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Properties of Wood

Feels...
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

Takes...
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.

Resists...
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?

Changes...
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?