National History Day is a program that allows students to explore local, state, national, or world history through a research project that relates to an annual theme.  The theme for 2010 is Innovation in History: Impact and Change.  During the course of the research project, students investigate both primary and secondary sources.  Students get up close and personal with history by exploring the words or thoughts of those who lived them as well as the interpretations of later scholars.

How Does History Day Work?

Students select and research a topic, which relates to the Annual Theme.  After analyzing and interpreting their findings, students present them in one of five ways: documentary, exhibit, performance, paper, or web site.  Students may enter as individuals or in groups of two to five students.  The paper category is for individual students only.

Students participate in either the Junior Division (grades 6-8) or in the Senior Division (grades 9-12).

Students present their entries at a regional competition.  If the project is selected as a winner there, students are eligible to participate in the Louisiana History Day competition, held in New Orleans at The National WWII Museum.  Winners there advance to the National History Day competition, held at the University of Maryland in College Park. 

History Day Site Contents:

• State Competition
  
  
• 2010 Theme and Contest Rule Book
  
  
• Creating an Entry, Selecting a Topic, and Judging Criteria
  
  
• General Research Resources
  
  
• Louisiana Research Resources
  
  
• Teacher Resources
  
  
• I'm doing a WWII-themed project: how can The National WWII Museum help?
  
  
• Contact Us and FAQs