut his finger, but overall the lesson went well. In the future I would re-
visit safety and the sharpness of the tools before I begin the lesson.