This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Mill Creek Middle School Students Get Hands-On History Lesson of Dexter's Past

Eighth grade history students attended a walking tour of Forest Lawn Cemetery on Oct. 13 to learn about the U.S. Civil War.

More than 100 eighth-grade students were given a rare glimpse into the history of Dexter during an interactive tour and scavenger hunt  at Forest Lawn Cemetery on Oct. 13.

The group was led by teachers Jill Jastren, Lisa Burgess, Julianne Snider and Becky Gutkowski. 

“The purpose of the tour is to encourage an appreciation of the unique historical significance of Dexter and to explore Dexter’s connection to the Civil War,” Gutkowski said.

Find out what's happening in Dexterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The tour of the cemetery allows students to explore old gravesites, including those occupied by hometown founder Judge Samuel Dexter and Civil War hero Col. Harrison Jeffords.

“The history comes alive when students realize the people buried there actually lived in and helped make their community what it is today,” Gutkowski said.

Find out what's happening in Dexterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Students were treated to character re-enactments at the cemetery with residents Mark Olexa and Stephanie Bell portraying Judge Dexter and his wife Millicent. Jeffords, who was the highest commissioned officer in the Civil War to die of a bayonet wound, was portrayed by Civil War historian Larry Burgess.

Students also participated in a educational scavenger hunt, where they were required to find various tombstones and symbols.

“By studying the ages, names, symbols and epitaphs in the cemetery, students learned about their community’s ethnic, cultural, religious and historical background," Gutkowski said.

According to Gutkowski, the eighth-grade students at Mill Creek will take a five-day trip to Washington, D.C. in April 2012 and will stop at Gettysburg National Park on the way. The students will visit a monument to the 4th Michigan Infantry in Gettysburg, PA., which is in a field near the place where Jeffords died.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?