'History Detectives' on the case

Now, after studying everything from old Eastport maps, phone books and Census records, to bridges, historic homes and children's games, the third-grader describes history as "exciting."

"I used to think history is pretty boring; now I know history is fun," she said, while standing on the back deck of the Annapolis Maritime Museum after school on Wednesday.

Making history fun while introducing students to their community is the goal of the Title 1-funded program, created out of a partnership between the school and the museum.

"They are looking for clues for their community, and using those clues to be part of their communities," said Heather Ersts, curator and education coordinator at the museum. "Once they're connected in their community they become better stewards of it."

The program partners with different historical organizations or individuals for one afternoon. On Wednesday, Larry Griffin of We Care and Friends told the students about his experiences carting oysters from the boats into the McNasby Oyster Packing Co.

"This was my first job," Griffin told the students gathered around him. "This was a place for people who were local."

He told of standing on the deck at 5:30 a.m., hoping he'd be picked to cart the oysters and make $1.75 for his trouble.

"Everybody, black or white, who worked here were family," he said.

And he mentioned his concern for watermen today.

"Something is happening with our water, I don't know what is happening," he said. "It's very sad that these guys cannot make money for their families and themselves."

Aloni's family are longtime Eastport residents. Her mother, Donna Quille, was born and raised in Eastport; and many of her family members once worked for McNasby's Oyster Packing Co.

"This is my family heritage," Quille said.

She said she wanted her daughter to understand the community from which she came.

"If she doesn't know where she comes from, she won't know where to go for her future," she said.

A group of 40 History Detectives from grades 2 through 5 meet once a week after school, devoting each afternoon to an aspect of Eastport history.

The students learn terms such as primary or secondary source, or chronological order. They know what a Census is, and how to read a map.

"(Students) have studied the Eastport bridge, and the different sites of the Eastport bridge," said Jane Hall, Eastport Elementary's Title 1 coordinator. "They have studied map skills, when looking at maps of different centuries. They are learning about how things change over time and why, and how it affects them."

Three, six-week sessions this year mean that about 120 students will go through the program.

"This is a great partnership," said Christopher Truffer, director of school performance for Annapolis and south county public schools. "The kids really have got a lot out of this."

He said the program's success has caught the attention of other schools in the county. Annapolis Middle School is partnering with the museum for the Chesapeake Champions program that Eastport completed last year, and officials plan to implement the History Detectives program next year.

"We're looking at eventually expanding this to other schools," Truffer said. "I think it really helps broaden the kids' horizons."

Ersts from the maritime museum said the History Detectives program is more than just the kids having fun.

"Their school scores are improving because they're engaged in learning and having fun with it," she said.

And Hall said the vocabulary and skills they learn during the program is applied in the classroom, as well.

"By building background knowledge for our students, they're able to apply this in all areas of their life," she said. "For example, when they're reading one of their stories in their reading class, they're able to apply their background knowledge to that story."

Matthew Wright, who is in the third grade, has lived in Eastport for the past five years.

"I just want him to know the area where he's growing up," said Will Wright, Matthew's father. "I want him to interact more with other kids in the area."

As for Matthew, he said he likes the opportunity to learn something new.

"I get to go to places that I've never seen, and learn about things I never knew about," he said.