CSI
	Copyright 1997-2004 Linda Ferguson and Eva LaMar

Resources for the Amateur CSI Investigator

Architecture |   Behavior while visiting  | Cultures  | Designs  | Digital Photography | Geography | Geology |  History  |  Inscriptions |  Measurement | Plants-Horticulture  | Preservation of Cemeteries | Symbols |  Weathering |  What is a cemetery?

Handouts and Necessary Papers:
Headstones Identification Sheet Daily Work Rubric- self and group scoring Cemetery Visit Rubric	Log Sheet for Headstones Comparing Headstones- choose a chart that works for you! Geo-Literacy Comparison Chart ReadingQuest.com chart Venn Diagram- Making Sense of Social Studies site Venn and Summary Paragraph- Making Sense of Social Studies site  Sample KWL Charts Scholastic Books KWL Chart (pdf)  Help with new words: Word Map- vocabulary word worksheet from Readingquest.org

Architecture:

• Gothic Architecture for Kids- a great site for kids about Gothic architecture- full of facts, photographs and examples
• History for Kids Architecture site- basic architecture information for kids- watch out for pop-up ads.

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What is a cemetery?

• Locate a cemetery within the U.S.A.- a basic directory of American cemeteries.
• Cemetery Junction- Cemetery Dynamics- An article by Eric Miller explaining how cemeteries were often divided into ethnic, religious and social status neighborhoods.
• Find A Grave.com- you can search for graves of famous people using this simple search engine
• What is a headstone?- Everlife Memorials, a company that makes headstones, explains what headstones are.
• A Brief History of Cemeteries- this is some tough reading for many, but full of fascinating and detailed facts

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Cemetery Behavior

• Cemetery Dos and Don’ts by the Connecticut Gravestone Network
• City of Boulder, Colorado's Cemetery Etiquette
• Sacramento Old City Cemetery Request for Etiquette- for everyone, not just students

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What is the history of cemeteries in the United States?

• The History Place- an excellent site for history research. Watch out for all of the advertising on the sides of the page!
• The History Place- US Presidents- portraits and dates for each president
• Major US Epidemics- great timeline but watch out for the pop-up ads
• The American Memory Project American History Timeline- a phenomenal resource for primary source documents and other historical information
• Inventions Timeline- at the World Almanac for Kids website- what was invented when the headstone was made?
• Old City Sacramento Cemetery- an amazing cemetery to visit online or while in Sacramento

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What are headstone designs?- for the CSI project we will be using the Cemetery Scene Investigators Headstone Identification Sheets for identifying types. This will give us a common language of terms. When you look at these sites you will note that the same headstone type is referred to by different names. This will cause confusion for the CSI investigation, thus we will be using the CSI ID Form instead.

• Some basic headstone designs- a printable paper showing design drawings
• Columns and obelisks-
• Tablet designs in history
• Markers that are flat, or almost flat, on the ground
• Crosses- the different types of crosses often found in a cemetery
• Above the ground burial- note that different people call these buildings by different names
• Iron crosses (headstones made of iron and other metals)
• Slot and Tab headstones- unusual type of headstone/crypt

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What are inscriptions and what do they mean?

• Internment.net- you can search for inscriptions on headstones by region.
• Tim Bingaman, from PBS's series "Ancestors," shares some important clues tombstones may contain: click on the link to hear and see Tim Bingaman explain what information headstones share:  Bingaman
   
• How to read an inscription by the Connecticut Gravestone Network- this is hard to read but worth the information
• Webster's Online Dictionary definition of "inscription"
• Abbreviations on Headstones

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Headstone Symbols- what do they mean?

• A Tomb with a View: personal web site explaining the symbols and meanings
• Ancestory.com's List of Symbols and Meanings- this site has a printer friendly option so students can print the list
• Colonial Williamsburg online glossary of cemetery symbols.- kid friendly and easy to use
• City of the Silent list of PLANT symbols- the background makes this tough to look at, but the information is excellent

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 Cultural Issues

• World Diversity in cemetery design and headstone design- India, Egypt and China
• Two Cemeteries of Macau A Comparison By Becky Williams Two Cemeteries - Similarities and Differences is a student's essay with photos. The site provides a good example of comparative writing using observations made in cemeteries.
• Victorian View of Cemeteries
• African-American Cemetery history
• African-American Historic Locations - the National Parks Service page
• Database of African-American Cemeteries

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Cemetery Horticulture (plants found in a cemetery)

• City of the Silent list of PLANT symbols- the background makes this tough to look at, but the information is excellent
• Basics of cemetery horticulture- from the "Saving Graves" organization, an excellent resource

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Geology as it applies to cemeteries

• Geology by Huddersfield- an explanation  of types of stone, use in headstones, etc

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Weathering of Headstones and Cemeteries

• Weathering basics- as it applies to headstones- both physical and chemical weathering. Written by Grave.Net
• Using Chalk on Headstones- explains how chalk and other tools used in making headstone rubbings add to the chemical weathering of headstones

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Geography-

• Location counts- how do you know you have the right cemetery? The names can be the same.... but the locations different
• Online resources for geography- links to sites -
• Online MAP resources- lists and links to online maps

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PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT LINKS:

Photography basics:

• Photographing Headstones- basics of taking quality photographs of a headstone
• More information about photographing a cemetery- but this site goes into great detail about all aspects of the photography
• How to Take a Steady Shot- basics of taking a good photography
• Rule of Thirds- how to frame a photograph like an expert
• Filling the Frame- don't waste space on the picture, frame it fully so we can see the details

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Measurement

• How Far is It?- a US Census Bureau site that allows users to measure the distance between two places
• Fractions to Decimals- Science Made Simple page for converting fractions to decimals
• Math Dictionary for Kids- search for definitions on this site
• Polygon Names- Science Made Simple site
• The World of Measurement- learn about different types of measurement in this easy-to-use site

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Recording the Information

• Our log sheet
• Using a Palm Pilot, or other hand-held devices while in the field

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PRESERVING CEMETERIES- Making a Difference in YOUR Community

• Cemetery Preservation in South Carolina
• Steps to Saving a Cemetery- "Saving Graves" organization's suggestions
• Cleaning Headstones - Link #A
• Indiana Cemetery Preservation Project- an amazing site full of resources and information
• We want to save a cemetery but need help from other groups- how to find the help, a Saving Graves page
• Cemetery Signs- some cemeteries are old and forgotten. This Oregon site helps you learn how to identify a cemetery.
• What's the Difference Between Preservation and Restoration?
• Starting Your Own Cemetery Preservation Organization

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