How Do I Get Started?

The National History Day model has no "set in stone" timetable. Some teachers introduce History Day when school starts in the fall (August-September) while others must wait until after Christmas.  Many others start somewhere in between. Do students who start in August have an advantage? Possibly, but they also run the risk of burnout. If you approach History Day in the classroom for the right reason - it’s the best program in the nation to teach research, analytical, interpretive, interviewing, and presentation skills plus solid topical content - then it doesn’t matter whether you start in August or early January.  Be mindful, however of the date of your regional contest. (See the timeline)

What follows is a step-by-step approach to doing History Day in your classroom. If you start in August then you can spread out these steps.  If you begin after Christmas, you will need to compress and accelerate them.

Step 1: Explain to the students the basic format of National History Day
Step 2: Explain the categories to the students
Step 3: Explain the annual theme
Step 4: Explain requirements to students
Step 5: Explain to students how they will be evaluated
Step 6: Have students pick a topic and begin the research process