Natural and Manufactured Timbers (Core)
Wood comes straight from a tree or is manufactured into boards. Sort the hardwoods from the softwoods, meet plywood and MDF, and dodge the classic balsa trap.
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Wood, natural and made 🪵
Some wood comes straight from a tree as a natural **timber**; other boards are **manufactured** by gluing wood together. Natural timbers split into **hardwoods** and **softwoods**, and there are handy manufactured boards like **plywood** and **MDF**. This module sorts them all out.
The language of timber 🔑
Four ideas run through this module:
Hardwoods and softwoods 🌳
Natural timbers are grouped by the type of tree they come from, not by how hard they feel.
Match each timber to its use 🔗
- Oak
- Pine
- Balsa
- Cedar
- A strong, durable hardwood for furniture
- A cheap softwood for construction
- A very light, soft wood for models
- A weather-resistant softwood for outdoor use
Spot the hardwoods 🌲
Select the TWO hardwoods.
- Oak
- Mahogany
- Pine
- Cedar
The balsa trap ⚠️
The commonest mistake is to think a hardwood must be hard. In fact **hardwood** and **softwood** describe the **tree**, not how hard the wood is. The proof is **balsa**: it comes from a broad-leaved tree, so it is a **hardwood**, yet it is one of the softest, lightest woods there is. Always classify by the tree, not the feel.
Match each timber or board 🪚
- Plywood
- MDF
- Mahogany
- Beech
- Thin layers glued with the grain crossing over
- Wood fibres pressed into a smooth board
- A rich-coloured hardwood for quality furniture
- A tough hardwood for tool handles and toys
Classify the timber 🌱
Pine comes from a fast-growing coniferous tree. What kind of timber is it?
- A softwood
- A hardwood
- A manufactured board
- It is not a timber
Timbers in words 🧩
Timber from a deciduous tree is a _____, such as oak. Timber from a coniferous tree is a _____, such as pine. A _____ board is made from wood and glue; MDF is made from wood _____. Despite being soft, _____ is classed as a hardwood.
Is balsa hard or soft? 🎈
Balsa is one of the softest, lightest woods. Is it a hardwood or a softwood?
- A hardwood, because it comes from a broad-leaved tree
- A softwood, because it feels soft
- A manufactured board
- Neither, it is a plastic
Spot the true statements 🖍️
An interactive activity.
How plywood is made 🪜
An interactive activity.
Choose the timber 🧭
An interactive activity.
Natural or manufactured? ✍️
An interactive activity.