1. What did the family have to do before construction could begin?

2. What was the foundation made of?

3. Why do you think the workers used axes and hatchets instead of electric saws?

4. Describe how the walls were raised.

5. Notching, the art of joining together logs to make a corner of the building, comes in different styles. What are they?

6. How are the doors and windows formed?

7. What is chinking and what does it do?

8. What was a major problem with mud-and-stick chimneys?

In 1840, the log cabin became an American symbol. The presidential candidate William Henry Harrison ran a “log cabin and hard cider campaign.” He believed the log cabin stood for the domestic American virtues of ruggedness, simplicity, honesty, and courage.

9. Why do you think a log cabin represents these “American virtues”?

10. Read about a “Building Bee.” Do ONE of the following on the back:

Draw a picture of what you think a “Building Bee” looks like.