HISTORY HISTORY FAIR FAIR

AND YOUAND YOUTips for teachers and students Tips for teachers and students about History Fair Projectsabout History Fair Projects

2004 Theme:2004 Theme:Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in HistoryExploration, Encounter, Exchange in History

Criteria for a Quality History ProjectHistorical Quality (60%)Historically AccurateShows analysis and interpretationPlaces the topic in its historical contextShows wide researchUses available primary sourcesResearch is balanced in relation to various points of view

Relation to the Theme (20%)Clearly relates topic to the History Day themeDemonstrates significance of the topic in history and draws conclusions

Clarity of Presentation (20%)Project written material is original, clear, appropriate, articulateProject is organized, has visual impact, correctly uses visuals, props, etc.Rules ComplianceMeets size or performance length requirements and word limitsIncludes an annotated bibliography

1. Selecting a Topic1. Selecting a Topic• Pay attention to the theme:

Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in HistoryExploration, Encounter, Exchange in History• Pick something/someone that interests you• Pick something significant• Pick something about which you can locate primary

and secondary sources.• Be able to answer this question…“This topic relates to the theme because….”“This is important because…”

2. Research2. Research• Use both primary and secondary sources and

ANALYZE the information.• Make sure that your research is reflected in the final

project on the exhibit, in the performance, or in the documentary.

• Gather lots of information - use only that which helps prove your conclusion.

• Relate everything to your topic • Keep track of all sources

USING SOURCESUSING SOURCES• BEGIN WITH THE

SECONDARY SOURCES - GET AN OVERVIEW OF THE EVENT AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES

• EXPLORE THE PRIMARY SOURCES FOR DEPTH AND ANALYSIS

WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE?

WHY?

PRIMARY SOURCESPRIMARY SOURCES • PRIMARY SOURCES - INFORMATION PRIMARY SOURCES - INFORMATION

CREATED BY THE EVENT OR THE PROCESS CREATED BY THE EVENT OR THE PROCESS OF AN EVENTOF AN EVENT– ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTSARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS– MANUSCRIPTS and/or DIARIESMANUSCRIPTS and/or DIARIES– PHOTOGRAPHS PHOTOGRAPHS – NEWSPAPER, MAGAZINE, JOURNALS NEWSPAPER, MAGAZINE, JOURNALS IFIF THEY THEY

ARE WRITTEN AT THE TIME OF AN EVENT ARE WRITTEN AT THE TIME OF AN EVENT – PERSONAL INTERVIEWS PERSONAL INTERVIEWS IFIF THE PERSON THE PERSON

PARTICIPATED OR WAS AN EYEWITNESSPARTICIPATED OR WAS AN EYEWITNESS

SECONDARY SOURCESSECONDARY SOURCES• A SOURCE THAT SEEKS TO EXPLAIN

OR INTERPRET AN EVENT– BOOKS– ARTICLES– INTERVIEWS THAT EXPLAIN OR INTERPRET

- THE PERSON IS TALKING ABOUT AN EVENT AND WAS NOT A PARTICIPANT

– MEDIA PRODUCTIONS

SHOWING RESULTS OF SHOWING RESULTS OF THE RESEARCHTHE RESEARCH

• USE PRIMARY RESEARCH AND SHOW THAT THESE SOURCES HAVE BEEN USED– USE QUOTES, PICTURES, HEADLINES

• MAKE SURE MATERIALS USED ARE PART OF THE “STORY” AND HELP PROVE THE CONCLUSION.

• CREATE A STRONG, INTERESTING AND PERSUASIVE PROJECT

3. Complete notes and a 3. Complete notes and a bibliographybibliography

• Begin to gather research into some main ideas for the visual part of the project

• Keep an active bibliography with annotations (explanations about how the source was useful to the finished project)

• Begin to plan the visual part of the project

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPHY• Provide Annotations for each source

describing the source and what was learned from it - BE SPECIFIC about the quality of the help and where it was used

• Choose one type of style for citing sources and provide students with only that style - don’t confuse the issue for them

• Teach them to use “note cards”

Types of ProjectsTypes of Projects• Exhibit - Individual or Group• Historical Paper • Performance - Individual or

Group• Documentary - Individual or

Group

4. Plan your visual4. Plan your visual

• Exhibit - draw sketches and plan finished product

• Performance - write a script and plan costumes, props, etc.

• Documentary - Use a storyboard to plan the documentary.

5. Finish your Project5. Finish your Project

• Complete the exhibit, performance, or documentary

• Proof the process paper• Include an annotated

bibliography

ANALYSIS• TEACH the process of analysis of written

text, documents, photographs, political cartoons (this is also a wonderful TAKS skill!)

• ENCOURAGE students to include analysis and conclusions in their presentations by citing sources and responding to the source with conclusions.

ExhibitsExhibitsWinning Winning

CombinationsCombinationsPhotos from Texas Photos from Texas History Day, May History Day, May

20022002

HOUSTON ISD REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR HOUSTON ISD REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR January 2002January 2002

Revolution, Reaction, Reform Revolution, Reaction, Reform

HOUSTON ISD REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR HOUSTON ISD REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR January 2002January 2002

Revolution, Reaction, Reform Revolution, Reaction, Reform

HOUSTON ISD REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR HOUSTON ISD REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR January 2002January 2002

Revolution, Reaction, Reform Revolution, Reaction, Reform

Revolution, Reaction, Reform Revolution, Reaction, Reform

HOUSTON ISD REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR HOUSTON ISD REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR January 2002January 2002

Revolution, Reaction, Reform Revolution, Reaction, Reform

HOUSTON ISD REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR HOUSTON ISD REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR January 2002January 2002

Revolution, Reaction, Reform Revolution, Reaction, Reform

HOUSTON ISD REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR HOUSTON ISD REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR January 2002January 2002

Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History History

HOUSTON ISD REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR February HOUSTON ISD REGIONAL HISTORY FAIR February 20042004