It took about five years to get going, but Dartmouth’s third-graders recently got a hands-on history lesson almost literally in their own back yards.

“This town is just so full of history its ridiculous,” said Quinn Elementary School third grade teacher Lisa Arruda, who along with others organized a recent field trip that took the entire grade to several historical locations in town.

“A lot of people don’t know it, but now, maybe the students can teach their parents a few things. It’s amazing once you get out there and see them,” said Arruda.

Last week, students visited the Akin House, the Apponagansett Meeting House, Allen Howland’s Grist Mill, the New Bedford Rod and Gun Club and the remains of the old garrison off of Fort Street. At each site, a different historian was on location to help give the students local lessons taught through different activities.

Arruda said the field trip took several years of planning, and was made possible through a grant from both the Massachusetts and Dartmouth Cultural Councils, as well as with the help of the volunteers.

Those working with the children at the different locations included Carole Cannan at the Apponagansett Meeting House, historian Paul Levasseur at the New Bedford Rod and Gun Club, Diane Gilbert at the Akin House and Lorraine Granda from the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust.

“We never could have done it without them,” said Arruda. “They helped simulate how difficult things were in those times.”

Arruda said she and fellow third grade teacher Suzanna Varona got the idea for the field trip after creating two DVDs (with help from Dartmouth High School students and Dartmouth Community Television) that focused on Dartmouth landmarks.

“We’ve always wanted to visit these sites with the students instead of just showing them the video,” she said.

Part of the effort, Arruda said, also involves including Dartmouth’s other schools in the process, with the local history lessons falling into the standards of the district’s curriculum.

“They’ve all done a little of this and a little of that (involving the history of the town),” she said. “I know we’re all on the same page.”