In this “Log Cabin Challenge,” students will collaborate to build a log cabin using heavy Link N logs.
What’s Covered
One group will use technology, operating a train to move the logs, while the other group will rely on muscle power to transport them by hand. The logs will come with pre-made notches for easy assembly, and the roof will be pre-built. A brief lesson on the historical role of trains in the area’s development will provide context for the challenge. This activity not only teaches history and leadership but also fosters teamwork and problem-solving skills in a fun, hands-on way!
Educational Standards
Applicable Standards:
- SS 4.4: Students explain how California became an agricultural and industrial power, tracing the transformation of the California economy and its political and cultural development since the 1850s. Describe rapid American immigration, internal migration, settlement, and the growth of towns and cities (e.g., Los Angeles).
- 4.4.1: Understand the story and lasting influence of the Pony Express, Overland Mail Service, Western Union, and the building of the transcontinental railroad, including the contributions of Chinese workers to its construction.
- SS 8.6.2: Outline the physical obstacles to and the economic and political factors involved in building a network of roads, canals, and railroads (e.g., Henry Clay’s American System).