Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2

Lesson Video

This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.

For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.

Performance objectives

• Define substructure and superstructure.
• Identify and describe different types of walls.
• Explain the functions of walls in a building.
• Discuss the materials used in wall construction.
• Collaborate to present findings on wall construction.

Lesson summary

This lesson focuses on walls, which are one of the most fundamental components of a building's superstructure. We see walls everywhere—in our homes, schools, markets, and places of worship. Understanding how they are constructed, the different types that exist, and the critical functions they perform is essential for anyone studying building technology. This knowledge is not just academic; it helps us appreciate the safety, comfort, and design of the buildings we use every day in our communities across Ghana, from the sandcrete block houses in Accra to the traditional earth buildings in the Northern regions.

Lesson notes

A. What is a Wall in the Superstructure?

First, let's remember the difference between substructure and superstructure. Substructure: The part of the building below the ground level (e.g., foundations). Superstructure: The part of the building above the ground level that we see and use (e.g., walls, floors, roof).

A wall is a continuous vertical structure, usually solid, that defines an area, carries a load, or provides shelter or security. It is a primary component of the superstructure, transferring the loads from the roof and floors down to the foundation.

Think of a house: the ground floor slab and the foundation below it are the substructure. Everything built on top of that floor—the block walls, the columns, the roof—is the superstructure. The walls are the "skin" and sometimes the "bones" of this structure. B. Functions of Walls

Evaluation guide

• Discuss wall construction.
• Collaboration:
• In structured groups (GESI) ask learners to explain walls as used in the superstructure.
• In structured groups (GESI) ask learners to outline types of walls.