About HHS Archaeology ClubAdvisor: Mr. Jeff Cunningham
Archaeology club was founded back in 2009 by Social Studies Teacher Mr. Jeff Cunningham. We are one of the only high school Archaeology programs in Maryland, and the first high school in Calvert County to start this new course and club. Since then, the club has received state level recognition and is involved with organizations like Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum (State Museum of Archaeology) and the Archaeological Society of Maryland. We meet on every Monday in room I-210 during A and B lunch.
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Jeff Cunningham, social studies teacher at Huntingtown High School, is the 2017 winner of the Patricia Seitz Teacher of the Year Award from the Archeological Society of Maryland. The award recognizes excellence in instruction that develops and/or incorporates archeological content, projects, and/or activities into the classroom. Mr. Cunningham was nominated by his students and the staff at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum (JPPM).
Dr. Daniel D. Curry, Superintendent, said, “Mr. Cunningham makes great use of the excellent resources of JPPM. He is outstanding.”
“Mr. Cunningham,” said Supervisor of Social Studies Cecelia Lewis, “is truly dedicated to the advancement of archeological study and creates a wide range of opportunities to expose students to its continued relevance in our world today.” One of those opportunities is a long-standing relationship with JPPM that has provided rich and authentic learning experiences. The collaboration between JPPM and Huntingtown High students began in 2009 when the archeology classes began working with former Education Director Kim Popetz to produce audio tours of the park. The free tours focus on three different aspects of park history and are accessible by cell phone. Later, the students in both the archeology classes and club took on the challenging task of analyzing the contents of several mid-19th century privies that archeologists excavated from a site in Baltimore in 1980. Working with Ms. Popetz and Dr. Patricia Samford, Director of the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab at JPPM, the students repaired broken artifacts, researched the historical context, and documented their findings in the “Curator’s Choice” publications that are available on the JPPM website.
Mr. Cunningham’s dedication to his profession extends beyond introducing students to the academic pursuit of archeology. Rick Weber, principal of Huntingtown High, said students sign up for archeology classes because of Mr. Cunningham. “They embrace the academic projects,” Mr. Weber said, “because of his enthusiasm for the topic, his engaging teaching, and the rapport he builds with his students.” Awesome job Mr. Cunningham! Keep it up!
Dr. Daniel D. Curry, Superintendent, said, “Mr. Cunningham makes great use of the excellent resources of JPPM. He is outstanding.”
“Mr. Cunningham,” said Supervisor of Social Studies Cecelia Lewis, “is truly dedicated to the advancement of archeological study and creates a wide range of opportunities to expose students to its continued relevance in our world today.” One of those opportunities is a long-standing relationship with JPPM that has provided rich and authentic learning experiences. The collaboration between JPPM and Huntingtown High students began in 2009 when the archeology classes began working with former Education Director Kim Popetz to produce audio tours of the park. The free tours focus on three different aspects of park history and are accessible by cell phone. Later, the students in both the archeology classes and club took on the challenging task of analyzing the contents of several mid-19th century privies that archeologists excavated from a site in Baltimore in 1980. Working with Ms. Popetz and Dr. Patricia Samford, Director of the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab at JPPM, the students repaired broken artifacts, researched the historical context, and documented their findings in the “Curator’s Choice” publications that are available on the JPPM website.
Mr. Cunningham’s dedication to his profession extends beyond introducing students to the academic pursuit of archeology. Rick Weber, principal of Huntingtown High, said students sign up for archeology classes because of Mr. Cunningham. “They embrace the academic projects,” Mr. Weber said, “because of his enthusiasm for the topic, his engaging teaching, and the rapport he builds with his students.” Awesome job Mr. Cunningham! Keep it up!
2017-2018 Archaeology ProjectWorking with the Federal ReserveFounded in 1869, the Aged Men and Women's Home of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the Washington Conference was a care center for former slaves and people of color. It was located at 214 West Lee Street, and we believe that the facility was active until approximately 1921. The photo in the bottom right corner is a drawing of what the street may have looked like in the late 19th century.
The ceramics to the right were all found at the Aged Home Privy. They include a Japanese Saki bottle and the remains of a broken plate with an intricate flower design. Photo credits to Jefferson Patterson Park |
Partnership with Jefferson Patterson Park
Archaeologists Rachelle Green and Dr. Patricia Samford of JPPM. They have been with HHS Archaeology Club since our start. They join our meetings every Monday and bring artifacts that are nearly 200 years old. They are engaging with our students, and we are so fortunate to work with two of the best archaeologists in the state of Maryland.
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Rachelle Green Dr. Patricia Samford