1. TEACHES. Prepares. Inspires.

2. Introduction: What is National History Day?

3. National History Day is INNOVATIVE Year-long academic program for 6th to 12th grade students Centered around historical research, interpretation, and creative expression Teachers guide students through a step-by-step process of historical research and creative expression

4. National History Day is CREATIVE Students choose to create projects in one of five categories:  Academic paper  Exhibit  Documentary  Play/theater  Website design Students RESEARCH and INTERPRET history.

5. National History Day is CREATIVE Students submit their projects to local- and state- level History Day contests in the Spring Culminates in an exciting National History Day annual competition in the nation’s capital in June

6. National History Day is FLEXIBLE National History Day works for teachers – integrates into (and enhances) standards-based curriculum Teachers work with a year-long program plan that provides:  Sample topics and projects  How-to information for the classroom  Lesson plans

7. National History Day WORKS. Evaluation Study Findings

8. An Evaluation Study of the National History Day Program An evaluation study conducted by research firm, Rockman et al, provides evidence that NHD works Researchers compared NHD participants to students who did not participate in NHD Looked at:  Performance assessments  Standardized test scores  Academic performance  Interest in current events

9. On nearly every measure, NHD students’ scores or ratings were higher than their peers who did not participate in the program. An Evaluation Study of the National History Day Program

10. TEACHES critical thinking, writing, and research skills and boosts performance across all subjects. PREPARES students for college, career and citizenship. INSPIRES students to do more than they ever thought they could. National History Day…

11. NHD students outperform their non-NHD peers on standardized tests in all topic areas In Texas, NHD students outperformed their non-NHD peers on TAKS tests

12. NHD students outperform their non-NHD peers on standardized tests in all topic areas NHD students in South Carolina outperformed their non-NHD peers on English assessments

13. NHD students are better writers NHD students had more exemplary writing scores, and fewer low scores* *Post-writing scores only shown in this graphic

14. NHD Inspires students to do more than they ever thought they could NHD has a positive impact among students whose interests in academic subjects may wane in high school Among Black and Hispanic students, NHD students outperform non-NHD students, posting higher performance assessment scores and levels of interest and skills. Compared to non-NHD boys and to all girls, boys participating in NHD reported significantly higher levels of interest in history, civic engagement, and confidence in research skills, on both pre- and post-surveys.

15. NHD students learn 21st Century college- and career-ready skills When asked about their confidence in a variety of career- and college-ready skills, NHD students have an edge over their peers* *Reported on a 6-point scale

16. NHD students are critical thinkers Performance assessments show that NHD students overall were significantly better than their peers at interpreting historical information

17. Endorsements of National History Day

18. National History Day is Endorsed By Educators & Historians 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

19. National History Day is Endorsed By Teachers I have discovered that National History Day has a life of its own. Research projects encourage young scholars to go outside the walls of their classroom and beyond the covers of their textbooks and discover their community. - Mr. Huy Nguyen, Sunrise Park Middle School, White Bear Lake, MN

20. National History Day is Endorsed By Teachers I was drawn to National History Day because it is a program based on active learning. Students engage, question and create. Students DO what historians do when researching. How can we ask for more? - James M. DeBroux, Random Lake High School, Random Lake, WI

21. Getting Started With National History Day

22. Learn More & Get Started Visit www.nhd.org and click on “Classroom Connection” to get curriculum materials and learn more.www.nhd.org Become a fan on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/nationalhistoryday www.Facebook.com/nationalhistoryday Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/nationalhistorywww.Twitter.com/nationalhistory Check out videos from last year’s national contest on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/nationalhistory www.YouTube.com/nationalhistory