There will be a meet
ing regarding National History Day on Friday, December 4, 2020 at 1pm via Microsoft Teams. Teachers will provide link to students. See below for more information on National History Day.
National History Day (NHD) is a nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for teachers and students to engage in
historical research. NHD is not a predetermined, by-the-book program but rather an innovative curriculum framework in which
students learn history by selecting topics of interest and launching into year-long research projects. The mission of NHD is to
improve the teaching and learning of history in middle and high school. The most visible vehicle is the NHD Contest.
When studying history through historical research, students and teachers practice critical inquiry, asking questions of
significance, time, and place. History students become immersed in a detective story. Beginning in the fall, students
choose a topic related to the annual theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research. After analyzing and
interpreting their sources and drawing conclusions about their topics’ significance in history, students present their work
in original papers, exhibits, performances, websites, or documentaries. These projects are entered into competitions in
the spring at local, affiliate, and national levels, where they are evaluated by professional historians and educators. The
program culminates at the national competition held each June at the University of Maryland at College Park.
Each year National History Day uses a theme to provide a lens through which students can examine history. The annual
theme frames the research for both students and teachers. It is intentionally broad enough that students can select topics
from any place (local, national, or world) and any time period in history. Once students choose their topics, they investigate
historical context, historical significance, and the topic’s relationship to the theme by conducting research in libraries,
archives, and museums; through oral history interviews; and by visiting historic sites.
NHD benefits both teachers and students. For the student, NHD allows control of his or her own learning. Students select
topics that match their interests. Program expectations and guidelines are explicitly provided for students, but the research
journey is driven by the process and is unique to the topic being researched. Throughout the year, students develop
essential life skills by fostering intellectual curiosity. In addition, students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving
skills that will help them manage and use information now and in the future.
The classroom teacher is a student’s greatest ally in the research process. NHD supports teachers by providing
instructional materials and hosting workshops at local, affiliate, and national levels. Many teachers find that incorporating
the NHD model into their classroom curriculum encourages students to watch for examples of the theme and to identify
connections in their study of history across time.
NHD’s work with teachers and students extends beyond the contest and includes institutes and training programs, which
provide teachers with opportunities to study history and develop lessons and materials they can share with their students.
In addition, NHD offers continuing education courses for teachers (for graduate credit or professional development hours)
to improve classroom practice (nhd.org/onlineeducation). NHD also offers teaching resources to help teachers integrate
primary sources and critical thinking into the classroom. These resources are free and accessible to all teachers. Visit
nhd.org to learn more.