GRAVEYARD DETECTIVE TRAIL
Key Question
What can we tell about Christian beliefs about death, and life after death from this
place?
Clue Collector
A)
Collecting Words
The Words that show the sadness of the
family and the date of their death
The Words that tell you about the life the
person lived and the date of their death
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Words that show beliefs about life after
death and the date of their death
Words you are not sure where to put
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Clue Collector
B)
Symbol (Sketch)
C)
Collecting Symbols/Statues found on Graves
What you think it
might mean
Any questions you want to ask from your trail
Right or Wrong?
Actual Meaning
Further Activities
Design a gravestone for one of the following people
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Your gravestone must have a maximum of 35 words.
It should say something about the person they were.
Who they left behind .
What they believed about life after death.
The words should be poetic and meaningful.
You should also chose a symbolic decoration for the headstone.
In the box provided next to the gravestone – you need to explain why you
have designed it as you have.
Craig Thomas
Died at 68 of cancer.
He had spent his working life as a fire-fighter.
He was a popular kind and funny man .
He was married and had 3 children and 4
grandchildren.
He was spiritual but did not actually practice any
particular faith but had been known to go to
Church at Christmas once in a while.
Craig was not sure what happened after you die
but hoped he would go to a better place.
Sarah Bushell
Died at the age of 6
She had Leukaemia and it had been a long and
very brave struggle for her and her family.
She lived with her mother and her younger sister
Charlotte who is 3.
Her dad loved her too and spent a lot of time
visiting her in the children’s hospice (a special
hospital for very sick children).
Sarah was very sure that God loved her and that
when she died she would go to Heaven to be with
Jesus and her granddad.
Jessica Plum
Died at 100 of pneumonia .
Jessica had never worked outside her home and
had a long marriage.
Her husband Jack died 31 years ago when he was
70.
She had four children, four grandchildren, seven
great grandchildren and two great great
grandchildren.
She had been old and frail for a long time and
lived in a nursing home. Her daughter visited her
every week and she was very loved throughout
her life.
Jessica went to church every week when she was
younger and she strongly believed that she would
be safe and taken to be with God in Heaven.
Edna Smith
Died aged 84 of heart failure.
Edna had been a district nurse and was a kind
gentle and sensitive woman .
She had been married to Ted who died 3 years
ago. They never had any children.
Until recently Edna had organised the “Golden
Oldies” ( a pensioners group) at her local
Methodist Church. She had a devout and very
strong faith, yet she was never quite sure what
actually happened after death but hoped that it
would be peaceful and trusted in God to keep her
safe.
Peter Randell
Died at 46 of liver disease.
Peter spent all his adult life homeless.
He never managed to hold down a job.
He had never married or had children.
He had many friends and acquaintances from his
life on the streets, most of whom regarded him as
quite a character.
He had a special relationship with his local vicar
as he regularly knocked on his door for food or
other help.
Peter had never talked to anyone about whether
he believed in a life after death – so no-one knows
what he thought.
Kevin Dore
Kevin died at 26 of a motorcycle accident.
Kevin had just got engaged to Julie, he worked in
IT support.
He leaves behind his mum and brother too.
Kevin was popular with his friends and had a great
sense of humour.
Kevin had been in Scouts when he was younger
and so went to Church Parade and sort of
believed but had never thought it through much.
He hoped there was life after death and hoped it
wouldn’t be all clouds and harps.
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AT1 ALL
AT1 MOST
SOME
EP
Pupils can/I can describe some
Christian beliefs about life after
death
AT2
I can express my own beliefs
about death and beyond
I can describe the key Christian
beliefs about life after death and
can explain how different
Christians express their beliefs
AT2
I can raise questions about life
after death and begin to suggest
answers taking into account the
beliefs of others
I can describe with wide
vocabulary the similarities and
differences held by Christians
about life after death
AT2
I can explain what ideas inspire
and influence me when deciding
what I believe about death and
beyond
I can explain why different
Christians hold different views
about death and beyond
AT2
I can reason, express/have
insight as to why different
Christian beliefs lead to differing
practices surrounding death and
dying