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Below is a sample timeline for implementing the NHD framework into your classroom. Use this in conjunction with your own pacing schedule to plan out student work and resource needs.
Timeline for Implementing History Day in Your Classroom
June and July:
Familiarize yourself with the theme narrative sheet, theme video, and Tennessee Topics available on the THD website. Read through the Educators' Guide to Teaching with Primary Sources and Tennessee History Day.
Look at your curriculum for the year and come up with a list of possible topics for students that relate to your content focus.
Set a calendar of assignments and due dates for every step of the History Day process for yourself and your students.
Attend Tennessee History Day professional development, if available. Check the Padlet and THD Social Media to see what is being offered!
The THD Starter Pack PD series is available online and at your own pace: LINK
August:
Introduce History Day to your students and define the theme. Explain to students how it fits into your class curriculum.
Explain the differences and uses of primary and secondary sources. Have students begin researching possible topics, develop possible research questions. Practice argumentative writing through developing paragraph writing skills.
Complete an analysis of a primary source together, using the Primary Source Analysis Tool from the Library of Congress.
Implement a paperwork management system for students to follow. Students should begin preliminary research on possible topics.
Use the Source Sheets in this guidebook to help organize student resources.
Discuss deadlines, grades, and behavioral expectations as a class. Send a guardian letter.
September and October:
Guide students toward choosing individual or group projects and choosing a category based on their research so far.
Work with students to identify and narrow their research topic. Help them ask questions about their topic.
Have students submit a Topic Proposal worksheet.
Guide students toward quality primary and secondary sources. Research should be thoroughly underway. Check the rubric criteria to make sure they are hitting all necessary descriptors.
Discuss annotated bibliography guidelines and reinforce the use of Source Sheets to help track student research.
November:
Lead class discussion on the need to support your historical argument with primary sources and practice source analysis together.
Students should continue researching.
Work with students on writing thesis statements. Practice formulating and presenting historical interpretations, encouraging students to look for where their voice is versus the voices of their sources.
Complete a source check–in. Ensure students have a Source Sheet for each of the resources they have used so far in their research.
Students should create an outline and begin constructing their projects.
Have students analyze their work for wide research (types of available sources), context, and multiple perspectives. Are these present in their work so far?
December:
Assist students with problem solving. Confirm contest dates to be sure you are on target for project completion.
Students should complete construction of their projects. Educators should review and give feedback to students.
Students should edit and put finishing touches on projects, write process papers, and revise annotated bibliographies.
Encourage students to have the bulk of their project completed by the end of the first semester.
January:
Host school or classroom competitions. Choose students to advance to your regional competition and begin looking through registration materials.
Challenge students to make sure their argument is present in the images and sources they have used, and in their own language.
Have students judge their own projects using the NHD rubrics. Talk about constructive feedback and how it can be used to make work stronger.
February:
Register students in the online registration system available at www.tennesseehistory.org.
Students should edit projects based on judge feedback provided at school competitions.
Refer to any previous material for reinforcement.
Competition Time! Late February–June:
Confirm details for regional competition. Regional competitions are typically held February through March.
Have students who advance from regional contests revise their projects again for state. The state contest typically is in early April.
Northeast District 1 and Northeast District 2 both have contests in November.
Editing is beneficial for all participants, not just students that qualify for the next level of competition. Consider giving class credit for changes made based on judging feedback.
Students who win at state should revise projects for nationals. National History Day is in mid–June.
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