Green Woodworking

Available Activities
We can offer a range of sessions involving demonstrations of traditional green woodworking techniques, including use of the pole lathe and shaving horse.

Pupils gain hands-on experience of a variety of wood types, both natural and processed and gain an insight into the materials, physical processes, historical and environmental connections associated with green woodworking through a selection of the following:

* finding out about the characteristics of wood that make it such a versatile material

* examining samples of wood showing the stages involved in converting a freshly cut log to a finished product, and identify the specialist tools used for each stage

* observing how traditional devices such as the shaving horse and pole lathe embody basic principles of levers, springs and structures

* comparing the tools and techniques used in green woodworking and

carpentry

* learning how the historically important practices of coppicing and hedgelaying are environmentally valuable

* recognising how importantly people have regarded trees, by using them in sayings and place names

Times & cost

What do we need to provide?
* A clear area of 4m x 4m (2.5m headroom is required for the pole lathe).
* Tables to set out models, samples and tools for display.
* Class teacher to assist when children are working in smaller groups.

Curriculum links

	Key Stage 1	Key Stage 2
Science: Materials	1.a,c,d,e 2.a	1.a 2.c
Science: Physical Processes	2.b,c,d	2.c,d,f,g,h
Design & Technology	4.a 5.a,d,f,g	4.a 5.a,b,c,e,g,j,k
Geography	3.e 6.c	10.a,b