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Transforming Your Classroom with National History Day

Want your students to love history? Then National History Day is the program for you!

National History Day motivates students to discover history by:

  • Cultivating interest: students research a topic of their choice
  • Developing research skills: students act as historians discovering how to uncover primary sources, build historical context and form historical interpretations
  • Becoming experts on their research topic: presenting their research to teachers, students, and historians
  • Achieving success
    -The shy student gains confidence when speaking about a topic he/she has researched
    -The apathetic student gains passion by choosing a topic of personal interest
    -The high achieving student increases his/her ability to articulate their learning through presentation
All students are winners in the National History Day Program!

National History Day (NHD) correlations to the Common Core State Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and the Technical Subjects (CCSS for Literacy in All Subjects in Wisconsin)

 


Nominate an Educator for NHD's Teacher Awards

The History Channel sponsors the History Channel Award for Service, presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to history education through service to the National History Day program. The winner receives a $5000.00 cash prize.  Application due by May 1, 2013.

Patricia Behring sponsors the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award, which recognizes outstanding NHD teachers. Two state winners, one at both the junior level and senior level, will be selected from each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense Schools, International Schools-Asia and the U.S. territories. The winners of the national awards will be selected from among the state awardees. Each state winner will be awarded $500.00 and the national winners will receive $10,000.  Application due by May 1, 2013.


Use the nomination forms below:
History Channel Award for Service nomination form
 Patrica Behring Teacher of the Year nomination form


 

Teachers and NHD

See what teachers have to say about their experiences with National History Day.

Top Ten Reasons to participate in National History Day

1. Teaches History

2. Engages Students

3. Energizes the Curriculum

4. Promotes High Academic Standards

5. Encourages Literacy

6. Enhances Assessment

7. Teaches Critical Thinking

8. Inspires Curiosity

9. Recognizes the Student Strengths

10. Activates Civic Engagement