You can download the latest versions of the:
– “Wood properties activity” [pdf]
– “Wood properties teacher supplement” [pdf]
The activity centres around a set of wood samples. Here are some handy Wikipedia links for each of those:
– Spruce (Sitka / Norway)
– Pine (Scots)
– Larch (European / Japanese / hybrid)
– Douglas-fir
– Western red cedar
– Oak (pendunculate / sessile)
– Birch (silver / downy)
– OSB
– Particleboard (chipboard)
You may also like to learn more about wood working on the “Wow I made that!” website from the British Woodworking Federation.
A little game to identify the samples (this is hard to do even with the wood samples):
If you are interested in forestry you can find a virtual career experience here.
The wood database website has a lot of useful things, including a quick guide to wood identification.
You can also find learning resources about trees and wood on the OWL (Outdoor and Woodland Learning Scotland) website.
You can find out more about wood and forestry – and jobs in that area – in this online booklet. It also has lots of nice photographs.
Some related YouTube videos
Timber strength testing (just the exciting parts where it breaks!)
A summary of the UK forest and timber industry – and the people who work in it – with some good video of the processes.
Researcher, Marlene Cramer, explains timber grading with plums
Wood explained by Wood Scientist Jim and his grandson Spencer