Properties of Material
Wood....

feels... takes... resists... changes...
1. rough - until it is sanded smooth
2. hard
3. bendy (pliable) if in sticks or thin pieces

4. dry
5. light - compared to other building materials and it will float on water

Experiment with different materials to see which float as well as wood



1. a weight - it is strong
2. water - it slowly absorbs liquids but wet wood attracts moulds which eventually destroy it
3. shaping and carving - it is an easy material to use for decorative work

4. insects - woodworm, deathwatch beetle and other insects bore into wood and, again, destroy it

Find out which types of wood these insects like best

1. electricity - it will not carry an electrical charge
2. hot or cold - wood is a good thermal insulator and will keep heat or cold in and out

Why were the rooms of Tudor houses like Blakesley Hall lined with wood panelling

1. if heated - it produces heat and burns to ashes
2. if allowed to dry out too quickly - it cracks

3. if mashed up - it can be made into  paper

Find out how many things were made of wood years ago. What materials are used for these things nowadays?

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