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National History Day contest at the University of Maryland
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The National History Day annual contest will be held June 14-18 at the University of Maryland.
The theme for this year is The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies. Students and their teachers will be challenged to ask amazing questions that uncover life-changing answers. Students have been involved in very personal history projects. In recent years three Chicago teenagers provided evidence from an interview which was used in getting a conviction in a civil rights case from 1967.
National History Day's program is a national contest for students in grades 6-12 from across the nation and from US territories come to present their work. While the event is a competition, the program is about fostering a greater appreciation for history and better civics for students.
Students choose historical topics related to a theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews and historic sites. After analyzing and interpreting their sources and drawing conclusions about the significance in history, students present their work in original papers, websites, exhibits, performances and documentaries. Students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills while creating their entries.
In addition to discovering the exciting world of the past, NHD also helps students develop the following attributes that are critical for future success:
• critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• research and reading skills
• oral and written communication and presentation skills
• self esteem and confidence
• a sense of responsibility for and involvement in the democratic process
The NHD organization recognizes that history is more than just dry facts from a textbook. “Every day is National History Day! We are teaching students that history is not just about the names and dates of people and events from 200 years ago but about the stories that happen every day in communities around the world.”
Encouraging kids to read about the projects and watch video presentations submitted this year might provide inspiration to get involved in the studying of history, and perhaps get them to think about being involved in the contest next year.
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