PARTNERS FOR SUCCESS: YOU AND NATIONAL HISTORY DAY A Presentation by Conner Museum & Texas A&M-Kingsville, sponsors of the Coastal Bend Regional History Fair in conjunction with Texas State Historical Association and the National History Day Program

Step 1: Know the Theme Choose a topic at least 25 years old so that the impact of the actions can be included in the presentation.

Step 2: What’s A Possible Topic? Review National Sample List of Topics Review Texas Sample List of Topics Generate List from Classroom Discussions View Sample Lists at or by contacting the Conner Museum-TAMUK

Step 3: Where can I get Research Material? *College Libraries* *School Libraries* *Public Libraries* *People who experienced the event, took part in creating the change or were effected by the event.* *People in your Community* *Professors & other Professionals knowledgeable about your topic* *Internet* *Museums & Archival Record Centers*

Types of Material for Research Assistance: - Books -Encyclopedias - Archives -Newspapers & Magazines -Online Databases (newspapers,magazines, images, etc.) -News Casts, PBS, etc. -Internet -Oral Interviews - Exchanges

Questions Your Research & Product Needs to Include: “To understand the historical importance of their topics, students must ask questions of time and place, cause and effect, change over time, and impact and significance. They must not only when did events happened, but why they happen? What factors contributed to their development? What was the lasting influence in history? How did this topic change the course of events? What effect did the event have on the community, society, nation and world?”NHD 2008 Theme Sheet “While working with a theme, students must move beyond the biographies and descriptions of specific people or events and demonstrate how that person’s actions had an impact on history……capture the specific moment ….which change occurred and the role played by the individual…..the key to good historical study is an examination of cause & effect and change over time.”NHD 2009 Theme Sheet

Step 4: After organizing your research materials and developing conclusions, choose a product for presentation. For Groups:For Individuals:Exhibit BoardsDocumentaryPerformanceWebsite Research Paper

Step 5: FYIs For Creating Your Presentation: Review rules & guidelines for category ( Tell the entire story: the before, the during & the after

For additional information contact Conner Museum-TAMUK