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special is one of fifteen Service Learning Standards Based Models For more Service Learning activities Connecting Classrooms~Communities~Careers visit bostonteachnet.org or contact Barbara Locurto IMPACT II @ School-to-Career, Boston Public Schools |
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Citizenship |
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Not Forgotten Lessons from Burial Grounds Arts, English Language Arts, Math, Social Studies
Connecting |
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can youngsters learn to respect cemeteries? Every community has at least one historic burial ground. Students capitalize on this legacy by learning and serving through these hallowed sites. When high school role models care for a cemetery adjacent to their school, they use primary sources to research the men and women who have served our nation since Revolutionary times. Students write elegies to "The Not Forgotten" and work with parks department staff, community leaders and veterans. Searching records and deeds from local archives helps identify restoration, research and maintenance challenges. Photography, mapping and documentation lead to plans for a searchable database. The dos and don'ts of caring for stone and metal artifacts reveal new careers in conservation and preservation. Best of all, the keepers of the flame publish a newsletter and create a Web site that describes their project and sends the important message: these teenagers have zero tolerance for cemetery abuse! |
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| Resources
Researching Your Family's History, Massachusetts Archives;
Preservation of Historic Burial Grounds, Lynette Strangstad; Guidelines
For Evaluating and Registering Cemeteries & Burial Places, U.S.
Department of Interior Technology search Internet, assemble & record information for database, design Web site, word process publications Web Sites National Park Service, Links to Resources on Cemetery History & Preservation, Cemetery Do's and Don'ts Community Partners Historic Burying Ground Initiative, Bunker Hill Society of Friends, Massachusetts Archives, parks & recreation department, veterans group
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| Learning Standards | Classroom Activities | Service Activities |
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Place information in chronological sequence (SS) o Make connections between past & present (SS) o Formulate probing questions (SS) |
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Identify nearby cemetery as a historic site worthy of study & needing
care o Prepare checklist of projected cemetery research & beautification plan o Record reflections in journals |
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Contact local park officials, community leaders, veterans & younger
students about supporting project o Agree to checklist documentation & beautification plan |
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Engage in historical & social issues analysis & decision making
(SS) o Use measurement appropriately in other subject areas & career-based contexts (M) |
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Develop & assign students to teams or commissions: inventory, Web
site, photography, engineering, etc. o Record texts & conditions of stones o Measure current site specifications |
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Assemble statistics & material to be used by public for searchable
database o Prepare graphics for map of current site o Maintain litter free grounds |
| o Identify, employ reference materials, including primary source documents & information technologies (SS) | o
Research cemetery records o Visit historical society to examine photos, letters & journals |
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Contribute inventory of interred persons for parks department o Include in database documentation |
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Use various formats & technology to complete & enhance work
(ELA) o Use telecommunications to share information & ideas (ELA) |
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Write original poems to the interred o Word process, design & publish anthology of poems & newsletter o Design & post Web site documenting project |
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Distribute anthology of poems & newsletter to school & community o Share Web site address o Continue to reflect with class & younger students |
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Interpret & draw three dimensional objects (M) o Prepare work of art for portfolio |
o Construct three dimensional interpretations of students' personal monuments to the departed | o
Bring models to elementary class & explain their significance o Display models in school entrance |
| o Make effective presentations (ELA) | o Host schoolwide event celebrating the history of the burial ground & pledging continued care | o
Collaborate with veterans to place flags & flowers at gravesites o Invite participants, media & community leaders to event |
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