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Teacher Resources
: Lesson Plans
: History Comes Alive in the Graveyard
GRADE LEVEL: Fourth through twelfth grades
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Within each community, cemeteries are among the most fascinating, richest, and often the most
neglected sources of historical information. The age of the community, its ethnic composition
and the impact made by immigration can be determined by "reading" gravestones. The style of
headstones, the symbolism of their art, and their inscriptions reflect religious beliefs, social class and
values, as well as cultural change over time. The cemetery field trip and the related classroom
activities described in this lesson will allow students to tap this source of information and
thus gain a better understanding of their community.
TIME REQUIRED:
Five to six 45 minute class periods, plus a field trip
MATERIALS:
INSTRUCTIONAL FORMAT
OBJECTIVES:
As a result of this lesson, the student will be able to:
- collect, categorize, analyze and present data
- participate in interpersonal and group activities
- discuss the people, places and events that are part of his or her community history
Before visiting any cemetery, contact cemetery officials and the local historical society
for permission and for guidance.
SETTING THE STAGE:
Discuss with students the type of data they might find on a gravestone. List their ideas on
newsprint or on the chalk board. Next, give to each student a copy of the Glossary of Symbols &
Terms for Studying Cemeteries. Discuss and compare their ideas with the information from the
Glossary. After a thorough understanding of these terms, give a copy of the Cemetery Information
Organizer to each student. Discuss the procedures for collecting the necessary data to complete
this worksheet. Before visiting the cemetery, discuss with students Field Trip Ideas.
STRATEGIES/PROCEDURES:
FIELD TRIP ACTIVITIES. Have students work in teams of two. Each team will collect data by
using the Cemetery Information Organizer. Ensure that Field Trip Ideas are strictly observed by all.
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES. After students have completed the Cemetery Information Organizer and
returned to the classroom, divide them into collaborative groups. Each group will categorize and
analyzed the data according to the following categories: Name (first & last), Age at Death, Life
Span, Cause of Death, Ethnic and Religious Indicators, Military Associations, Symbols, Interesting
Epitaphs, and the size, type, condition, shape, location of gravestone. Each group will prepare
a visual presentation of this data.
ALTERNATE PLAN:
Have students work on one of the following alternatives:
- Write a poem reflecting the cemetery dwellers or the students' feelings while discovering
history in the cemetery.
- Research the history of a local military unit, an event or an individual mentioned on a
gravestone.
- Stage an historic reenactment based on information found in the cemetery.
- Design a computer data base by using the information collected in the cemetery.
EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT:
The student produced visual presentations can be assessed by a rubric. Criteria used in the
rubric design might include: content, oral presentation, visual presentation, work habits.
APPENDIX:
Resources for teacher use can be ordered from:
The Association for Gravestone Studies
278 Main Street, Suite 207
Greenfield, MA 01301
This lesson plan was developed by Claire Deloria of LeMoyne College, Syracuse,
NY. If you have a lesson plan which you would like to share with teachers, please send to School
& Group Services, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, P.O. Box 627, Williamsburg, VA 23187.
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Historic Triangle