2. NHD: What Is It?
Working individually or collaboratively in groups of two to five, students produce historical documentaries, exhibits, dramatic performances, websites, and/or research papers based on an annual theme. Students in 6th through 12th grade participate in the competition cycle by presenting their research at a series of local, regional, state, and national events. 
Students take ownership of their projects with teachers helping them with historical skills such as analyzing primary sources, narrowing a topic, and forming a thesis.
Contest held at SSPJ in January; winners advance to the regional contest, then to the state contest, and finally, to the national contest.
Top two ranked entries in each category advance from the state to the national contest (with one alternate). 2

3. NHD: Why Do It? Students learn in-depth about a topic of their choice.
Students choose the topic, group, and product that best fits their needs/learning styles.
 Students learn how to conduct research using primary sources.
Gives students an advantage in the upper grades when doing projects.
Students learn how to manage a long-term research project.
Students can learn new technology and skills needed to create a web page or documentary.
Students improve critical thinking and processing skills, as well as self esteem and confidence.
Improved oral and written communication skills; presentation skills. 3

4. Timeline September/October: October/November :
Getting and staying organized: Noodletools
Historical Thinking Skills – asking good research questions (why and how)
Primary/Secondary sources
Narrowing the topic
The “low hurdles” of research
Essay
Time to go to the library!!!
October/November :
More advanced research skills
Locating and Interpreting primary sources
Locating interviewees/museums
What is an historical argument?
Developing a thesis statement
Citing sources and compiling a bibliography—Noodletools
Bibliography check – approx. 20 sources each primary and secondary by end of month.
Timeline 4

5. Timeline cont’d December: January: February: March: Interviews
Still need to go to the library!!!
Bibliography check (approx. 40 sources each, primary and secondary by end of month)
January:
Constructing the Project
Process paper and bibliography
Still going to the library and researching??
SSPJ Competition, Jan. 10, 2018
February:
SSPJ winners continue to revise projects based on feedback
After-school meetings
March:
Regional Contest dates and locations tba (mid-March latest) 5

6. Timeline cont’d. March/April:
Regional winners continue to revise projects based on judges’ feedback
May 5, 2018
State contest at William Paterson University
June 10-14, 2018
National Contest, University of Maryland 6

7. How Parents Can Help
National History Day is often one of the biggest research projects a student will complete in their pre-college days, requiring them to engage in complex tasks such as primary source research, thesis-statement writing, and analytical presentation.
Each student approaches these tasks at their own pace and education level. The entire process is a learning experience, and the skills that students acquire will set them up to be successful in college and a career. The challenge of mastering these skills is sometimes the best lesson that students will learn. In the end, students discover that they can confidently seek out answers to their questions and tackle difficult research and analysis independently.
As observing adults, it is important for us to allow them to make these discoveries with limited guidance. Students may need help brainstorming, teasing out answers, getting connected to resources, or learning technological skills, but ultimately their experience will be richer the more they complete the project on their own.
If students need a ride to the store, a hand with power tools, a guide through video-editing software, an outside eye to read through a written draft, a suggestion or two on where they might find sources, or a conversation to help clarify a question, this is where the teachers, parents, librarians or History Day staff step in. If students need to do heavy researching, draft writing, or project development and creation, this is where they fly solo.   7

8. Important Websites New Jersey History Day Website: http://nj.nhd.org/
National History Day Website:  
NHD Sample Entries:  
NHD Rule Book:   .pdf
NHD Theme
Book:  
EBSCO at
Mrs. O’Sullivan’s Teacher Web Page for websites, databases, Google “hang outs,” etc. osullivanmary.weebly.com 8