The first national evaluation of National History Day (NHD) finds that students who participate in the program perform better on high-stakes tests, are better writers, more confident and capable researchers, and have a more mature perspective on current events and civic engagement than their peers. Participants also show a greater ability to collaborate with peers, manage their time and persevere – all skills employers say are lacking in today's workforce.
What is History Day?
Each year more than half a million students participate in National History Day. Students will choose a historical topic related to the annual theme, and then conduct primary and secondary research. Students look through libraries, archives and museums, conduct oral history interviews, and visit historic sites. After they have analyzed and interpreted their sources, and have drawn a conclusion about the significance of their topic, they will then be able to present their work in one of five ways: as a paper, an exhibit, a performance, a documentary, or a web site.
In the spring, you may enter your students into the regional NHD contest at the University of Memphis where it will be judged by professional educators and historians. If their work is chosen as one of the best, they will move on to the stat NHD contest in Nashville. As a winner at the state NHD contest, students will be eligible to attend the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park in June. This is where the best National History Day projects from across the United States, American Samoa, Guam, International Schools and Department of Defense Schools in Europe all meet and compete.
Every year National History Day frames students' research within a historical theme. The theme is chosen for the broad application to world, national or state history and its relevance to ancient history or to the more recent past. This year's theme is Triumph and Tragedy in History. The intentional selection of the theme for National History Day is to provide an opportunity for students to push past the antiquated view of history as mere facts and dates and drill down into historical content to develop perspective and understanding.
The NHD theme provides a focused way to increase student's historical understanding by developing a lens to read history, an organizational structure that helps students place information in the correct context and finally, the ability to see connections over time.
National History Day motivates students to discover history by:
West Tennessee History Day Aligns with Common Core Requirements
National History Day (NHD) is a year-long curriculum program for students in grades 6-12. Its methodology includes extensive primary and secondary research into a topic of choice related to an annual theme. Teachers guide students through a project-based learning experience, which pulls together Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, especially the appendix outlined as Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects, in a meaningful and coherent fashion. National History Day is unique in the sense that it requires both informative and argumentative writing of students who conduct research based on their own questions and interests as they relate to the NHD theme. Annually, students may enter their research project into a national competition that begins at the regional or state level.
In addition to recent research findings, which indicate that History Day students outperform their non-History Day peers in all subject areas, History Day is an instructional methodology which meets the highest levels of required social studies standards.
Changes to the West Tennessee History District Entry Rules: Please Make Note
Dear teachers,
Thanks to your amazing work and excitement, West Tennessee History Day has grown by leaps and bounds. Unfortunately, our judges pool and contest location spaces have not expanded at that remarkable rate. Consequently, in order to balance student demand with our current logistical situation, we need to limit entries for the West Tennessee District Contest to two entries per category per teacher. This means if you are a middle school teacher, you may bring two entries for each of the Junior Division categories, or if you’re a high school teacher, you may bring two entries for each of the Senior Division categories.
I wish we didn’t have to take this step. But on the other hand, I love what this says about the dedication of West Tennessee teachers and students to historical scholarship! You are setting an awesome example for other teachers and students who are now eager to join in the fun. I’m very proud you and all that you have and continue to accomplish. Way to go!!!!
Useful Links
Sample student projects:
http://www.nhd.org/StudentProjectExamples.htm
Link which includes resources such as : Student and Parent Introduction Letters, Various Student and Teacher forms which aid in the all phases of the development of a History Day Project, Project Checklists, and Sample Judging Sheets.
http://www.nhd.org/TeacherResources.htm
What is History Day?
Each year more than half a million students participate in National History Day. Students will choose a historical topic related to the annual theme, and then conduct primary and secondary research. Students look through libraries, archives and museums, conduct oral history interviews, and visit historic sites. After they have analyzed and interpreted their sources, and have drawn a conclusion about the significance of their topic, they will then be able to present their work in one of five ways: as a paper, an exhibit, a performance, a documentary, or a web site.
In the spring, you may enter your students into the regional NHD contest at the University of Memphis where it will be judged by professional educators and historians. If their work is chosen as one of the best, they will move on to the stat NHD contest in Nashville. As a winner at the state NHD contest, students will be eligible to attend the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park in June. This is where the best National History Day projects from across the United States, American Samoa, Guam, International Schools and Department of Defense Schools in Europe all meet and compete.
Every year National History Day frames students' research within a historical theme. The theme is chosen for the broad application to world, national or state history and its relevance to ancient history or to the more recent past. This year's theme is Triumph and Tragedy in History. The intentional selection of the theme for National History Day is to provide an opportunity for students to push past the antiquated view of history as mere facts and dates and drill down into historical content to develop perspective and understanding.
The NHD theme provides a focused way to increase student's historical understanding by developing a lens to read history, an organizational structure that helps students place information in the correct context and finally, the ability to see connections over time.
National History Day motivates students to discover history by:
- Cultivating interest: students research a topic of their choice
- Developing research skills: students act as historians discovering how to uncover primary sources, build historical context and form historical interpretations
- Becoming experts on their research topic: presenting their research to teachers, students, and historians
- Achieving success
-The shy student gains confidence when speaking about a topic he/she has researched
-The apathetic student gains passion by choosing a topic of personal interest
-The high achieving student increases his/her ability to articulate their learning through presentation
West Tennessee History Day Aligns with Common Core Requirements
National History Day (NHD) is a year-long curriculum program for students in grades 6-12. Its methodology includes extensive primary and secondary research into a topic of choice related to an annual theme. Teachers guide students through a project-based learning experience, which pulls together Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, especially the appendix outlined as Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects, in a meaningful and coherent fashion. National History Day is unique in the sense that it requires both informative and argumentative writing of students who conduct research based on their own questions and interests as they relate to the NHD theme. Annually, students may enter their research project into a national competition that begins at the regional or state level.
In addition to recent research findings, which indicate that History Day students outperform their non-History Day peers in all subject areas, History Day is an instructional methodology which meets the highest levels of required social studies standards.
Changes to the West Tennessee History District Entry Rules: Please Make Note
Dear teachers,
Thanks to your amazing work and excitement, West Tennessee History Day has grown by leaps and bounds. Unfortunately, our judges pool and contest location spaces have not expanded at that remarkable rate. Consequently, in order to balance student demand with our current logistical situation, we need to limit entries for the West Tennessee District Contest to two entries per category per teacher. This means if you are a middle school teacher, you may bring two entries for each of the Junior Division categories, or if you’re a high school teacher, you may bring two entries for each of the Senior Division categories.
I wish we didn’t have to take this step. But on the other hand, I love what this says about the dedication of West Tennessee teachers and students to historical scholarship! You are setting an awesome example for other teachers and students who are now eager to join in the fun. I’m very proud you and all that you have and continue to accomplish. Way to go!!!!
Useful Links
Sample student projects:
http://www.nhd.org/StudentProjectExamples.htm
Link which includes resources such as : Student and Parent Introduction Letters, Various Student and Teacher forms which aid in the all phases of the development of a History Day Project, Project Checklists, and Sample Judging Sheets.
http://www.nhd.org/TeacherResources.htm
nhd_key_findings.pdf | |
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nhd_and_common_core.pdf | |
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