1. National History Day 2015-2016

2. 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

3. What’s it About? Study a historical topic/person and create a project about it Study a historical topic/person and create a project about it A new theme each year A new theme each year Students choose any historical topic that fits the theme Students choose any historical topic that fits the theme

4. 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.

5. Fitting 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 best chance of moving on Topics that touch on all three themes have the best chance of moving on Not every explorer makes a good choice. Check the sample topics list to see some ready made ideas Not every explorer makes a good choice. Check the sample topics list to see some ready made ideas

6. What’s in it for You? It’s a great experience and it will push you It’s a great experience and it will push you Many BHS History teachers require it Many BHS History teachers require it You’ll receive extra credit for work produced You’ll receive extra credit for work produced You could travel and even win a prize You could travel and even win a prize Colleges love to see it on applications Colleges love to see it on applications

7. Things to Consider… It’s a lot of work, and competition is fierce It’s a lot of work, and competition is fierce You have to really love your topic You have to really love your topic You 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 insane If you procrastinate, this will either help you or make you insane Subpar work can be really embarrassing at the contest Subpar work can be really embarrassing at the contest

8. Check Out Sample Topics and Explore Topics shouldn’t be too recent (20 years or older, so before 1994) Topics shouldn’t be too recent (20 years or older, so before 1994) If you want to move on in the contest, find a topic with a clear connection to the whole theme If you want to move on in the contest, find a topic with a clear connection to the whole theme

9. Individual or Group? Individual AdvantagesDisadvantages 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

10. Individual or Group? Group AdvantagesDisadvantages 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

11. Project 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)

12. Exhibit / Board Exhibit: Less writing (500 words on board) Exhibit: Less writing (500 words on board) Less complex than other choices Less complex than other choices Layout is extreme headache, takes days Layout is extreme headache, takes days Work quality is instantly obvious Work quality is instantly obvious www.wisconsinhistory.org

16. Website Website: More writing than other choices Website: More writing than other choices Digital: Easier and faster to reformat, start over, edit text, etc. Digital: Easier and faster to reformat, start over, edit text, etc. Shorter deadline: Must be completed early Shorter deadline: Must be completed early Easier for groups Easier for groups Flashy: Must be interactive, have excellent visuals (charts, graphs, diagrams, etc) Flashy: Must be interactive, have excellent visuals (charts, graphs, diagrams, etc)

17. Project Examples: Websites http://44934519.weebly.com/ http://44934519.weebly.com/ http://44934519.weebly.com/ http://13379618.weebly.com/ http://13379618.weebly.com/ http://13379618.weebly.com/ http://51713941.weebly.com/ http://51713941.weebly.com/ http://51713941.weebly.com/ http://onthebrinkofdisunion- theelectionof1860.weebly.com/ http://onthebrinkofdisunion- theelectionof1860.weebly.com/ http://onthebrinkofdisunion- theelectionof1860.weebly.com/ http://onthebrinkofdisunion- theelectionof1860.weebly.com/ http://67046089.weebly.com/ http://67046089.weebly.com/ http://67046089.weebly.com/

18. Paper Paper: Only project which doesn’t require the process paper Paper: Only project which doesn’t require the process paper More writing than others More writing than others No groups! Individual only No groups! Individual only Nothing flashy required, just excellent research and good writing Nothing flashy required, just excellent research and good writing www.professays.com

19. Documentary Documentary: Less writing, much of it will be recorded in voiceover Documentary: Less writing, much of it will be recorded in voiceover Are you really ready for: Are you really ready for: Filming Filming Editing Editing Adding or mixing Audio Adding or mixing Audio Transitions / Graphics Transitions / Graphics Technical issues Technical issues These are nearly professional These are nearly professional Requires a lot of coordination, travel, other people’s help Requires a lot of coordination, travel, other people’s help www.madeinla.com

20. Performance Performance: Not for the meek! Act out your thesis for the judges Performance: Not for the meek! Act out your thesis for the judges Requires practice, memory, timing, props, and nerves Requires practice, memory, timing, props, and nerves Strangers will be present Strangers will be present Must be polished and smooth Must be polished and smooth Wisconsin Board of Education

21. Performance Example Luddite Rebellion of 1800s Luddite Rebellion of 1800shttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5VKUpxSz0o