Authoring, Researching, Reporting and Other Work

Learning On-Line by Howard Taylor

Lincoln Family Pageant "Log Cabin Building" Demonstration

 Using a Lincoln Log Cabin set (with several wooden-only pieces) students can practice the construction of an inter-locked notched cabin.  In the process window and door openings are planned, and the roof is finally placed.  Here are some steps the students could use as a narrative:

1.  The cabin builders must select a spot to place the cabin that has a good water supply, and ample large trees for logs.

2.  The cabin and farm must be "laid out."  Just where do you want the vegetable garden, the corn and wheat fields, and the animal areas?

3.  After making a decision about where you want everything on the farm, you must clear the land to make way for the cabin.  This is hard work of cutting down trees, stacking the good logs (for your cabin) and burning out the stumps.  Hopefully, you can find a clear spot on the farm, where little clearing has to be done.

4. You lay out the foundation of the cabin with large pieces of rock slab (slate or other flat rock).

5. The logs must be prepared by cutting off all branches, notching the ends for inter-locking, and making them the correct length.

6.  The door and window openings must be considered in planning the log lengths.  You have to have logs that will fill the correct spaces and notches accordingly.

7.  Small logs must be made to support the foundation layer.

8.  The process of building the cabin starts.  Logs are stacked and inter-locked, with various lengths required where door and window openings occur.

9.  The walls are completed and the roof ends must be filled in by logs (triangular sections).

10. The roof boards are placed and nailed on.  Shake (wooden) shingles are applied to waterproof the roof.

11. The chimney is built with logs, and lined with clay.

12. The log spaces are chinked with clay.

13. The floor is smoothed and packed (if dirt), or a wooden floor is installed (if a little fancier).

14. Oiled animal skins are put over windows, and a wooden or animal-skin door is put up.

15. The family moves in.  Mother arranges any furniture that they own.  Father makes other furniture later.

16.  If an attic space is built in, Mother will fix up beds for the little ones.\

17. All "14" people in the extended family will be warm the coming winter.

18. Now all must help get the crop out (if not already done).  Remember that much land clearing must be done to get an area for the crops.  Much cutting or burning out of trees and brush is done.  Firewood for winter is gathered now.

19. Rails are split and fences are built.