Fall Semester: Shop Fundamentals, Trades & Thermal Cutting

1st Six Weeks: Shop Safety, Leadership & Hand/Power Tools

• Weeks 1–2: Orientation, SAE & Shop Safety Certification

  • Lab procedures, personal protective equipment (PPE), hazard communication, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and fire safety.

  • Establishing a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) in the Texas AET tracker.

  • Deliverable: Safety Exam (100% mastery required prior to lab access).

• Weeks 3–4: Hand Tools & Fasteners

  • Identification, application, maintenance, and storage of mechanical hand tools.

  • Thread types, tap and die usage, bolt grades, and structural fasteners.

• Weeks 5–6: Power Tool Operation & Wood/Metal Equipment

  • Safe operation of stationary and portable power tools (drill press, bench grinder, band saw, cut-off saw, angle grinder).

  • Equipment maintenance and safety inspections.

2nd Six Weeks: Measurement, Carpentry & Agricultural Structures

• Weeks 7–8: Precision Measurement & Layout

  • Reading standard (fractions/decimals) and metric rules, combination squares, calipers, and speed squares.

  • Scale drawing, layout techniques, bill of materials (BOM), and project cost estimation.

• Weeks 9–10: Ag Carpentry & Framing

  • Wood identification, lumber grading, wall/roof framing basics, and joint assembly.

  • Surface preparation, paints, stains, and protective coatings.

• Weeks 11–12: Fencing & Agricultural Enclosures

  • Planning and post-spacing calculations.

  • Material selection and installation methods for barbed wire, woven wire, T-posts, and H-brace assemblies.

3rd Six Weeks: Plumbing, Concrete & Mid-Year Capstone

• <* data-index-in-node="0" data-path-to-node="8,0,0">Weeks 13–14: Agricultural Plumbing Systems

  • Pipe materials (PVC, PEX, galvanized steel), pipe sizing, cutting, threading, and solvent welding.

  • Identifying plumbing fixtures, valves, and livestock waterers.

• Weeks 15–16: Concrete & Masonry Basics

  • Formwork construction, rebar reinforcement, aggregate mixing ratios, and slab volume calculations.

  • Pouring, screeding, floating, finishing, and curing concrete.

• Weeks 17–18: Midterm Ag Mechanics Construction Project

  • Fabrication of a introductory trade-skill project (e.g., wooden tool tote, bench, or small formwork structure).

  • Semester Deliverable: Midterm Written Exam & Skills Practical Evaluation.

Spring Semester: Electrical Systems & Metal Working

4th Six Weeks: Electrical Wiring & Power Systems

• Weeks 19–20: Principles of Electricity & Safety

  • Electrical terms (Voltage, Current, Resistance, Power), Ohm’s Law, and safety protocols.

  • Reading wiring schematics and National Electrical Code (NEC) basics.

• Weeks 21–22: Circuit Wiring & Outlets

  • Selecting wire gauges, box types, single-pole/3-way switches, duplex receptacles, and GFCI outlets.

  • EMT and PVC conduit bending and installation.

• Weeks 23–24: Electric Motors & Control Systems

  • Single-phase motor types, reversing rotation, circuit protection, and basic motor maintenance.

5th Six Weeks: Metal Identification & Thermal Cutting

• Weeks 25–26: Cold Metalworking & Metal ID

  • Ferrous vs. non-ferrous metals, spark testing, structural steel shapes (angle, tubing, channel, flat bar).

  • Bending, shearing, filing, drilling, and tapping metal.

• Weeks 27–28: Oxy-Fuel Cutting (OFC) & Heating

  • Cylinder handling, regulator setup, pressure adjustment, lighting, and leak testing.

  • Straight cuts, beveling, piercing, and flame heating techniques.

• Weeks 29–30: Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC)

  • PAC machine setup, air supply, torch operation, and template/freehand cutting.

6th Six Weeks: Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) & Capstone

• Weeks 31–33: SMAW (Stick Welding) Fundamentals

  • Arc welding safety, machine setup, duty cycle, and polarity (DCEP/DCEN/AC).

  • Electrode classification (E6010, E6013, E7018).

  • Striking an arc, running beads, pad of beads, and basic joints (****, lap, tee) in flat and horizontal positions.

• Weeks 34–35: Small Metal Project Fabrication

  • Blueprint reading, layout, cutting, fitting, tacking, and finish welding of a small metal project (e.g., jack stand, welding table, or boot scraper).

• Weeks 36: Course Closeout & SAE Completion

  • Final lab maintenance, tool inventory, and AET record book finalization.

  • Introduction to upper-level pathways (Ag Structures Design & Fabrication or Ag Equipment Design & Fabrication).

Year-Round Integration

• Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE): All students maintain an active SAE tracking hours, project construction logs, and earnings in the Texas AET.

• FFA Integration: Practice for Ag Technology & Mechanical Systems CDEs and entry preparation for local/county Ag Mechanics Project Shows