National History Day Club
Blanchard Middle School-Homepage
"Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it."
NHD Club meets on Tuesdays in Mrs. Ward's classroom (Room 7). Club members will participate in the National History Day program. Students will choose a topic related to this year's theme and conduct authentic historical research utilizing both primary and secondary sources. Students will then use their research to create a project following the NHD requirements. Students can work either individually or in a small group to create an exhibit, a performance, a documentary, or a website. Individual students may choose to write a rewearch paper.
Student projects may be entered in the Northeast Regional History Day competition in March. Students who place first or second at the regional contest will advance to the State History Day competition in April. Students who place first or second at the state contest will advance to the National History Day competition, which is held in June at the University of Maryland. Students will be responsible for all entry fees and travel expenses related to competing at the History Day competitions.
Blanchard History Club Timeline:
October
First meeting October 9
Brainstorm possible topics and conduct preliminary research; choose a topic; decide if you are working alone or in a group
November
Conduct background research on your topic; begin forming your annotated bibliography; think about which project category you will enter
December
Conduct more detailed primary and secondary research on your topic; continue working on your annotated bibliography; decide which project category you will enter; begin preparing your project
January
Finish primary and secondary research; complete your annotated bibliography; begin writing your findings; continue preparing your project
February
Finish constructing/creating your project; write your process paper
March
Regional competition in March; 1st and 2nd place winners work to improve their projects
April
State competition in April; 1st and 2nd place winners work to improve their projects
May
Students continuing on to the National contest will continue to improve their projects
June
National History Day competition at the University of Maryland
Each year, more than half a million students, encouraged by thousands of teachers nationwide participate in the NHD contest. 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 their topics’ significance in history, students present their work in original papers, websites, exhibits, performances and documentaries. These products are entered into competitions in the spring at local, state and national levels where they are evaluated by professional historians and educators. The program culminates in the Kenneth E. Behring National Contest each June held at the University of Maryland at College Park.
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
National History Day is endorsed by the following associations:
• American Association for State and Local History
• American Historical Association
• Federation of State Humanities Councils• National Association of Secondary School Principals• National Center for History in the Schools• National Council for History Education• National Council for the Social Studies• Organization of American Historians
• Society of American Archivists
This year's NHD theme is "Triumph and Tragedy." The theme is broad enough to include topics from any period in history and from any part of the world.
Click here for a description of this year's theme. https://www.nhd.org/triumph-tragedy-history
National History Day (NHD) is a highly regarded academic program for elementary and secondary school students.