Overview of National History Day Program. More information and resources can be located at http://ocde.us/History/Pages/History-Day.aspx or http://historydaycalifornia.com/

1. HISTORY DAY
TEACHER TRAINING
Christine Olmstead, Ed.D. Administrator, Office of Academic Content
Julie Hull, History Day Consultant
Orange County Department of Education
714/966-4328
nhdinfo@ocde.us
http://history.ocde.us

2. OUTCOMES
• Understand What History Day Is
• Integrate Theme
• Consider Rules and Quality Features
• Experience Elements of Entry Development
• Plan for Participation
• Know Where to Go for Info

3. AGENDA
• Welcome and Introductions
• What is History Day? …and Why!
• Unpacking the Theme - 2013
• Sample Project Viewing
• Panel of Experts
• Where to go for information

4. WHAT IS HISTORY DAY?
History Day is an exciting, research-supported, history-based
learning experience for students. They learn about
issues, ideas, people, and events in history, and also apply
what they have learned through creative and original
productions. Students stretch far beyond simply memorizing
names and dates and reporting on historical events.
Instead, History Day students develop invaluable research
and analytical skills. They become historians and topic
experts, drawing their own conclusions about the
significance of their topic in history.

5. A RESEARCH-SUPPORTED
INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD
• NHD students outperform their non-NHD peers on state standardized
tests, not only in social studies, but in reading, science and math as
well.
• NHD students are better writers, who write with a purpose and real
voice, and marshal solid evidence to support their point of view.
• NHD students are critical thinkers who can digest, analyze and
synthesize information.
• NHD students learn 21st century skills. They learn how to collaborate
with team members, talk to experts, manage their time and
persevere.
• NHD has a positive impact among students whose interests in
academic subjects may wane in high school.

6. COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS
• Analytical reading
• Multiple sources/perspectives
• Literature and Informational Text
• In-context vocabulary development
• Source quality –
• Bias
• Reasoning/logic
• Evidence
• Argument
• Argumentative Writing
• Use and evaluation of media

7. HOW DOES IT WORK?
1. Students select a topic that connects to the annual theme.
2. After researching and narrowing the topic, students develop a
thesis statement.
3. Students select an entry category that reflects their
research, talents and interests.
4. Students create a project, which includes the thesis
statement, lots of evidence to support a logical argument, and
a conclusion indicating historical significance.
5. The “heart” of the project is the Annotated Bibliography.

8. REWARDS OF PARTICIPATION –
WHY HISTORY DAY?
• Skills and new knowledge
• Research
• Writing
• Critical Thinking
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Creativity
• Sense of accomplishment and new friendships

9. REWARDS OF PARTICIPATION
County/Regional Level:
Certificate of Participation
NHD-OC Commemorative Button
Champions & Runners – Up receive medals
Qualify for NHD-CA
State Level:
Certificate of Participation
NHD-OC Commemorative Button
Champions & Runners – Up receive medals
Qualify for National History Day
Special Awards

10. LEVELS OF COMPETITION
• Local, School, and District Competitions
• County Competitions
• National History Day-California State
Finals, Sacramento, CA
• National History Day,
University of Maryland

11. DIVISIONS OF COMPETITION
• Elementary Division - grades 4 & 5 (posters
only)
• Junior Division - grades 6 - 8
• Senior Division - grades 9 - 12

12. DIVISIONS & CATEGORIES AT A GLANCE
Divisions Elementary Junior Senior
Categories
2-D Display INDIV, GRP
EXHIBIT INDIV, GRP INDIV, GRP
DOCUMENTARY INDIV, GRP INDIV, GRP
WEBSITE INDIV, GRP INDIV, GRP
PERFORMANCE INDIV, GRP INDIV, GRP
HISTORICAL PAPER INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUAL

13. CATEGORIES: GRADES 4 & 5
• 4/5th Grade 2-D Display – individual
or group
• 4th and 5th grade students do not
advance to National History Day.

14. CATEGORIES: GRADES 6 - 12
• Historical Paper (Individual Only)
• Exhibit (Individual or Group)
• Performance (Individual or Group)
• Documentary (Individual or Group)
• Historical Website (Individual or Group)

15. TIMELINE: IMMEDIATE
• Now: Attend orientation/training
• Now: Find a buddy/mentor you may be able to support
• Now: Determine your plan for student involvement
• Now: Consider costs and possible fundraisers

16. TIMELINE: IMMEDIATE
• Work with students on possible topics and research
• Recruit judges and volunteers
• Create your own timeline and due dates

17. TIMELINE: THROUGH DECEMBER
• TEACHER & STUDENT PRIMARY SOURCES TRAINING:
UCI LIBRARY – November 14 & 29, 2012
• NHD AT THE NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY:
Student workshops and meetings with archivists – November 17, 2012
• TEACHER INTENT TO PARTICIPATE FORM -
Due by December 1, 2012
Intent to Participate form is available online at
http://www.ocde.us/History/Pages/Returning-Teachers-and-Students.aspx
• Continue to work with students as they conduct research,
modify topics, prepare preliminary papers, etc.

18. TIMELINE: JANUARY THROUGH MARCH
• Determine History Day 2012 participants
• REGISTER JUDGES AND VOLUNTEERS BY JANUARY 27, 2012
• Forms distributed in hard copy and available on-line to registered teachers at
ocde.us/history
• Forms are returned to OCDE by teachers on behalf of judges and volunteers
• REGISTER STUDENTS BY FEBRUARY 6, 2012
(includes completed online registration, electronic signatures, and payment)

19. TIMELINE: JANUARY THROUGH MARCH
• Continue to advise students and communicate with parents &
students regarding event expectations
• Websites locked, Papers & Documentaries Due February 20, 2012
• Judges’ Training: February 26, 2013 - all entry categories: historical
paper, website, poster, exhibit, documentary, and performance
• Psych up for History Day March 9th, 2013!
• Cheer on your students at the NHD-OC Awards Ceremony March
12th, 2013!
• Assist champs with NHD-California registration…

20. TIMELINE: APRIL THROUGH JUNE
• County champs polish and submit entries for NHD-CA
• Plan for activities to make NHD-CA a meaningful experience
• April 26 – 28, 2013: NHD-CA, Woodlake Hotel, Sacramento
• State champs polish and submit entries for NHD
• Assist champs with National History Day registration
• NHD, University of Maryland, June 10-13, 2013
• Rest!
• Check for next year’s theme.

21. THEME - 2013
NHD-CA Theme Sheet is available online:
http://www.ocde.us/History/Documents/Theme_Description2013.pdf

22. THEME
• Materials
• Theme Sheet
• Process: Say Something
• Read 1st paragraph silently and simultaneously with partner, highlighting
key points.
• When both are finished reading, Partner A “says something” – shares a
key point, question, statement from the paragraph with Partner B. B
responds or shares own key point.
• Repeat until the entire document has been read, alternating the partner
who shares first.

23. TURNING POINTS IN HISTORY:
PEOPLE, PLACES, AND EVENTS
• A turning point is “a point at which a significant change
occurs.” (Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, 2012)
• A turning point is any “idea, event or action that
directly, and sometimes indirectly, caused change” (NHD
Theme Sheet).
• When many people think of turning points, they think of
headline events.
• Research and analysis may lead to the conclusion that
something that precedes or follows the well-known or
“headline” event may be the actual turning point.

24. HOW DO TURNING POINTS
LEAD TO CHANGE?
Turning points lead to different types of change: cultural, social,
political, and/or economic. Some questions to consider include:
• Do people act or view the world differently in response to the turning
point? (cultural/social change)
• Is the change reflected in new legislation, a shift in leadership, and/or
changes to political parties? (political change)
• Did the turning point lead to differences in how and/or what people
buy, how goods are produced and/or distributed? (economic change)
• Does the change have historical significance?

25. SCORING

26. FOCAL POINTS
• Rubric Elements
• Historical Quality (60%)
• Adherence to Theme (20%)
• Quality of Presentation/Project (20%)
• Rules Compliance
• Disqualifiers
• Plagiarism
• Last Year’s Project
• FACTS OVER FLUFF!

27. SAMPLE PROJECT VIEWING
Junior Division Group Performance
Revolutionizing Revolution: What Gandhi Taught
US About Political Defiance

28. SAMPLE PROJECT VIEWING
Junior Division Group Website
Title IX: Empowerment Through Education

29. SAMPLE PROJECT VIEWING
Senior Individual Documentary
The Legacy of the White Rose

30. HISTORY DAY COMPETITIONS
NHD-OC 2013:
March 9, 2013, located at and sponsored by the
Orange County Department of Education
NHD-California 2013:
April 26 – April 28, 2013, Sacramento, CA
sponsored by the
Orange County Department of Education
National History Day 2013:
June 10 - 13, 2013, University of Maryland
multiple educational and business sponsors

31. ON-LINE SERVICES AND RESOURCES
Available for you!
History-Social Science website with
direct links to History Day resources,
information, calendars, and
downloadable forms!
www.ocde.us/history www.nhd.org
www.historydaycalifornia.org

32. What’s Next...
UCI – Finding and Using the Best Primary Sources
For Teachers, Students, and Parents
November 14, 2012 & November 29, 2012
From 4:00 – 5:30 pm.
UC Irvine Library, Room 228 (Tech Ed Classroom)
Web Site – Weebly Overview for Teachers, Students, and Parents
TBA
WEBINAR from 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Orange County Department of Education
Nixon Library – Primary Sources and Archives Use
November 17, 2012
9AM - Noon

33. TRICKS OF THE TRADE
• Annotated Bibliography – highlight focal points
• Traveling/Packing
• Documentaries (DVD/Flash drive), Web Sites, Historical Papers (#)
• Weight and Size of Exhibits
• Simplicity of Props and Costumes for Performances
• “First Aid” Kit
• Flash drive
• Paper
• Glue Stick, Guerilla Glue, Duct Tape, Rubber Cement, Glue Gun, etc.
• Extension Cords

34. QUESTIONS
Christine Olmstead, Ed.D. Administrator, Office of Academic Content
Julie Hull, History Day Consultant
Orange County Department of Education
714/966-4328
nhdinfo@ocde.us
http://history.ocde.us