Session # 2: Bricks and Mortar

Curriculum
Brick manufacturing, ingredients and colors
Identify stretcher, header, rollock, soldier sailor, shine
Mortars ingredients and working characteristics:
Lime mortar, Natural and Portland cements
Safely erecting pipe staging
Stocking staging for masonry work
Mix mortars and examine properties of the mixes

Trowel practice by mortoring brick end joints

Identification of good and poor workmanship

Masonry and Preservation:

* A brief history of U.S. of mortars, methods and ingredients

* Terms- slaked lime, lime putty, hydraulic mortar, kilns

* Mortar ingredients (sand, lime, cement) and safe storage
* Students built pipe scaffolding, and stocked it for mason’s work

* Safety in handling, moving and working on staging.

* Learning and practicing to butter brick end joints

History:

* 19th century transportation and canal building

* How lime mortars were made and used in the U.S.
* Natural cement mining in Rosendale New York.

* The invention and naming of Portland cement by Joseph Aspdin, in England.

Integrity:

*A discussion of poor construction practices and reviewing a building under construction near the Workshop/class room.

*The building Superintendent explained working safe, working clean and the rewards of better pay come from a good reputation, working hard, working smart and working clean.

Observations:
· Telling students of a recent scaffolding accident/death focused their attention while they built and stocked the pipe staging.
· Having the students spend a moment at the end of a task to pause and observe their finished work to let them notice the change and appreciate what they accomplished.
· Think how one can improve not just buildings but the world by leaving it better than when you first arrived.