Project Introduction and Theme Resources
These resources will help create a foundational understanding of the National History Day project and annual theme for your students in different stages of the research process.
Things to keep in mind as you get started:
Do they understand the theme as it relates to their topic? Is it in all areas of their project or just their title and introduction? The theme is a tool for you to help them move beyond relaying information into developing an argument.
Historical vocabulary can be hard to teach on the go. Spend a little time at the beginning working through the key words on the rubric, as theses are important for them to understand as their project develops.
They may not know their project category at the beginning, or it might change based on the primary resources they have available. Keep this in mind as you plan.
Developing an argument comes *after* they do some solid research. Students often want to launch right into creating their exhibits or writing a script because it is exciting. Remind them they can't create an argument if they don't have any facts yet, and their exhibit is a display of their argument!