Jackson Bench — Classroom Steel Fabrication Project Plans (DXF + Build Instructions + Lesson Plan + Rubric)
Give your students a project they'll actually be proud to sit on.
The Jackson Bench is a complete, classroom-ready steel fabrication project built for agricultural mechanics and welding programs — the kind of build that turns a semester of drills into a finished piece students can point to at the FFA banquet, the school entryway, or their own front porch.
Instead of spending your weekend drafting a cut list, writing a lesson plan, and building a rubric from scratch, this plan pack hands you everything ready to print and teach: a laser/plasma-ready DXF file, step-by-step build instructions, a standards-aligned lesson plan, and a grading rubric — all formatted and classroom-tested by TradeCraft Educational Services.
Built from 3/16" steel plate with a decorative slotted pattern, scalloped backrest, and tab-and-slot construction, the Jackson Bench teaches real fabrication skills — flat-pattern layout, press-brake forming, MIG welding, and finishing — while staying approachable for an intermediate high school welding class.
Why Ag & Welding Teachers Choose This Plan Pack
- Saves prep time. Drawings, cut list, and lesson plan are done — just print and teach.
- Standards-aligned. Learning objectives mapped to 19 TAC §130.26 (Agricultural Mechanics and Metal Technologies), so it's easy to document for your curriculum coordinator or admin walkthrough.
- Right-sized challenge. Tab-and-slot joints simplify fit-up so students spend their time welding and forming, not fighting a jig.
- A project worth keeping. A durable, outdoor-ready bench is a stronger portfolio piece than another test coupon or scrap-metal art project — great for FFA fabrication contests, school beautification projects, or a fundraiser build.
- Works with the equipment you already have. Designed for CNC plasma or laser cutting, a press brake, and a MIG or flux-core welder — no exotic tooling required.
What's Included
- ✅ Jackson_Bench_All.dxf — laser/plasma-ready flat-pattern cut file (seat & backrest panel, leg side panels, back leg supports, armrests)
- ✅ Build Instructions — full cut list, tools list, safety reminders, and a 13-step build sequence from cutting to final finish
- ✅ Lesson Plan — objectives, TEKS §130.26 standards alignment, class-period pacing, guided/independent practice, differentiation strategies, and cross-curricular connections
- ✅ Printable Rubric — 100-point grading rubric covering safety, accuracy, welding craftsmanship, work habits, clean-up, and self-reflection
Project Specs
| Skill Level | Intermediate |
| Estimated Build Time | 3–5 class periods (60–120 min each) |
| Material | 3/16" steel plate |
| Finished Size | 45"W x 2'-10 1/2"H x 2'-0 1/8" seat depth |
| Joinery | Tab-and-slot, welded |
| Recommended For | Agricultural Mechanics & Metal Technologies, Welding I/II, Intro to Metal Fabrication |
Perfect For
Ag mechanics teachers, welding instructors, CTE fabrication programs, FFA chapter build-off prep, and any shop classroom looking for a standards-aligned project that's more engaging than another scrap-metal sample piece.