Students at Chesapeake Bay Middle School use black history lessons to connect to present

In Maryland, teaching black history is part of the state's overall social studies curriculum. And that's evident at one Anne Arundel County middle school. At Chesapeake Bay Middle School in Pasadena, seventh-graders share what they've learned in class about Baltimore Orioles baseball great, Frank Robinson.Robinson finished his 21-year Hall of Fame career with 586 home runs."It's just very important that we learn about this because nowadays things have changed and they all changed because of these people," said student Rori Campbell. Students used the black history lesson to connect with the present."We talk about like how many people and cultures and how they impact this world and how they make a difference and how they change our lives," said student Matthew Cooper. "So I'm excited that we have a hometown, a kind of Baltimore figure to look at," said teacher Heather Kerlavage. Based on the state's social studies curriculum, Robinson's story and others like his can be shared any month of the school year."It is American history and when we're learning this in class we are learning about the history of our country," said teacher and chair of the social studies department Francesca Davis. "It's amazing how much background knowledge they come to us with so clearly they're getting it from those early elementary years throughout middle school."Administrators say the goal is to give students a historical foundation while preparing them to live in a diverse and inclusive society.

In Maryland, teaching black history is part of the state's overall social studies curriculum. And that's evident at one Anne Arundel County middle school.

At Chesapeake Bay Middle School in Pasadena, seventh-graders share what they've learned in class about Baltimore Orioles baseball great, Frank Robinson.


Robinson finished his 21-year Hall of Fame career with 586 home runs.

"It's just very important that we learn about this because nowadays things have changed and they all changed because of these people," said student Rori Campbell.

Students used the black history lesson to connect with the present.

"We talk about like how many people and cultures and how they impact this world and how they make a difference and how they change our lives," said student Matthew Cooper.

"So I'm excited that we have a hometown, a kind of Baltimore figure to look at," said teacher Heather Kerlavage.

Based on the state's social studies curriculum, Robinson's story and others like his can be shared any month of the school year.

"It is American history and when we're learning this in class we are learning about the history of our country," said teacher and chair of the social studies department Francesca Davis. "It's amazing how much background knowledge they come to us with so clearly they're getting it from those early elementary years throughout middle school."

Administrators say the goal is to give students a historical foundation while preparing them to live in a diverse and inclusive society.

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