TIME TO Take a piece of wood and fashion it into something useful or beautiful or both Wood is an amazing material that can be endlessly reused In this book we look at ways to use woodworking skills from using popsicle sticks to making a birdhouse A MAKER MOVEMENT The maker movement is all about learning through hands on real world experience Working with wood is part of the maker movement A makerspace is a place where people can gather to share resources knowledge and work on projects Try new things and create new possibilities Use your imagination practical skills and spirit of adventure to become a woodworker NEW FROM OLD Become part of a centuries old tradition of craftspeople who have enjoyed the process of carpentry to make best use of wood At its most basic wood can be used for strength in providing support in construction It can also be shaped into simple or elaborate furniture Woodworking helps you to develop both vour practical and creative skills Wood comes from a living tree When part of a tree is cut down the wood is no longer living However you can make it live by reshaping and forming it into something ne Treat it with wonder Marvel at its structure and properties Create and make something
WHAT DO YOU NEED All you need is a willingness to try and to learn as you work You will also need to follow safety guidelines You will need pieces of wood and some basic tools You do not need to buy new wood Be a true maker and source material from recycled and discarded wood Work with friends to share your skills and ideas If something does not go according to plan rethink it Learn through experimentation mistakes often lead to exciting new ideas Use your creativity as you design Use your math skills when measuring Use your scientific understanding and wonder as you appreciate this extraordinary natural material SAFETY O Wood is a strong material To shape or cut it you need sharp tools Observe the safety guidelines see page 10 whenever you work with wood It is essential to use such tools only when a responsible adult is supervising Always remember to wash your hands after collecting wood Working on wood projects is a great team activity You get to share your ideas and
IN THE WORLD All the wood people use for making objects comes from trees When you work with wood it helps to understand the source of this wonderful material If you appreciate and understand the amazing strength and value of trees you will better appreciate the remarkable material that you are working with TREE TIME The trunk of a tree supports its weight The bark is made from cells that have died The bark acts as a barrier to protect the tree from insects and disease Cells divide at the tips of twigs causing them to grow Under the bark layers of cells called the cambium divide producing new tissue and widening the trunk As the weather turns colder the cells rest until the warmer weather returns This cycle creates growth rings inside the trunk Look closely at the rings inside a tree trunk to find out more about the tree's
WOODY DIFFERENCES There are more than 23 000 types of tree around the world You do not need to be a tree specialist to be creative with woodwork but it helps to know about the material you are working with Softwood comes from coniferous trees such as cedar fir and pine These trees also known as evergreens keep their leaves or needles all year round Wood from deciduous trees is known as hardwood These trees lose their leaves each fall The wood from deciduous trees is usually denser than wood from coniferous trees so it is stronger but harder to work with Baseball bats are made of hardwood WOODY MATTERS Balsa wood is perfect for making light models such as airplanes They fly too The unique or special natural properties of wood make it useful and versatile Wood is strong and heavy It floats does not conduct electricity and is a good insulator It is also long lasting Consider the wooden items you use at home and in school What properties of wood make this material suitable for the purpose Are there other properties that make wood special Be a Maker Go to your local park woodland or backyard Select some sticks and pieces of bark Find out which type of tree this wood comes from Peel off the bark What do you see inside Talk with friends about the different ways you could use this wood What happens when you bend a stick in one direction then in the opposite direction How do you think the characteristics of the wood could be used in
