Do it yourself (DIY) is building or repairing something without the help of an expert or professional. For example, if you need to paint your bedroom wall, you do it yourself instead of paying a painter to do it. The same is applies to other tasks that you need to do at home like fixing your roof, hanging a picture on the wall or putting up a shelf.
In general, DIY or 'Do It Yourself' is seen as a man's job...not in my family! My Mum has always fixed everything whilst my Dad is useless at it! Have you learnt the names of the tools we use to do DIY? It may come in handy when you need to visit a hardware shop because your lamp has broken! Here’s a short test to see how much you know...
Lesson by Caroline
If you want to see pictures of these items, there is an excellent image here.
Drill - a tool used for making holes in hard things.
Hammer - a tool that has a heavy metal head attached to a handle and that is used for hitting nails or breaking things apart.
Screwdriver - a tool that is used for turning screws.
Pliers - a tool that is used for holding small objects or for bending and cutting wire.
Chisel - a metal tool with a flat, sharp end that is used to cut and shape a solid material.
Shovel - a tool with a long handle and a broad blade with curved edges, used for moving earth, snow, sand.
Bucket - a large, round, open container with a handle used for carrying liquids e.g. water.
Stapler - a piece of equipment used for putting staples through paper, usually seen in an office.(picture)
Mallet - a type of hammer that has a flat end made of wood or rubber, not metal.
Sandpaper - strong paper with a rough surface that is rubbed against wood to make it smooth.
Screw - a small, pointed piece of metal that you turn round and round to fix things together, especially pieces of wood.
Brush - a tool with many stiff hairsthat is used for painting or cleaning something.
Paint Roller - a tube-shaped brush that is used for painting large areas quickly. (picture)
Now decide the correct tool to use in each situation:
