1. Transforming Your Classroom with NHD
September 30, 2015

2. Social Media & Websites
Twitter: @RIHistoryDay
@NationalHistory
Hashtags: #NHDprobs
#TeachNHD
#NHD2016
Websites: nhdrhodeisland.org
nhd.org
This presentation:

3. Part I: Introducing NHD to Students (without scaring them) Vanessa Miller, NHD Ambassador, Rhode Island
Enrichment Teacher, Narragansett Pier Middle School

4. Stay positive!
NHD is doable and is not just for the smart kids.

5. The teacher
NHD is fully customizable to your school, classroom content, and your personal abilities

6. 2015 National Contest Student Project Examples
The students
✓ Entice them
Youtube: What is National History Day?
2015 National Contest Student Project Examples

7. The students
✓ Cater to their interest areas

8. The students
✓ Establish an Organizational System and have it in place before you begin

9. Questions on getting students started?

10. Choosing a good NHD topic Laura Doliber,
Part II:
Choosing a good NHD topic
Laura Doliber,
NHD Ambassador
Rhode Island

11. Keys to a good NHD topic selection
→ Make sure the topic fits the theme : Exploration,
Encounter, Exchange in History
→ Teachers set the parameters
→ Choosing a local topic can give students access to a
wealth of excellent primary sources
→ Students should choose a topic that is interesting to
them
Sample Topics :

12. Keys to a good NHD topic selection
→ Coach and steer students, but don’t take away their agency

13. Keys to a good NHD topic selection
→ Make them convince you.

14. Exploration, Encounter, Exchange Resources
Theme book:
Sample topics:
Theme sheet:
Local topics are best as long as they can relate to the larger picture!

15. “Understand the E’s in the History Day Theme
Defining The Theme
Exploration: Although it can be, exploration does not need to be literal—think of exploration as a new idea, concept, or theory that is tested.
Encounter: exploration, of course, almost always leads to encounters—with different peoples, unfamiliar environments, and new ideas. Encounters are often unexpected and unpredictable, and they reveal much about those involved.
Exchange: Encounters can lead to many types of exchanges, whether it be goods, food, ideas, disease, or gunfire. But exchanges do not happen only in the physical realm. The sharing of ideas, beliefs, and customs can have widespread consequences for the people and cultures involved.
“Understand the E’s in the History Day Theme

16. Questions on helping students choose a topic?

17. Part III: Time Management: Mapping out an NHD Project Pacing Guide by Amy Boehning, NHD Teacher Fellow from HI

18. The Year of NHD in the Classroom
CLASSWORK
Quarter 1 (August & September)
Historical Research Process & Paper – 2 weeks
Research Paper Due
Quarter 2 (October – November)
NHD Project Construction – 2 weeks
School NHD Fair (December)
EXTRA CURRICULAR WORK
Quarter 3 (January - February)
NHD Project Revisions
Regional NHD Fair (March)
Quarter 4 (March - April)
State NHD Fair (end of April)
The Year of NHD in the Classroom

19. Historical Research Process
Step 1: Developing Questions From Theme
Step 2: Building Research Skills & Strategies
Step 3: Establishing Historical Context
Step 4: Gathering & Evaluating Sources
Step 5: Organizing the Evidence
Step 6: Creating a Thesis
Step 7: Outlining Claim Using Evidence
Step 8: Writing Conclusions
Step 9: Documenting the Process
Step 10: Creating Project with Researched Sources
NHD in the Classroom

20. Step 1: Developing Questions From Themex
Week 1
Questions of Theme
Deconstruct annual theme
Topic Selection
Narrow down to unique topic
Topic Scavenger Hunt
Check if topic addresses all parts of theme
Check if it is just an event or historically significant
Developing Questions and Planning Inquiries

21. Step 2: Building Research Skills & Strategies
Week 1
What Are Sources?
Classifying historical sources
Research Strategies
Exploring available resources
Note Taking
Establishing documentation system
Going digital: Noodle Tools
Citing Sources
Learn correct formatting OWL Website
Establish a system x
History

22. Step 3: Establishing Historical Context
Week 2
Social Studies SPICE
Learn Social Studies lens
Social Studies vocabulary
Historical Context
Examining multiple secondary sources
Questions to Explore
Generating questions for inquiry
History

23. Step 4: Gathering & Evaluating Sources
Week 3 &4
Primary Source Analysis
Written Document
Photography
Cartoon
Poster
Map
Artifact
Motion Picture
Sound Recording
Gathering and Evaluating Sources

24. Step 5: Organizing the Evidence
Week 5
Note Card Sort
Organizing ideas from notes
Identify missing information
Topic Web
Summarizing main ideas
Determining cause & effect
Developing Claims and Using Evidence

25. Step 6: Creating a Thesis
Week 5
Creating a Thesis
Using your web to answer questions formed from the theme
Developing Claims and Using Evidence

26. Step 7: Outlining Claim Using Evidence
Week 5
Outlining Argument
Transfer ideas in web to topic sentences & supporting points
Citing Evidence
Incorporate facts from research to support argument
Include citation cues after each quoted fact
Communicating and Critiquing Conclusions

27. Step 8: Writing Conclusions
Week 6
Drafting a Historical Research Paper
Paragraph 1: Introduction & Thesis
Paragraph 2: Historical Context
Paragraph 3: Topic Description
Paragraph 4: SPICE Impact or Action
Paragraph 5: SPICE Impact or Action
Paragraph 6: SPICE Impact or Action
Paragraph 7: Long Term Change (Today)
Paragraph 8: Conclusion (Significance)
Communicating and Critiquing Conclusions

28. Step 9: Documenting the Processx
Week 6
Annotated Bibliography
Separate into Primary & Secondary sources
Annotate to describe source and how it was used to support argument
Process Paper
Description of the personal process and what was learned
Communicating and Critiquing Conclusions

29. NHD Process in the Classroom
NHD Teacher Resources and Materials
NHD Process in the Classroom
Mililani High School (Boehning) Hawaii
Minnesota National History Day
E.pdf
Washington National History Day
Mississippi National History Day
National History Day in the Classroom
id-4

30. Questions on breaking down the project into manageable pieces?
Example Pacing Guides

31. Part IV: The NHD Contest: Showcasing Student Success

32. Contest Organization
The contest begins at the school level. Hold your own school contest and invite judges to come in to interview and evaluate your students.
Provide judges with a rubric and score sheet - These can be found on the NHD website.
Two entries per category can advance from your school contest to the Rhode Island State level competition.
Students that move on to states should spend time preparing and improving their projects to prepare for the state level contest.
The first and second place entries from each category may advance to the national competition at the University of Maryland at College Park.
Students that advance to the national competition should spend time preparing for the national contest and work on improving their projects. There will NHD in RI workshops given to help students prepare for Nationals.

33. Contest Tips *Show up early and scope out the room *Dress for success
*Practice interview skills: meeting and greeting, answering questions concerning the project, showing confidence and enthusiasm.

34. Questions on taking students to the NHD Contests?