Our local graveyard - a respectful discovery
We’re doing a major project on our local graveyard at the moment.
I have done work on the graveyard over the years but this is the first time I have really done an intensive study with the pupils.
The graveyard has all the usual features:
- Ruined Church of Ireland church.
- Both Protestant and Roman Catholic graves.
- Headstones of varying sizes, makes etc.
- Inscriptions in English, Irish and Latin.
- The landed gentry/andlord having the best ‘locations’ in the graveyard.
There are some amazing stories associated with the graveyard. Tales related to the building of the church, tales related to the Famine, numerous wars etc.
We are compiling information on the different townlands associated with the graveyard, lists of names (surnames/forenames) etc.
The people were buried facing east while the priests were buried facing west so that they would be facing their flock!
We are going to sketch the ruin tomorrow, do some more reseach on the headstones. The pupils will also get to make a clay model of one of the headstones/Celtic crosses. We’ll probably make a model of the graveyard/ruin also.
The pupils will write and type up their work. They will probably use some of the material to create PowerPoint projects on the graveyard and we may even publish the material on the internet.
This is working great …. they are learning about their past, they are developing a respect for their community and using a lot of skills without realising it.
(The Council have neglected this graveyard too …. alot overgrown …. no bones thankfully)
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Well done, great way to get the kids out of the classroom and multi skill to boot! Look forward to your findings. Paddy you sound like a teacher who steps outside the square . . good onya!
I’m jealous!
We never did things like that when I was at school
The descendants of the local gentry/landlord from Famine times and whose ancestors are buried in the graveyard still resides in the county … I’m going to try and get him to come speak with the pupils or we’ll try to visit him in his grand estate and ask him some questions.
I’ll ask him …. all he can say is no!
(It would be nice to meet a genuine ‘Sir’ …)
and it would make the history real for the pupils.
Go for it Paddy
Brilliant stuff! Paddy
I know it sounds weird but I’ve always been fascinated by graveyards.
Last summer I walked across the sands at low tide to Omey Island and found an amazing island graveyard, rich in local history. I felt like I knew all the families by the time I left.
Your project is a super way to bring history alive for kids. I note the 2-tier system exists in life and death
We explored nd sketched and recorded and ….
great day’s learning had by all!
I was lokng for a way to contact you to find how things are going at school.
This is great. The whole gammut of subjects can be included in the study… It’s good to hear about oem one being able to step away from the prescribed curriculum to offer education to children rather than just instruction.
It looks as if my latest idea for very able pupils is a none starter since we got a new company offering education in Waltham Forest.
We have been given £5,000 for the current financial year and told to recoup any costs from parents. So no Local History One Day a Week School for our most able primary children.
Keep up the good work.
We’re still not finished ….
I like to get as much of our work up on the net …. but time is my enemy …. I’ve spent most of my weekend trying to find a good way to present our findings and also to perhaps have a ‘timeline’ website on the net.
And …. and …. and ..
wildflowers our next study …. bats also!