Courtesy photo On Friday, Thunder Bay Junior High students are seen participating in a learning exercise at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena.

ALPENA — According to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS), sixth graders in Mrs. Gagnon’s advanced english classes, from Alpena Public Schools (APS) Thunder Bay Junior High (TBJH), recently spent two days learning about maritime history to complement a book they read as a class titled “The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle” by Avi. This book is an account from the 1800s of a 13-year-old girl who becomes the sole passenger on a sea voyage from England to America.

TBNMS Education Specialist Sophie Stuart visited the english classes on Thursday to teach students about the parts of a 19th-century ship and to introduce them to mylar paper, which maritime archaeologists use to write underwater, according to TBNMS. On Friday, students visited the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center to learn more about the Great Lakes and maritime history, complete a scavenger hunt, and create drawings of maritime artifacts.

“Bringing history to life is always our goal, and partnering with students who already felt connected to the story made the experience even more fun and impactful,” TBNMS stated on Facebook regarding the program.

TBNMS Media and Outreach Specialist Sarah Morrison told The News that the program was first created in 2024 with students from Posen Consolidated Schools. She explained that part of the hands-on learning experiences include writing letters to Doyle on mylar paper underwater, studying and documenting artifacts, and exploring the “life-size replica schooner” at the Great Lakes Heritage Center.

Morrison explained that at the end of the session, students reflected on three questions:

— What is one connection I made between the book and the field trip?

— What was something new I learned today?

— How do museums help history come to life?