Lumber

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/lumber

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 components?Cellulose fibers embedded in a lignin matrix, forming an anisotropic composite material
2. What is the moisture content?Typically reduced to 12-20% for construction lumber through kiln-drying or air-drying
3. What is lumber and how is it made from trees?Lumber is wood cut into planks and beams. Trees are cut, taken to sawmills, debarked, and sawed into shapes. The wood is then dried to keep it strong.
4. Why do we use pine, spruce, and fir for lumber?These conifers grow fast and are easy to cut, so they are common for building. Hardwoods like oak and maple are stronger and look nice.

Anisotropic: Having properties that differ depending on the direction in which they are measured.
Embodied Energy: The total energy required to produce a material, from extraction to final product.
Carbon Sequestration: The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.