Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

PMS Students Study Pioneers; Build Log Cabins

Students in the Prescott Middle School Social Studies classes have been studying pioneers and the settlement of the west.

These were vital and important aspects of America's history.

The students learned how one such pioneer, Daniel Boone, explored the western lands of the Appalachian Mountains and helped bring settlers to the region.

The settlers cleared the forests, drained swamps and plowed grasslands to make ready for their new homes. They then used the felled trees to construct their houses. These were called log cabins.

The fifth grade class was assigned a project to make a model of a log cabin similar to the construction of the pioneers. The cabins, according to the rules, could be built from anything found or purchased.

Students first had to do research on log cabins and learn the techniques used by the early settlers in building them. The cabins had to represent the findings.

The only restrictions for building cabins was the size. The overall cabin could not be any larger than 18-inches by 18-inches by 18-inches. It also had to be sturdy and of good construction.

Some classes also had to write a 150 word minimum report, complete with a bibliography. The report had to be typed or neatly written by hand.

The students worked hard, but had fun with their projects. The cabin models are on display outside Charlotte McCauley's classroom and in the Prescott Middle School library.

The cabins were judged and placed with winners selected from each class.