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WOOD AND PAPER COURSE MATRIX |
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SYNOPSIS |
SCIENCE
CONTENT |
THINKING
PROCESSES |
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1. |
GETTING
TO KNOW WOOD
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Students
work with five different wood samples to observe their properties.
They begin with free exploration, go on a hunt for matching
samples, drop water on the samples, and float them in basins.
They test the wood to find out how many paper clips it takes
to sink it, then organize their results by making a bar graph. |
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Wood is a resource that comes from different kinds of trees.
• Some woods are processed and transformed by people.
• Wood is used for many everyday things.
• Wood has many observable properties.
• Wood floats in water. Some kinds of wood sink more easily
than others.
• Wood absorbs water. |
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Observe a variety of wood.
• Communicate observations about wood.
• Compare properties of different kinds of wood found
in the classroom.
• Compare how different kinds of wood
interact with water.
• Sort wood samples by their properties.
• Organize results to discover which wood is harder to
sink. |
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2. |
CHANGING
WOOD |
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Students
use sandpaper to change the shape of wood. They compare sawdust
and shavings and how they interact with water. They simulate
the manufacture of two kinds of wood they observed in Investigation
1, particleboard and plywood. |
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Wood has many observable properties.
• Wood that is waterlogged sinks.
• Sanding can change the shape of wood.
• Sawdust can be recycled into usable wood.
• Gluing (laminating) thin sheets of wood together produces
much stronger wood.
• Some objects occur in nature. Others are made by people. |
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Observe how wood can be changed by sanding.
• Compare sawdust to wood shavings.
• Observe the transformation of sawdust into particleboard.
• Compare the strength of a single piece of wood to several
pieces that have been glued together. |
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3. |
GETTING
TO KNOW PAPER |
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Students
observe and compare the properties of ten kinds of paper and
go on a hunt for matching samples. They test the papers for
different properties, comparing how well each folds and which
have the best surface for writing. They drop water on the samples
to compare absorption, then soak the samples overnight. |
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Paper has many observable properties.
• Some kinds of paper absorb water while others do not.
• Many objects are made from paper.
• The properties of different papers determine their use.
• People make paper from wood. Wood is a resource that
comes from trees. |
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Observe a variety of kinds of paper.
• Communicate observations about paper.
• Compare properties of different kinds of paper, including
how they fold or whether they are useful for writing surfaces.
• Observe how different kinds of paper interact with water. |
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4. |
CHANGING
PAPER |
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Students
learn two ways to transform paper, making it stronger and more
durable. They make a piece of recycled paper, turning toilet
tissue into pulp, and pulp into paper. They make papiermâché
bowls to see how paper can be changed from limp and easily torn
to stiff and strong. |
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New paper can be made from old paper.
• Recycling extends the use of trees.
• The properties of recycled paper can be compared to
those of new paper.
• Paper can be soaked in wheat paste to make it soft and
moldable when wet, and stiff and strong when dry.
• Objects can be made from paper. |
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Observe and compare the properties of paper before and after
it has been recycled.
• Compare the properties of paper before and after it
has been made into papiermâché. |
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5. |
CONSTRUCTIONS |
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Students
explore a variety of techniques for making things from paper
and wood. They learn how boxes are made and weave paper mats.
Finally they combine all the processes to make a free-form wood
and paper sculpture. |
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Knowledge of the properties of wood and paper can be used to
make useful or artistic constructions.
• Paper containers we use everyday began as flat pieces
of paper.
• Paper can be woven by using an underover alternating
pattern. |
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Observe and communicate how paper containers are constructed.
• Compare a tracing of a flat paper container to the reconstructed
container.
• Communicate knowledge of paper and wood properties to
describe new constructions. |
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