National History Day

National History Day^®(NHD) is a non-profit education organization based in College Park, Maryland. NHD offers year-long academic programs that engage over half a million middle- and high-school students around the world annually in conducting original research on historical topics of interest. Since 1974, NHD has continuously improved history education by providing professional development opportunities and curriculum materials for educators. The largest NHD program is the National History Day Contest that encourages more than half a million students around the world to conduct historical research on a topic of their choice. Students enter these projects at the local and affiliate levels, with top students advancing to the National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park.

Students in Hawaii choose a topic of their interest that fits under the competition's theme for the year (this year it is "Frontiers," and then they develop and defend a thesis. Their entry in the annual competition is divided into Youth Division (4th and 5th grade, which can only rise to state level), Junior Division (6th through 8th grade) and Senior Division (9th through 12th grade), which both rise to national level. Students have five different options for how to enter: Historical Paper, Website, Documentary, Performance, or Exhibit Board. They may also enter as individuals or as part of a team in each category (except for Historical Paper, which must be done alone). Students will compete in a school based competition in January 2023, a District competition in March, the state competition in April, and the national competition in June (if they place at each level and qualify to move up to the next level). More specific information and resources can be viewed under the "Resources" tab of this Google site.

Mrs. Pratt will coach Ho'Onui Ike Buccaneers as they embark on a research journey of their choice in the 2022-2023 school year. Skills that must be demonstrated to complete a competition entry align with 8th grade inquiry and content standards, so deadlines and products for this competition will apply towards student grades. Students will begin by exploring this year's Theme (Frontiers) at the end of August and then they will decide which event they wish to compete in (Historical Paper, Website, Documentary, Performance, or Exhibit Board) and whether they want to enter the competition alone or as part of a team (available for all entry methods except for Historical Paper). Once students decide their entry method, they will explore topics in History that fit the overall research theme. Students must finalize their decisions for entry method, team/solo, and final topic by the end of September. We will begin research in October and continuously work on our projects until January. School level finalists will be selected in January to represent Stevenson Middle School at the District competition at Chaminade University on March 11th. (The reason the competition is in January is because registration for District competition closes on February 10th). Students who place at Districts will move on to represent Honolulu District at the state competition on April 15th. Students who place at State will move on to represent the state of Hawaii at the National Competition in June. There are opportunities along the way for students to win special category prizes, some of which include cash prizes or scholarship opportunities. Completion of the competition requirements will be part of a major grade for Ho'Onui Ike students in January 2023 and then we will be done with all NHD activities. After the school based competition, Mrs. Pratt will only coach individual students who place at any level beyond March 2023.