Collecting Data on Population @ Oak Woods Cemetery

Sophomores in the Population class visited the Oak Woods Cemetery in Greater Grand Crossing to collect data and identify patterns by looking at tombstones. In the second unit of this STEAM course, students have been pursuing the guiding question, what does the story of population suggest about the future?. In their pursuit of an answer, students have been studying concepts of genetics from Darwin and Linnaeus, genotype and phenotype, and how to calculate allele frequencies.

Why?

The purpose of this Field Experience is to investigate the guiding question, how can we quantify the status of a species?.

How?

The students will visit Oak Woods Cemetery to observe tombstones for specific birth dates and death dates. Students will collect a set of data that they will use to complete calculations and identify patterns.