History Day in California

1
History Day in California

• Its Not Just a Day, Its an Experience.

An Educational Program Sponsored by
Constitutional Rights Foundation in
conjunction with National History Day
2
History of History Day

• 1974 Case Western Reserve University in
  Cleveland, Ohio
• April 11, 1974 1st History Day with 129
  students
• 1980 1st National competition in Washington,
  D.C. area
• 1983 1st California History Day

3
What is History Day?

• It is a nationally recognized yearlong
  educational program that gives students the
  opportunity to learn historical content while
  developing research, critical thinking and
  communication skills through the study of
  history.

4
Annual Theme

• Each year a broad theme is selected to encompass
  topics that includes local, state, U.S., and
  world history
• The purpose of the theme is to give a central
  focus to the work of all participants
• Theme for 2009-2010 is
• Innovation in History

5
Who can participate?

• History is open to all students in grades 4-12.
• Public, private, parochial, and home schooled
• Academically gifted, average, and special needs

6
Why should students participate?

• By participating in History Day, students will
• Demonstrate an understanding of history
• Develop and use critical thinking skills involved
  in comprehension and decision-making
• Develop strong research skills, including using
  library and archives effectively
• Improve their vocabulary, along with their
  reading and writing proficiency
• Bolster personal skills like organization and
  time management
• Develop stronger interpersonal communication
  skills

7
History Day

• Students not only learn about issues, ideas,
  people, and events in history, but they apply
  what they have learned through creative and
  original productions.
• Other skills
• Editing videos, designing websites, creating
  props and costumes, or constructing exhibit
  displays

8
Categories

• There are six categories of competition
• Historical Paper (individual only)
• Exhibit (individual or group)
• Performance (individual or group)
• Documentary (individual or group)
• Historical Web Site (individual or group)
• 4/5th Grade Poster (individual or group)
• California-only Category

9
Written Requirement

• Process paper a description of no more than 500
  words that explains
• How/why the topic was chosen?
• How the research was conducted?
• How the project was created and developed?
• How the topic relates to the annual theme?
• Annotated bibliography separated into primary and
  secondary sources. The annotations for each
  source must explain how the source was used and
  its significance.

10
Divisions

• There are three divisions of competition
• Junior division grades 6 through 8
• Senior division grades 9 through 12
• 4/5th grade (posters only)

11
Competition Levels

• County competitions
• February or March
• Fresno County March 20th at Fresno Pacific
  University
• State competition
• National competition

12
History Day in California

• Levels of participation

44,000 students
1,000 students
7,000 students
13
Rewards for Participation

• The most important rewards are the skills and
  knowledge that students will acquire as they move
  through the History Day program research,
  critical thinking, writing, and communication
  skills
• At the state level
• Acknowledgement certificate
• Special awards
• Medals and cash awards for winners
• Qualification for the national competition

14
2009 History Day

• Tips and Strategies

15
Evaluation Criteria

• Historical Quality 60
• Adherence to theme 20
• Clarity of presentation 20

16
Historical Quality 60

• The most important aspect!
• Entry must
• Show historical accuracy
• Show analysis interpretation
• Place the topic in proper historical context
• Provide evidence of wide research
• Provide evidence of balanced research
• Show all the sources used

17
Adherence to theme 20

• Entry must
• Clearly link the topic to the theme
• The Individual in History Actions and Legacies
• Demonstrate the topics significance in history

18
Clarity of Presentation 20

• Entry/Presentation should have
• Clarity
• Organization
• Creativity
• Appropriateness of historical materials, props,
  etc.
• Presentation/performance quality

19
Selecting a Topic

• The key to an effective History Day entry is the
  combination of a good topic with good sources.
• Does it fit this years theme?
• Does the topic interest you?
• Can you find sources to document this topic?
• Why is this topic important in history?

20
Where to find research?

• School library
• Local library
• National Archives
• State archives
• Institutional Archives
• State and local historical societies
• Museums
• University and college libraries
• Internet sources consider the Internet site

21
Starting research

• Start with secondary sources to understand the
  topic in context of history
• Create focus questions
• Start reading and researching to answer focus
  questions
• Revise focus questions and thesis statement as
  you research

22
Research Process

• General Topic
• The Civil Rights Movement in the United States
• Narrower Topic
• The Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-56
• In-Depth Research
• Primary sources include newspaper articles,
  sermons, songs, letters, photographs and cartoons
  from the time period and oral histories by those
  witnessing the events.

23
Research Process

• Questions to Refine Analyze Topic
• Who were the leaders of the Montgomery bus
  boycott?
• Why and how was this strategy chosen?
• What social or cultural traditions were behind
  this choice?
• In what ways was this event unique?
• What is the historical context needed to
  understand this event and the larger movement and
  people involved in it?

24
Thesis Statement

• The black church was a primary institution in
  the organization and support of the Montgomery
  Bus Boycott during the Civil Rights Movement.
• A thesis statement is a central thought that
  holds your entire History Day project together.
• Thesis Topic Theme Impact

25
Choosing a Title

• The topic and issue selected should also be
  reflected in the title of an entry. Titles do two
  things for an audience
• they explain immediately what the topic is, and
• they can give a clue about the student's point of
  view on this topic. For example,
• Your Gain is Our Loss The 1788 Fort Schuyler
  Treaty with the Onondaga Nation

26
Historical Paper

• A successful historical paper should
• be a clear, well-conceived essay that describes,
  analyzes, and interprets your topic in history
• a conclusion that reinforces and clarifies the
  thesis statement
• demonstrates how your ideas work together, gives
  the essay a sense of completeness
• leaves a final impression on the reader
• be easy to understand and to follow

27
Exhibit

• A successful exhibit
• should have an attractive title/statement
• must be able to explain itself
• avoid clutter
• must have clarity, organization and balance.

28
Exhibit

• Design ideas
• the title is the main focus of the center panel
• the center panel presents thesis statement with
  evidence
• the side panels are best used either to compare
  issues about the topic or to explain related
  detail
• Artifacts or other materials may also be placed
  on the table between the side panels

29
Performance

• Entries in this category must have dramatic
  appeal
• An elaborate set/costume is not necessary
• Make sure script contains references to the
  historical evidence found in research
• Practice, practice, practice.

30
Documentary

• Pleasing to the eye
• Include music where appropriate
• Make sure the narrative fits with the image on
  the screen

31
Web Site

• A successful web site
• should have an attractive main page
• Stands alone
• must have clarity, organization and balance.

32
Poster

• A successful poster
• should have an attractive title/statement
• must be able to explain itself
• avoid clutter
• must have clarity, organization and balance.

33
Contact Information
History Day in California Constitutional Rights
Foundation www.crf-usa.org Lourdes
Morales Program Director (213) 316-
2125 lourdes_at_crf-usa.org