Logging Camp Life

Class Description:

Take a trip back in time to 1901 and visit the cook in a Minnesota logging camp. While full of complaints, the cook is also full of stories and information about Minnesota logging history. Laugh as an audience member gets dressed up as an old logger. Watch a newly recruited team of sawyers tackle the cross-cut saw. You'll learn as you participate in this active program. Songs and stories help set the mood.

Total time: 50 minutes
Audience: 4th grade through adult
Activity level: easy
Travel: none
Total uphill travel: none

Outcomes

Upon completion of the Logging Camp Life evening program students will be able to:

Describe the workings of a 1901 logging camp, including workers' areas of specialty and interdependance.

Compare and contrast life 100 years ago with the present.

Describe the history of logging in Minnesota.

Explain some of the impacts of clearcut logging on ecological systems.

Minnesota Graduation Standards

The Logging Camp Life evening program will provide students with guided practice, in an authentic setting, to support the following Graduations Standards. We have chosen one to three “major focus” standards per grade level. Due to the holistic nature of environmental education, several other standards, not listed here, are addressed as well.

H.S. People and Cultures: Human Geography
C. Analysing the effects of alterations on cultural landscapes, physical landscapes, or both.
E. Analyzing the relationship between geography and culture.

Middle (6-8th gr) People and Cultures: History and Citizenship
(1). Analyzing historical events from the point of view of participants.
(2). Constructing a history of a local community, institution, or the role of individuals to illustrate a continuum of change.

Intermedidate (4-5th gr) People and Culutures: Historical Events
(1). Describe a past event from the pont of view of a local community member.
(2). Reconstruct a historical account of an event using primary and secondary sources.

(April 1998 GS edition)

Wolf Ridge Curriculum Concepts

• Humans have a great ability to alter natural systems, and a responsibility to consider the effects of our actions.
• The natural environment has many obvious and subtle impacts upon human history and culture.
• Different cultures hold varying beliefs on environmental issues.

Classroom Connections*

• Journal page download
• Pre-visit activities
• Post-visit activities
• Links to logging and logging history information and activities on the web

*requires Wolf Ridge password