NORTH BRUNSWICK — The Elmwood Cemetery Civil War Walking Tour program was included during a national historical conference in Washington, D.C.
The North Brunswick-based cemetery association presented “Curate and Connect: Using Local Resources to Plan for Inquiry” at the National Council for Social Studies’ annual conference that was held on Dec. 3.
The Elmwood Cemetery Civil War Walking Tour is a one-hour guided tour through the cemetery, stopping at the grave sites of nine Civil War veterans. At each stop, a veteran’s personal story is told. The nine veterans highlighted on the tour each portray an aspect of the life and times of soldiers and their families in central New Jersey during the late 19th century, according to information provided by Eleanor Molloy of the cemetery association.
Last summer, educators from North Brunswick Township High School, Rutgers Preparatory School, Saint Joseph High School, New Brunswick Health and Sciences Technology High School, along with three college student interns and a curriculum consultant, collaborated with Elmwood Cemetery to form an Educational Advisory Council.
The council assessed the cemetery walking tour as a tool for teaching students about the Civil War, recommended improvements to the tour and created a program that aligns with the National Council of Social Studies C3 Framework, according to the statement.
The recommendations by the Educational Advisory Council have been incorporated into a revised Elmwood Cemetery Civil War Tour and companion curriculum. The program now offers area educators an opportunity to use project-based learning when teaching about the Civil War and offers students of all ages the possibility to learn more about local history, to understand the importance of civic duty and to gain a sense of pride in the community, according to the statement.
For more information, visit theelmwoodcemetery.com.