NHD Teacher
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Teachers
Welcome
NHD Educators
Guide your students as they investigate the past and develop the skills of historians! Here, you’ll find classroom-ready tools to support your National History Day program.
Download Teacher GuidebookGetting Started
Looking to bring NHD to your classroom? It's versatile! Whether an afterschool club or an in-class curriculum, start with a size and scope you can manage. Begin by browsing the National History Day website to learn about the program, and review teacher resources provided below. As an educator, design an NHD program that works best for you. Here are some guiding questions as you plan:
- Will students be able to pick any topic they want? Or will there be a time and geographic topic limit?
- How will you monitor their progress?
- Will students get in-class work time, work outside of class, or a mix of both?
- Will students be able to work in groups?
- Will students be able to showcase their projects at the end?
- Is competition an option?
My favorite part of NHD is teaching students the lifelong skill of researching
Key Resources
NHD Learning Guide
Find ready to use in the classroom resources that cover the different areas of an NHD project.
Contest Guide
Prepare students to submit their projects to a regional contest.
WI Topic Guide
Assist students in their topic selection with this guide to Wisconsin topics in a variety of historical subject areas.
Theme Resources
The Nationals office selects a theme each year to encourage students to study history from different perspectives. Learn more about the current NHD theme.
NHD Timeframe
Whether you have 4, 6, or 12 weeks, this project can work for your students!
The stages for an NHD project are:
- Topic Selection
- Research
- Thesis and Analysis
- Project Creation
Optional Competition Cycle Dates
- Regional Contests: Late February-Late March
- State Contest: Mid April
- National Contest: Mid June
- School Contest: Anytime! Show off your student work to your community.
Topic Selection and Project Types
Projects can focus on local, national, or international topics. Make sure they relate to the theme!
Students can display their research in the following formats:
- Documentary: 10 minutes
- Exhibit: 500 words maximum
- Paper: Between 1500-2500 words
- Performance: 10 minutes
- Website: 1200 words maximum
Encourage students to get creative and pick a format that will help them stay interested and motivated throughout their research.
Please note: Websites, documentaries and paper projects are submitted earlier than other projects, as proper judging of these categories requires advanced viewing.
Archival Field Trips
Come visit the Wisconsin Historical Society to explore primary sources, access databases, and learn how to research topics for your NHD project!
Contact Us TodaySchool Level Contest Resources
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Sample Recruitment Letter to Judges for School-Level NHD Events
Find a sample letter to recruit judges for your History Day event.
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Sample Confirmation Letter to Judges for School-Level NHD Events
Find a confirmation letter template with essential volunteer information judges need to know about participating in your History Day competition.
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Common Core Standards and National History Day
See National History Day correlations to the common core state standards for literacy in history, social studies, science, and the technical subjects.
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Press Release Template for School-Level NHD Events
Adapt and use this sample news release to tell your local newspapers and television stations about your students' participation. If you can, include a photo of your students at the event or with their projects.
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Judge Orientation Script for NHD Competitions
Holding a judge training session helps your event run smoothly, gives your judges a chance to ask questions, and ensures a positive experience for your students. Feel free to adapt this sample script to fit the needs of your event.
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Printable Results and Rank Form for School-Level NHD Events
Judges at a school-level NHD event will need to record and submit their final ranks for projects. This printable rank form can be used for any category at your school event.
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Sample Schedules for School-Level NHD Events
History Day schedules for school events. Adapt these to fit the needs of your event.
Contact Us
We're Here to Help
The Wisconsin National History Day office is available to answer any questions you have!
Email UsRegional Coordinators
More National History Day
National History Day is more than a day: It’s a process, a creative outlet, and a confidence-building experience. It's an opportunity to think beyond the textbook in your classroom and develop a memorable project. Students who participate can research any kind of history and present their conclusions and evidence through papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries, or websites.
Learn More about NHD
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