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Year 6

Wood construction and joining techniques

I can saw, join and drill wood.

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New
New
Year 6

Wood construction and joining techniques

I can saw, join and drill wood.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Sawing techniques need to be conducted safely.
  2. Card triangles can be added to strengthen corner joints.
  3. Measuring accurately is essential to creating an effective product.

Keywords

  • Technique - a specific way of completing a task

  • Accurate - being correct and precise, opposite inaccurate

  • Joint - the place where two materials are joined together

  • Triangulation - using triangles to strengthen structures

Common misconception

Force and pressure are needed to saw through wood.

Correct technique and posture allows the blade to work efficiently without force.


To help you plan your year 6 design and technology lesson on: Wood construction and joining techniques, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Clamps can be used to secure the bench hooks in place. A vice could be used in place of a bench hook with additional insruction for safe use. Observe pupils posture and grip when sawing as nervousness can result in overtightening of grip which prevents smooth motion of the blade.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

Please see additional materials document for information on the resources needed for this lesson.

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Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment
  • Risk assessment required - physical activity
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What do you call wood that has been grown specifically for manufacture?
branch
Correct answer: timber
trunk
hardwood
Q2.
Match the tool to the job
Correct Answer:drill,making holes
tick

making holes

Correct Answer:saw,cutting materials such as wood
tick

cutting materials such as wood

Correct Answer:ruler,measuring
tick

measuring

Correct Answer:pencil,mark making
tick

mark making

Correct Answer:clamp,holding something in place
tick

holding something in place

Q3.
Which of these is NOT a good way to join wood?
screw
nail
glue
Correct answer: sellotape
interlocking
Q4.
How many millimetres (mm) are there in 6.5 centimetres (cm)?
Correct Answer: 65, sixty five, 65 mm, 65 millimetres, sixty five millimetres
Q5.
Which type of wood would usually be best to use when making a lightweight model?
hardwood
dense wood
Correct answer: softwood
doesn't matter
Q6.
What do we use sandpaper for?
to decorate wood
to make wood stronger
to make wood waterproof
Correct answer: to smooth rough edges

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these products is made from wood?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q2.
Which of these would NOT be used to measure size or angles?
protractor
ruler
Correct answer: measuring jug
tape measure
set square
Q3.
Match the tool to the job.
Correct Answer:hacksaw,cut through wood
tick

cut through wood

Correct Answer:bench hook,supports wood being cut
tick

supports wood being cut

Correct Answer:ruler,measures size
tick

measures size

Correct Answer:triangular support,strengthens joints
tick

strengthens joints

Correct Answer:glue,sticks materials together
tick

sticks materials together

Q4.
Can you accurately read the length of the line in mm?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: 132 mm
135 mm
139 mm
Q5.
Order these steps to cut wood safely.
1 - Gather tools
2 - Position bench hook
3 - Position wood
4 - Make an indentation (cut)
5 - Saw through the wood
Q6.
What word refers to the use of triangles to strengthen joints?
Correct Answer: triangulation

Additional material

Download additional material