Cemetery Art and Architecture Detectives

Lesson One-- Architecture: Cemeteries are rich resources for different styles of architecture as shown in their chapels and mausoleums. Students will learn the different styles featured in turn of the century cemeteries and be able to identify buildings from each style period through a detective lesson activity using a computer.

Lesson Two-- Art and Symbols: Cemeteries are rich resources for artistic symbolism. Students will examine different types of symbolic art and classify symbols according to their focus on eternal life, grief and mourning, early death, or personal accomplishment.

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Burial “Rights”

Overview: This lesson coincides with your study on civil rights or cultural traditions. For a variety of reasons, some cemeteries have been reserved for special groups of people. These cemeteries were designed for the deceased of a certain faith, ethnic group, or organization. National cemeteries, honoring our military men and women, are limited to those who have served their country, their spouses and their minor children. Using video segments from Stories Under the Stones students will analyze reasons for these separate cemeteries in the past and research to determine what types of cemeteries still have special restrictions. Using a set of documents pertaining to an incident where a cemetery refused burial of an American Indian killed during service in the Korean War, students will analyze the situation and respond by writing an editorial.

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Victorian America: Reflections of Life in Death

Overview: This lesson should be used as culminating activity for a unit on Victorian America. Students must have previous knowledge of the changes in society during the late 1800’s (ie. reform movements to better society, the revival of classical art, the growth of professionalism, the development of leisure time/activities, and the status symbols of the wealthy). Students will use a prediction-confirmation guide to consider how changes in burial customs in the late 1800’s reflect the changes in society at large.

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Trading Faces (Famous Missourians)

Overview: This segment focuses on the famous people who have been buried in Missouri cemeteries. Students will research famous Missourians and create trading cards to share with classmates.

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