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: 1st Term
Week: 20
Grade code: 2.3.2.LI.5
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 2.3.2.CS.1
Indicator code: 2.3.2.LI.5
Theme: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY
Subtheme: SUBSTRUCTURE AND SUPERSTRUCTURE
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Welcome, learners! Every day, we see buildings all around us – our homes, our schools, churches, mosques, and shops in the market. Have you ever wondered why these massive, heavy structures don't just sink into the ground or fall over, especially during the rainy season? The secret lies hidden beneath the ground in a part of the building called the substructure, specifically in its foundation footing. Understanding the footing is the first step to understanding how safe, strong buildings are constructed in Ghana, from a simple single-room house in a village to a tall building in Accra.
This section breaks down the core ideas you need to master. A. Substructure vs. Superstructure
Before we focus on the footing, let's understand its place in a building. A building is divided into two main parts: Substructure: This is the part of the building that is below the ground level. Its main job is to transfer the load (weight) of the entire building safely to the soil. It includes the foundation and the foundation walls up to the ground floor level. Superstructure: This is the part of the building that is above the ground level. It is the visible part of the building where we live and work. It includes the walls, columns, beams, floors, roof, doors, and windows.
 *(Teacher to draw a simple sketch on the board showing a house with a line for "Ground Level", labelling everything below as "Substructure" and everything above as "Superstructure")* B. What is a Foundation Footing?
The foundation is the entire system that supports the building, but the footing (also called the footing course) is the very bottom, widest part of the foundation. It is the part that is in direct contact with the soil.