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Year 6

Wood functional properties

I can explain the difference between soft and hard woods.

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New
New
Year 6

Wood functional properties

I can explain the difference between soft and hard woods.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Hardwood and softwood come from different types of trees.
  2. Softwoods are usually cheaper to purchase and sustainable as they are quicker to grow.
  3. Hardwoods are usually stronger and more durable.
  4. Softwoods are easier to shape and change.

Keywords

  • Deciduous - trees and shrubs that lose their leaves every year

  • Evergreen - trees and shrubs that do not lose their leaves, leaves stay green

  • Hardwood - wood from trees that lose their leaves in autumn

  • Softwood - wood from trees that keep their leaves all year round

  • Grain - a pattern seen in wood that has been cut

Common misconception

All hardwoods are hard and all softwoods are soft.

Balsa is very soft and light but it is a deciduous hardwood. Yew is heavy and hard but it is a coniferous softwood.


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

Provide a selection of products made from hard and soft woods for close examination of the the grain.
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Equipment

See additional materials document for a list of resources needed in this lesson.

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Content guidance

  • Exploration of objects
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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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.
Where does wood come from?
Correct Answer: trees, a tree, forests, felled trees
Q2.
Which of these are made from wood?
Correct answer: peg
Correct answer: paper
bottle
Correct answer: toy car
Q3.
Which of these is NOT true about wood?
natural
Correct answer: a conductor of electricity
opaque
renewable
an insulator
Q4.
Match these words to the descriptions.
Correct Answer:trunk,the central column of a tree
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the central column of a tree

Correct Answer:log,a small section of tree trunk or branch
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a small section of tree trunk or branch

Correct Answer:bark,the rough outer layer of the tree
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the rough outer layer of the tree

Correct Answer:branch,part of the tree that leaves grow on
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part of the tree that leaves grow on

Correct Answer:roots,anchors the tree to the ground
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anchors the tree to the ground

Q5.
How do trees help the Earth's atmosphere?
They keep the soil stable.
They provide wood.
Correct answer: They remove carbon dioxide from the air.
They provide habitats for insects, birds and animals.
Q6.
What is deforestation?
Planting trees
Correct answer: Clearing large areas of forest
Building houses in a forest
Animals taking over a forest

6 Questions

Q1.
Which word describes wood that will be used to make products?
resin
fibres
Correct answer: timber
tree
Q2.
What makes hardwood strong?
quick growth
Correct answer: close grain
Correct answer: slow growth
loose grain
wide trunk
Q3.
Which of these is a softwood tree?
Oak
Horse Chestnut
Correct answer: Fir
Q4.
Why are external windows and doors often made from hardwood?
easier to cut and shape
more affordable
Correct answer: more durable in all weathers
Correct answer: strong so provide protection
Q5.
How long does it usually take for softwood trees to grow?
0-20 years
Correct answer: 20-40 years
40-60 years
60+ years
Q6.
What is a deciduous tree?
Correct answer: a tree that loses its broad leaves every year
a tree that stays green all year round
a tree that produces needles and cones
a tree with small leaves

Additional material

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