This November, LET’S LEARN ABOUT…Wood!
Wood and its uses
Wood comes from the trunks and branches of trees. Strong and durable, it was one of the first materials in nature that people learned to turn into useful objects. They also burned wood to keep warm and to cook food, and built houses from it for shelter.
Although some metals are stronger, wood is lighter and easier to work with, making it an ideal material for buildings, furniture, toys, and sculptures. What else do you think wood can be used for?
Types of wood
Some types of wood commonly used in Southeast Asia are teak, sandalwood, rosewood, and ebony. Teak has been widely used in India for more than 2000 years, where it was particularly valued as a material for shipbuilding. Sandalwood is soft and suitable for delicate woodwork — it also has a rich fragrance that can last for decades. Today, rosewood and ebony are popular materials for making musical instruments, like guitars.
Some types of wood, called hardwoods, are so strong that they can even resist damage from insects and water.
Wood and the environment
Wood is a renewable material, which means it can be replaced naturally. If you grow a new tree for each tree cut down, you can use wood without harming the environment. Some countries, like Finland, manage forests in this way, ensuring that there will always be wood to use in the future.
