Developed by: Jackie Snow
Summary in this module students will demonstrate correct procedures for collecting and analyzing data from four area cemeteries. Students will work independently and cooperatively to develop a database for area cemeteries. This will require the proper use ofGPS units, digital cameras, GIS® software, and the Alphasmart® 2000 Keyboard Connection to the curriculum this project will be implemented in a Biology I (grades 9 and 10) classroom and expanded upon in their grade appropriate English classes. The Biology I TEKS addressed are 1.a., 1.b., 2.a., 2.b., 2.c., 2.d., 3.c., and 15. Time This project will span approximately two months, about sixty minutes a week for six*eight weeks. Season A dry spring would be the ideal season for this project. However, any dry season would be conducive. Materials
· digital camera
· Alphasmart® 2000 Keyboard
· Magellan® GPS 300 units
· GIS® software
·
Excel® spreadsheet Objectives·
Students will demonstrate safe practices during field investigations.· Students will correctly use GPS units to establish a position fix on area cemeteries. (Hill, Three Forks, Theo, and St. Paul's Lutheran Cemeteries in Bell County)
· Students will display mastery of data collection on the Alphasmart® 200 Keyboard. · Students will demonstrate proper use of a digital camera. · Studetns will sufficiently utilize GIS® software to create "smart" maps of Bell County cemeteries.· Students will use Excel® to build a spreadsheet database with information about individual gravesites in Bell County cemeteries.
Procedures 1. Before the field investigation the class will be divided into six groups, approximately four students per group.2. Upon arrival at the cemetery, one member from each group will take two GPS readings from the entrance. These twelve readings will be averaged for the correct position for that particular cemetery.
3. An appointed student will take a digital picture of the entrance of the cemetery.
4. Each group will be designated a particular area of the cemetery for the collection of the following data from each gravesite: first name, middle name or initial, last name, birth date, date of death, and any notes about the particular gravesite e.g. description of plot, distinguishing characteristics (headstone design, war medals, inscriptions, etc.).
5. This data will be entered into an Alphasmart® 2000 Keyboard, which will upload the data into Excel® to be organized into a spreadsheet format, creating a database.
6. Back in the classroom the digital pictures, GPS readings, and spreadsheet will be transferred electronically to the BellNET Cemetery Database Project. (http://bellnetweb.brc.tamus.edu)
7. The students will use GIS® software to add their cemetery data to a cemetery map of Bell County.
Questions
· Using the data students can calculate the mean, median, and mode of life spans of Bell County citizens buried in these cemeteries.· Students can make generalizations about the life spans in the 19th century as compared with those in the 20th century.
· The students can compare life spans of men, women, and children in the 19th and 20th centuries, as represented in these cemeteries.
Evaluations The students will be evaluated on the quality of their data submission to the Cemetery Database Project. A rubric will be established looking at each objective for the project and the students will be assessed according to this rubric. Also each student will have to formulate another valid scientific investigation as an extension of this cemetery project.Expanding the Lesson
· historical investigation into public health issues e.g. influenza outbreaks that may have played a role in some of the recorded deaths· historical investigations into deaths attributed to war
· look at individual families and how they were impacted by several deaths at any one period of time, either by disease, war, or natural disaster
· assessing chemically the composition of headstones used during various periods of time and the effect of weathering on these materials
· investigation into any vandalism that has occurred in these cemeteries
· make contact with individuals who may know some of the history behind these cemeteries, and invite them to speak to our class
Resources