BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Some Baltimore City schools students got a very interactive history lesson at Fort McHenry Monday.

Monique Griego has more on the new online video game released for the bicentennial.

A history lesson was brought to life as students from Patterson Park Public Charter School went back in time at Fort McHenry.

“You can see the costumes, what people thought and their personalities. It really helps you understand,” said Katie Hendrick, student.

The sixth-graders got an interactive lesson on what makes the national monument so significant.

“The War of 1812 where the British came to Baltimore trying to get foothold there, but they couldn’t because our troops stopped them,” Hendrick said.

Monday’s event is part of an effort to kick off a new online game that lets people get interactive with the issues that led to the War of 1812.

“The War of 1812 was the most narrowly decided war in American history,” said Tina Orcutt, Fort McHenry.  “And this is a way for people to understand all of the different perspectives that were out there at the time.”

Cast Your Vote  gives real life accounts from several characters and focuses on one important question.

“Trying to see if our vote is going to be pro war or anti war,” said Michael Garcia, student.

“It’s a really good tool for parents to sit down with their kids and go through it together,” Orcutt said. “It’s very thought-provoking.”

Orcutt hopes the game helps kids get excited about the upcoming bicentennial.

“I think they should know more about it. If they’re living here they need to know what our ancestors have done,” Hendrick said.

The bicentennial is June 18. To play Cast Your Vote, click here.