Wool

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/wool

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 scientific classification?Ovis aries (domesticated sheep)
2. What is the primary protein?Alpha-keratin
3. What makes wool so warm and cozy?Wool has a natural wavy shape called crimp that creates tiny spaces that trap air. Those spaces keep heat inside, so wool feels warm even when it’s cold.
4. Why does wool stay dry even when it rains?The outer scales of wool fibers act like a shield that pushes water away at first. But wool can still let steam escape, so it doesn’t feel wet inside.

Hygroscopic: Having the tendency to attract and hold water molecules from the surrounding air.
Worsted Spinning: A spinning process that produces smooth, strong yarns from highly aligned wool fibers.
Biodegradable: Capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.