Fieldtrip Journals-Day 2

Trip #2: Antioch Pioneer Cemetery

April 10, 2007
Reporting: Ashlee Crane and Camen Sauerbrei 

On April 10^th, us sixth grade EL students went on the 2^nd fieldtrip of the grant project CSI: Cemetery Scene Investigation. We went to the Antioch Pioneer Cemetery in Shawnee, KS.

We were met by Phil Barbour, a local re-enactor, who helps take care of the Antioch Pioneer Cemetery. He told us a little bit about the cemetery and was there to open the chapel.

The data we collected were the full name, the date of birth, the date of death, the physical and chemical weathering of the stone, the type of stone it was, the symbols on the stone, and pretty much anything we could find out about the stone just by looking at it. 

At the Pioneer Cemetery we had lots of problems with the weather. We sat in the freezing rain and recorded our data. Everywhere you looked you could see umbrellas and chattering teeth. Some unlucky people only brought thin jackets, hoping for warmer weather.

We went into the chapel in the middle of the cemetery. In the chapel it looked like a miniature church. We thought that it might have been used for funeral services or for mourners to pray.

Our day at the cemetery was very busy. We all had to collect and record data from 50 graves each. Each of us had a packet of 50 forms that we used to record our findings. Some people worked together to get the job done faster and to be able to jump onto the warm bus sooner.

Jordan J. talked about the cemetery and said that the rain was a real problem. She was also interviewed by two men from the SMSD who make short films about different projects done by schools in district. Mrs. Moffitt was amazed that people volunteer to work at the cemeteries and take so much joy in working there for nothing back. Taylor H. said “It was very, very cold.” He worked together with Tim D. to get his work done faster.

All in all, the fieldtrip was a very exciting trip, and we are anxiously waiting to see all the data we collected added to the website and to be able to see all of our hard work together in one place.