Building Trades

Building Trades

Building Trades introduces students to skills in the four core areas of residential construction: masonry, carpentry, electricity, and plumbing. Students emphasize safety by earning the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 card as they build or repair residential structures, using a variety of materials and tools. Students will also learn current residential building codes associated with building trades. Students design and build scale or full-size structures and work with projects that help them understand the jobs of architects, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, surveyors, contractors, masons, design engineers, and a variety of other construction careers. They also explore aspects of the construction industry.

Application Information

Specialty program applications will be accepted November 1, 2024-February 1, 2025.

Visit the Specialty Programs Application Process website to learn more about the application process.

Who can apply?

Applications for this program are open for rising 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students who attend one of the following schools:

• Brentsville District HS
• Colgan HS
• Forest Park HS
• Freedom HS
• Gar-Field HS
• Hylton HS
• Patriot HS
• Potomac HS
• Woodbridge HS

• In good academic standing - Earning at least a C average (2.0 GPA) at the end of Semester 1 in all classes.
• In good attendance standing - Not chronically absent (not missing 10% or more of the current school year)
• In good discipline standing - No discipline record in the past 12 months for fighting, vapes, disrespect/classroom disruptions, vandalism. No discipline record ever of assault/battery, sexual assault or harassment, arson, weapons, or drugs/alcohol. 

Learn More About the Building Trades Program

Program Information

Transfer Program

Students participating in this program will transfer to the program location for all courses and activities.

Express bus transportation is available to accepted students living outside the program location boundaries through Specialty Program Transportation.

Building Trades at Patriot HS

Basic Program Information

All information shared on this page is intended to provide an overview of the Building Trades Program at Patriot High School.

Because the program is new, some parts of this page are subject to modification and revision in order to meet State and Local requirements and/or enrollment needs.

Purpose of Course:

• Building Trades I & 2 prepares students to erect, install, maintain, and repair buildings, and other structures using materials such as metal, wood, stone, brick, glass, concrete and composition substances.
• Students focus on developing skills in core safety, masonry, carpentry, electricity, and plumbing professions.
• This is the first in an eventual 2 course sequence, culminating with attainment of an industry- recognized certification.

Goals:

• Throughout this course, students will be introduced to the skills and knowledge directly related to careers within the Architecture and Construction Career Cluster as well as the construction and pre-construction pathways.
• Students will become aware of core safety skills related to the industry as well as gain experience in four distinct trades - masonry, carpentry, electricity, and plumbing.
• With the support of the Career and Technical Education Foundation, this program will work collaboratively on projects with the Habitat for Humanity for Prince William County.

Rationale:

• This course prepares students for a career or future postsecondary education toward a career within the building trades industry.

Sample Course Outline

First Quarter

Objectives:

• Students will comply with federal, state, and local safety legal requirements as they relate to issues not limited to personal protective equipment requirements and a safe working environment.
• Students will gain experience through project based instruction within the masonry field.

Major Activities:

• Students will receive CareerSafe Certification.
• Students will participate in a project, requiring the use of masonry skills along with the following:
  • Performing Entry-Level Brick Masonry
  • Laying Brick Positions and Bond
  • Laying Concrete Masonry Units
  • Identifying and Mixing Masonry Cements

Assessment:

• Completion of CareerSafe Certification
• SkillsUSA assessment

Second Quarter

Objectives:

• Students will gain experience through project based instruction within the carpentry field.

Major Activities:

• Students will participate in a project, requiring the use of carpentry skills along with the following:
  • Using Basic Carpentry Skills
  • Framing a Floor
  • Framing Walls

Assessment:

• Carpentry Project Rubric

Third Quarter

Objectives:

• Students will gain experience through project based instruction within the electrical field.

Major Activities:

• Students will participate in a project, requiring the use of electrical skills along with the following:
  • Applying Basic Electrical Theory
  • Selecting and Installing Conductors

Assessment:

• Electrical Project Rubric

Fourth Quarter:

Objectives:

• Students will gain experience through project based instruction within the carpentry field.

Major Activities:

• Students will participate in a project, requiring the use of plumbing skills along with the following:
  • Applying Basic Math to the Plumbing Trade
  • Performing Pipe Cutting and Joining
  • Installing Waste and Soil Pipes
  • Roughing-in Water Distribution Components

Assessment:

• Plumbing Project Rubric

Grading Factors: Students will need to successfully complete experiences related to 80% of all Task Competencies designated by the state for this course to attain a rating of competent.