Framing (construction)

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/framing-construction

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary structural material?Wood, engineered wood, and structural steel are the most common framing materials
2. What is the historical precursor?Heavy timber framing, utilizing large, joined wooden beams, predates modern light-frame construction
3. What is framing in building construction?Framing is the skeleton of a building. It’s made from wood or metal studs that hold up the walls, roof, and floors.
4. How does framing differ from building walls made of stone or logs?In framing, the walls are built around a skeleton of studs. Mass wall construction stacks thick layers of stone, earth, or logs on top of each other without a hidden skeleton.

Dimensional Lumber: Standardized sizes of sawn wood used for framing, such as 2x4s and 2x6s.
Shear Wall: A structural element designed to resist lateral forces, such as wind or seismic loads.
Timber Framing: A traditional method of construction using large, heavy timbers joined with mortise and tenon joints.