Getting Started

Step 1: Choose Your History Day Program

The National History Day program works whether you choose to do it with your whole class, as an extra credit or elective for select students, or as part of an extra-curricular club. Competition is completely optional and you can decide if you will do the program only on the class or school level, only have select students compete at their regional contest, or open the contest opportunity to all students. A crucial first step is to decide which program format works best for you. If any students plan to compete, they will first need to compete at their regional contest before they are able to qualify for the upper contest levels.

Step 2: Find Your Region

If you know you will have students who will compete, you need to identify which region your school belongs in to find the regional contest information. North Carolina is divided into 7 regions.

N.C. History Day Regional Contest Map

Step 3: Find Your Contest Information

Once you know your assigned region's name, find its box below to see its contest information. You can click on each region's box to visit their specific contest page. All students register and submit required projects materials by the listed deadline in order to participate. Contest registration will open in January and instructions will be sent out prior.

Please note - we are planning to return to in-person contests this year. If you need a virtual contest option for your school or certain students, or have any question on contest plans, please email nchistoryday@ncdcr.gov.

Step 4: Plan Out Your Project Timeline

Project timelines are flexible depending on how much time is available. The best way to plan a class timeline for when students should learn about and complete certain tasks, is to work back from the registration deadline for your regional contest. We recommend teachers plan to have students done with all projects by that listed deadline. This helps keep all students on the same schedule no matter their chosen project category, and makes sure they are ready just in case they need to submit part or all their project online. Build in a cushion at the end so that your students have plenty of time to register, submit projects, and troubleshoot issues. Devote the biggest chunks of time for the research and project creation stages. Check out the Sample Class Planning & Schedule Page for a sample plan and class resources for each step.