Hammer and Screwdriver Basics
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What you will learn
- 1Get a grown-up’s yes and put on safety glasses before using tools
- 2Start a nail safely and hammer it with smooth swings
- 3Match the screwdriver tip to the screw head
- 4Turn a screw with "righty tighty, lefty loosey"
- 5Put tools away and keep nails off the floor
Mini Lesson
A hammer and a screwdriver are two of the most useful tools in any home. With them you can help hang a picture, fix a loose handle, or build a small wooden box. Real tools need real care. You work slowly, with a grown-up right beside you, and you follow the safety steps every time.
🏠 The Life Skills Way (step by step)
- GET READY: a grown-up is with you and says yes first. Put on safety glasses.
- STEADY: work on a steady table or bench, not on your lap or the floor.
- START the nail: hold it near the top with your fingertips out of the way, or push it through a strip of cardboard and hold the cardboard.
- TAP, then SWING: tap gently until the nail stands up by itself. Move your fingers away, then hit with smooth swings while you look at the nail.
- MATCH the screwdriver: a flat tip for a screw with one straight line, a cross tip for a screw with a cross.
- PUSH and TURN: push in while you turn. Righty tighty, lefty loosey.
🧰 When You Finish
- PUT IT BACK: return every tool to its place.
- PICK UP nails and screws: never leave them on the floor, where feet can find them.
Tools are an ADULT job: a grown-up is beside you the whole time and says yes before you start. Always wear safety glasses. Tools are never toys - never swing a hammer near anyone or point a screwdriver at a person. If you hit your finger or get hurt, stop and tell your grown-up right away.
Words to know
claw hammer
A hammer with a flat head for hitting nails and a split claw for pulling them out.
e.g. Grandpa handed me the claw hammer.
nail
A thin metal pin you hammer into wood.
e.g. I tapped the nail to start it.
screw
A metal pin with a twisting edge that you turn into wood.
e.g. The screw holds the handle on.
flat-head
A screwdriver or screw with one straight line on the tip.
e.g. This screw needs a flat-head screwdriver.
Phillips
A screwdriver or screw with a cross shape on the tip.
e.g. The Phillips tip fits the cross in the screw.
safety glasses
Strong glasses that protect your eyes while you work.
e.g. I put on safety glasses before I start.
💡 Handy Tip: push a nail through a strip of cardboard, then hold the cardboard instead of the nail. Your fingers stay far from the hammer, and you can tear the cardboard away once the nail stands up.
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