Answers to the Family Geography Challenge Questions related to the article, Cemeteries—Maps to the Past, BDN ExtraExtra, 9/27/07.
1. Mount Hope Cemetery , Bangor, Maine
2. Bucksport Cemetery, Bucksport, Maine (The Cursed Tomb of Colonel Buck)
3. Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Maine for Stephen King’s movie, “Pet Cemetery”
Links to go to for more activities and information:
GraveNet Activities http://edutel.musenet.org:8042/gravenet_activities.html
Arkansas Historic Preservation Program Lesson Plans for Arkansas Students, Historic Cemeteries: “History Written in Stone”
http://www.arkansaspreservation.org
Tales From the Crypt (Learning about Geography and History from your local Cemetery by Gale Ekiss, Mesa, Az:
http://alliance.la.asu.edu/internetclass/ExampleLesson1.html
Mount Hope Cemetary Website
http://www.mthopebgr.com/history.htm
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graveyard
Cemetery Scavenger Hunt
1. Look for evidence of wars, plagues, epidemics and catastrophes in the community. What clues
did you find? Do you see any years where there are a large number of deaths? (Social Studies)
2. Walk all over the cemetery and look at the topography—the lay of the land. Why do you think
this site was chosen for a cemetery? Is there any space for new graves? Describe any cemetery
buildings you see. What do you think they are used for? (Geography)
3. Find three markers that display the different levels of wealth in the community. How do the
markers indicate different economic levels (how much money the family had)? (Social
Studies)
4. Look for wildlife in the cemetery. What do you see? Is this cemetery a good or bad place for
an animal habitat? Why or why not? (Science)
5. Look for the following geometric shapes: sphere, pyramid, rectangle, cylinder, cone and cube.
Sketch them, and write down where you found them. (Math)
6. Determine family relationships in a plot by examining birth dates, names and other evidence.
Is there any indication as to the family's ethnicity or religion? (Math/Social Studies)
7. Find markers for two children, two middle aged adults, and two senior citizens. Do the types
of markers and symbols differ according to the age of the persons buried? (Art)
8. Find two of the oldest and two of the newest markers. How have the markers changed in style
over the years? (Art)
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9. Locate at least three interesting epitaphs. What do they tell you about the deceased person? Do
the epitaphs give you clues as to the person's occupation and kind of life s/he led? Why do you
find them interesting? (Language Arts)
10. Locate five different types of vegetation in the cemetery. Find two different types of
plants/flowers, a bush, a tree and a flower carved in stone. Can you identify these plants/trees?
Do you think these were planted as part of the memorial? (Science)
Questions for Group Discussion
Sit quietly for a moment. Look around you carefully. How does being in this cemetery make you feel? Do you feel that your community values this historic site? Why or why not?
11f you have access to Polaroid cameras, students can take photos of their group members along with the markers and cemetery features that relate to their question.
From: Arkansas Historic Preservation Program’s, Historic Cemeteries: “History Written in Stone”
www.arkansaspreservation.org