National History Day National History Day 2015-20162015-2016

What is National History Day?What is National History Day?

It’s a national contest between kids from schools across America…over 500,000 students compete!

blogs.sacbee.com/sac_history_happenings, nhd.org, 2.bp.blogspot.com

What’s it About?What’s it About?

Study a historical topic/person and create a Study a historical topic/person and create a project about itproject about it

A new theme each yearA new theme each yearStudents choose any historical topic Students choose any historical topic that fits that fits

the themethe theme

This Year’s Theme:This Year’s Theme:Exploration, Encounter & Exchange

in History

4.bp.blogspot.com, gifbin.com, explorepahistory.com

Exploration: New places, concepts, ideas, scientific discoveries

Encounter: Meet new people, find new ideas, new place, and ways of doing things

Exchange: To give and get something from someone else, somewhere else, new idea, etc.

Fitting Topic to the ThemeFitting Topic to the Theme

Try to address every word in the theme!Try to address every word in the theme!Topics that touch on all three themes have the Topics that touch on all three themes have the

best chance of moving onbest chance of moving onNot every explorer makes a good choice. Not every explorer makes a good choice.

Check the sample topics list to see some ready Check the sample topics list to see some ready made ideasmade ideas

What’s in it for You?What’s in it for You?

It’s a great experience and it will push youIt’s a great experience and it will push youMany BHS History teachers require itMany BHS History teachers require itYou’ll receive extra credit for work produced You’ll receive extra credit for work produced You could travel and even win a prizeYou could travel and even win a prizeColleges love to see it on applications Colleges love to see it on applications

Things to Consider…Things to Consider… It’s a lot of work, and competition is fierceIt’s a lot of work, and competition is fierceYou have to really love your topicYou have to really love your topicYou can’t be afraid of reading (like, books)You can’t be afraid of reading (like, books) If you procrastinate, this will either help you or make you insaneIf you procrastinate, this will either help you or make you insaneSubpar work can be really embarrassing at the contestSubpar work can be really embarrassing at the contest

Check Out Sample Topics and ExploreCheck Out Sample Topics and Explore

Topics shouldn’t be too recent (20 years or Topics shouldn’t be too recent (20 years or older, so before 1994)older, so before 1994)

If you want to move on in the contest, find a If you want to move on in the contest, find a topic with a clear connection to the whole topic with a clear connection to the whole themetheme

Individual or Group?Individual or Group?

IndividualAdvantages Disadvantages

• No one can let you down• Don’t have to deal with disagreements over topic, workload, etc• High achiever types may prefer having power over all decisions and final outcome

• All the responsibility falls on you—no one can bail you out or spur you to action when you don’t feel like working• Don’t have the input of others to help make decisions, come up with ideas, etc.• Heavier workload

Individual or Group?Individual or Group?

GroupAdvantages Disadvantages

• Less work per person• Access to better resources• Share ideas and help motivate each other• You can complement each other’s skills, knowledge, and focus level• Some projects really are better suited for groups

• Undependable group mates are the number one headache• Hard to get all people on same page• Social drama can lead to academic drama

Project TypesProject Types

Exhibit / Project board (Individual or group)Exhibit / Project board (Individual or group)Website (Individual or group)Website (Individual or group)Paper (Individual only)Paper (Individual only)Documentary (Individual or group)Documentary (Individual or group)Performance (Individual or group)Performance (Individual or group)

Exhibit / BoardExhibit / Board

Exhibit: Less writing (500 Exhibit: Less writing (500 words on board)words on board)

Less complex than other Less complex than other choiceschoices

Layout is extreme Layout is extreme headache, takes daysheadache, takes days

Work quality is instantly Work quality is instantly obviousobvious

www.wisconsinhistory.org

WebsiteWebsite Website: More writing than other Website: More writing than other

choiceschoices Digital: Easier and faster to Digital: Easier and faster to

reformat, start over, edit text, etc.reformat, start over, edit text, etc. Shorter deadline: Must be Shorter deadline: Must be

completed earlycompleted early Easier for groupsEasier for groups Flashy: Must be interactive, have Flashy: Must be interactive, have

excellent visuals (charts, graphs, excellent visuals (charts, graphs, diagrams, etc)diagrams, etc)

Project Examples: WebsitesProject Examples: Websites

http://44934519.weebly.com/http://44934519.weebly.com/http://13379618.weebly.com/http://13379618.weebly.com/http://51713941.weebly.com/http://51713941.weebly.com/http://onthebrinkofdisunion-http://onthebrinkofdisunion-

theelectionof1860.weebly.com/theelectionof1860.weebly.com/http://67046089.weebly.com/http://67046089.weebly.com/

PaperPaperPaper: Only project which Paper: Only project which

doesn’t require the process doesn’t require the process paperpaper

More writing than othersMore writing than othersNo groups! Individual onlyNo groups! Individual onlyNothing flashy required, just Nothing flashy required, just

excellent research and good excellent research and good writingwriting

www.professays.com

DocumentaryDocumentary Documentary: Less writing, much Documentary: Less writing, much

of it will be recorded in voiceoverof it will be recorded in voiceover Are you really ready for: Are you really ready for:

Filming Filming EditingEditing Adding or mixing AudioAdding or mixing Audio Transitions / GraphicsTransitions / Graphics Technical issuesTechnical issues

These are nearly professionalThese are nearly professional Requires a lot of coordination, Requires a lot of coordination,

travel, other people’s helptravel, other people’s helpwww.madeinla.com

PerformancePerformancePerformance: Not for the Performance: Not for the

meek! Act out your thesis for meek! Act out your thesis for the judgesthe judges

Requires practice, memory, Requires practice, memory, timing, props, and nervestiming, props, and nerves

Strangers will be presentStrangers will be presentMust be polished and Must be polished and

smoothsmooth

Wisconsin Board of Education

Performance ExamplePerformance Example

Luddite Rebellion of 1800sLuddite Rebellion of 1800shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5VKUpxSz0ohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5VKUpxSz0o