During first semester, all students in my US History classes will create a National History Day project. This is a student-driven project -- from selecting the topic to conducting the research to building the final project to present your new knowledge to a public audience. Year after year, students who complete History Day projects profess that they learned many of the skills they needed for success in college and careers through completing this project.
Every year, students from my class have been invited to compete in the local county competition, which has taken several OHHS students to the state and national levels of competition. This will be a lengthy commitment that requires students to work at a level they likely haven't before --- but it is equally rewarding, as you become proud of the work you never knew you could do. The tasks for the project will be broken down throughout the semester, and completing each step will allow you to avoid becoming overwhelmed. |
It's often said that "a picture is worth a thousand words." Well, this video joins images with testimonials and explanations to help provide you with a clearer understanding of what History Day is all about.
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PROJECT OVERVIEW:National History Day (NHD) is your chance to tell a story that needs to be told. There is so much more history in the world than can ever be covered in a year-long class. Your NHD project lets you dig deeper into a person or event that you've always wanted to learn more about, and help educate others about it.
STEP 1: Topic Selection -- This first step is absolutely the MOST IMPORTANT because your topic must be engaging enough to you to keep you motivated throughout the semester. Choose something that you are very interested in learning more about because you will learn so much about it that you will become an expert on it, knowing far more than the average adult on the topic. One limitation is that your topic to fit this year's NHD theme: Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas. Also, consider the type of information available on this topic -- if it's very old, you'll be reading more difficult text, if it's too current there won't be much information out there. A general rule of thumb is that the event should be at least a decade old. Ask yourself, will you be able to find primary sources (eyewitness accounts) on this topic? Be sure to think long and hard on your topic so that you won't have regrets the rest of the semester.
Keep your topic narrow -- don't try to research something that will require you to read several books to understand and take a long time to explain. For example, rather than choosing World War II as your topic, you may narrow it to the Invasion of Normandy, those who resisted Hitler, or the decision to drop the Atomic Bomb. STEP 2: Research -- Develop driving questions that will take significant amounts of information to answer, not just a sentence or two. For example, on the topic of DNA, questions were: What is DNA? By whom, when, where, and how was the DNA sequence discovered? In what ways did this discovery affect our lives in a positive way? In what ways has this discovery been controversial? These questions will help you focus your research and can be used to organize your research around. Be sure to address the connection to the theme of COMMUNICATION. And note... good research regularly creates new questions to explore; be prepared to revise and adapt as your learn more about your topic. Find books, online articles, videos, and images that help you answer your Research Questions. As you take notes, be careful to identify where you found the information. Use quotations around direct quotes. Be sure to add all resources you use to your Source List!
STEP 3: Write your Thesis Statement -- As our research, you will begin to develop your thesis. What will your project prove? This 1-3 sentence statement is the heart of your project. It should clearly identify your topic, place it in context, and state what it has to do with one or more of the theme: Communications in History. You'll need to make a clear, focused statement that your project will be able to prove to your viewer.
STEP 4: Decide on a Product -- (NOTE: Due to the limitations of Distance Learning, the project requirements will be modified.) You can choose one of the 5 products to make for your project. Consider what you have access to and will be able to complete the best. All supplies are purchased at your own expense, so if money is an issue, don't create an exhibit. If you don't want to spend more time on your internet device, don't choose to make a webpage or documentary. Please check out the sample projects on the link I have provided so that you have a good idea about what is involved.
STEP 5: Build your Product -- Create your project and be ready to present it by the beginning of December. This will careful planning... so do a little bit each week to ensure you're done with a top quality project in time! |
HELPFUL RESOURCES:As you complete your History Day project, you may find these websites useful:
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