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Summary and Objective
The study of gravestones provides an excellent opportunity to discuss the social, political, religious, and genealogical history of a community. In this lesson students will examine the gravestone of John Williams, Jr. in the digital collection on the American Centuries website. Students will compare this gravestone to those they are familiar with. They will then draw conclusions based on the information found on the gravestone of John Williams, Jr. In this lesson students will be using gravestones as a primary resource. Students will understand that symbols on gravestones in the colonial era often depicted death heads with wings and vines to indicate their spiritual understandings and beliefs.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Students will sketch a gravestone based on prior knowledge and experience.
Step 2.
Students will compare and contrast their sketches. They will also discuss the diverse styles, shapes and sizes of gravestones and what information might be found on them.
Step 3.
Students will examine the gravestone of John Williams Jr. in the digital collection on the American Centuries website making use of the label, activity plug-in and detailed information to help them understand the meaning of symbols on the stone.
Step 4.
Students will sketch the gravestone of John Williams, Jr.
Step 5.
Students will write a description of the gravestone of John Williams, Jr. using the image from the digital collection.
Step 6.
Students will generate a list of information about John Williams Jr. based on the inscription from the gravestone of John Williams, Jr.
Step 7.
Students will compare their sketches, descriptions, and lists of information based on the inscription.
Step 8.
Students will draw conclusions and make generalizations based on the information gathered from this activity. They will discuss how this information can be applied to gravestones in local historical cemeteries and to gravestones accessed through use of the extra links. Students will discuss the artwork on the gravestone of John Williams Jr. Through their discussions they will show an understanding that the symbols on gravestones in the colonial era often depicted death heads with wings and vines to indicate their spiritual understandings and beliefs.
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