The Cemetery Stories field trip helps students discover what cemeteries can tell them about the Geneva community and the people who have shaped it. They will examine cemetery art and find out what it reveals about the people of the past. They will use critical thinking skills to discover how some of Geneva’s early residents lived, died, and remembered one another. Offered in October at Washington Street Cemetery. The Wyckoff Family Foundation supports the attendance of Geneva City School District classes.
The fifth-grade Cemetery Stories program builds on student knowledge of American history from fourth grade and allows them to apply their research skills in a real place, sifting evidence from artifacts and historic documents to learn the story of a family buried in the cemetery. Following a brief discussion of the cemetery’s history and a whole group activity at one family plot, the class will divide into small groups (4-5 students) that will each examine a plot. Using the stones as a guide, the students will examine primary sources from the Historic Geneva collection to reach conclusions about the people buried in their cemetery plot.
We recommend bringing 2-3 additional adults to help supervise and work with the students when they break into small groups to investigate a family plot. Barring serious weather conditions, Cemetery Stories will be held rain or shine at Washington Street Cemetery. Call if you are unsure about the weather. Copies of the documents we will be using and some supplementary pre- and post-visit materials for the classroom are available for download under Supplemental Documents.