Teaching World War I in the 21st Century 1 | Page 7

WHAT IS NHD?
National History Day (NHD) is an opportunity for teachers and students to engage in real historical research. NHD
is not a predetermined by-the-book program but an innovative curriculum framework in which students learn

history by selecting topics of interest and launching into a year-long research project. The purpose of NHD is to

improve the teaching and learning of history in middle and high schools. NHD is a meaningful way for students to

study historical issues, ideas, people and events by engaging in historical research. When studying history through

historical research, students and teachers practice critical inquiry: asking questions of significance, time and place.
Through careful questioning, history students become immersed in a detective story too engaging to stop reading.
Beginning in the fall, students choose a topic related to the annual theme and conduct extensive primary and

secondary research. After analyzing and interpreting their sources and drawing conclusions about their topics’

significance in history, students then present their work in original papers, exhibits, performances, websites and

documentaries. These projects are entered into competitions in the spring at local, state, and national levels, where

they are evaluated by professional historians and educators. The program culminates with the national competition
held each June at the University of Maryland at College Park.

Each year National History Day uses a theme to provide a lens through which students can examine history. The

theme for 2015 is Leadership and Legacy in History. The annual theme frames the research for both students and

teachers. The theme is intentionally broad enough that students can select topics from any place (local, national or

world) and any time period in history. Once students choose their topics, they investigate historical context, historical
significance, and the topic’s relationship to the theme by conducting research in libraries, archives and museums,
through oral history interviews, and by visiting historic sites.

NHD benefits both teachers and students. For the student, NHD allows control of his or her own learning. Students
select topics that meet their inte ɕ