Focusing Questions/Themes:

1. Introduce data collection
2. Introduce the students to the families buried in the cemetery
3. Collect resources that can be used back in the classroom to link this project to the student's work in mathematics and computer technology.

Vermont Standard(s):

Analyzing Knowledge 6.3: Students analyze knowledge as a collection of selected facts and interpretations based on a particular historical or social setting.

Communication of Data 1.20: Students use graphs, charts and other visual presentations to communicate data accurately and appropriately.

New Hampshire Standard(s):

Curriculum Standard 16: Students will demonstrate the ability to employ historical analysis, interpretation, and comprehension to make reasoned judgements and to gain an understanding, perspective, and appreciation of history and its uses in contemporary situations.

Length of Time needed: 90 minutes

Materials: Data Collection sheets for students, clipboards

In-Class Procedure:

A good introduction to the data collection form is to pre-teach it in class before heading out to the cemetery.

1. Hand out a copied photograph/digital photo of a gravestone from your cemetery, or the photograph that appears on page 19. (The photograph should be taken so that all of the information written on the stone can be seen.)
2. Project the data collection form as an overhead.
3. Fill out the data form with the entire class.

Site Procedure:

1. Have the students go to their special spots for journaling. Journaling for the first 5 to 10 minutes will focus the students and engage them in their surroundings.
   
   Gather for a group meeting and hand out the data collection sheets. You probably want match students up to certain areas of the cemetery, or divide the cemetery into quadrants and rows, or numbers and letters. By organizing the cemetery plots, students will not overlap each other in data collection and you will find it easier to reference certain plot locations back in the classroom.
2. Collect Data from gravestones

In-Class Procedure:

1. Have students enter their data into a simple database, so they learn how to store data for future use. If you have a faculty member who specializes in technology she/he can help the students enter the information collected.

Cemetery Data Collection Sheet

Historian's Name:                                                                      Today's date:

Name on stone:

First name_______________________________________________________________

Middle name______________________________________________________________

Last name _______________________________________________________________

Date of Birth: _________________ Date of Death:_____________ Age at Death:___

Circle one: Female Male Can't tell

Husband of / Wife of:______________________________________________ Can't tell

Son/daughter of:__________________________________________________ Can't tell

Location of stone in cemetery (describe): for example: first row, second stone

Color of stone (please describe):

Shape of stone (please describe):

Does the stone have an epitaph? If so, please copy the epitaph:

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Adapted from Stones & Bones, copyright 1996, Vermont Old Cemetery

© 2003 Vital Communities www.vitalcommunities.org

For more information contact steve@vitalcommunities.org

“ When you tap into the history of your place, you tap into the power to manifest a new future for your place.”
- Valley Quest Reviewer