History Day

What is History Day? Each year more than half a million students just like you participate in an experience that is a fun and exciting way to look at a historical topic of your choice and create a project based on this year’s theme.

What do you do? Research primary and secondary sources online, in libraries, archives, museums, conduct oral history interviews, visit historic sites. Analyze and interpret your research in comparison with the theme. Discover the significance of your topic. Create a project to display your new knowledge.

Categories and Divisions Grades 4/5 –2D Display, only (individual or group) Junior (grades 6-8) and Senior (grades 9-12) –Documentary (individual or group) –Exhibit (individual or group) –Paper (individual, only) –Performance (individual or group) –Website (individual or group)

Levels of Competition Classroom School Site District Riverside County History Day 1.Three entries allowed from each district in each category NHD-CA State Competition 1.Top 3 winners in Grades 4/5 (each category) 2.Top 2 winners in Junior Division (each category) 3.Top 3 winners in Senior Division (each category) National 1.Top 2 winners in Junior Division (each category) 2.Top 2 winners in Senior Division (each category)

4 th and 5 th grade students can create an Historical Display

6 th grade students can one of five different types of projects Documentary Website Historical Paper Presentation Exhibit

Documentary Kill The Indian, Save The Man

Website

Historical Paper

Performance

Exhibit

Why is it good for kids to participate? let’s you focus on your special interests supports high academic standards integrates history the arts, science, writing, other social sciences – the sky is the limit! encourages students to interact with academic historians, librarians, archivists, and public historians. Opens up opportunities in ways we couldn’t have imagined

What students say about History Day

I’m interested….now what? Think about the theme Search up some topics to see if they fit the theme or see your teacher for ideas Start researching and keep track of the information you gather Decide on what type of project you are going to create Follow the guidelines and rules

School site level project

State level project

Want More Info? National History Day website California National History Day website California National History Day Facebook

Great places to search for topics NHD Theme or RUSD Teaching American History Grant Chicago Metro History Education Center theme/nhd-theme.html theme/nhd-theme.html

Commonly asked questions Can kids work in pairs or small groups? On some of the projects- yes. Is it like a science fair project only it’s historical? You can think of it that way in a very broad sense, but it is much more! The depth of historical research makes it very different. Other questions?