In this lesson plan, students will learn about the National History Day project and the expectations for success. Students will understand the narrative (or theme) of a piece of history and why this story element is important to creating a successful History Day project. Students will consider how historical fiction texts and narrative nonfiction texts tell the story of history. They will explore what historians need to do to tell the story of a historical event or person.
In this lesson plan, students will activate prior knowledge and explore primary and secondary sources to select a topic that they would like to research for Youth History Day. They will learn how to find topics that are not too broad and be able to narrow down their interests to a "just right" topic for their projects.
During this activity, students will puzzle out for themselves what makes a great thesis statement. Students will break down the different components of a thesis, and then, by experimenting with and combining these components, learn how to make a strong one. A strong thesis statement that makes a claim and states the topics’ historical significance is the bedrock of any good Youth History Day Project. Learning this skill will help students not only in history but in other subjects as well
Thesis Lesson Slides
Puzzle Set 1
Puzzle Set 2
Thesis Statement Checklist
The goal of this activity is to give students a greater understanding of primary and secondary sources, and how each are used in historical research. Participating in the activity will also demonstrate to students why it is important to use a wide variety of sources during research. This will prepare students to find, analyze, and use primary and secondary sources in their Youth History Day projects.
In this lesson plan, students will experience first-hand why they can’t believe everything they find on the internet. They will also learn questions to ask themselves when deciding whether a website contains trustworthy information or not. Practicing these skills will assist students in finding reliable sources when doing historical research, whether it is for a class assignment or an Ohio Youth History Day project. This will also help develop their information literacy skills and make them better-informed citizens in everyday life.
Check out the resources to get you started!
*New Bibliography Rules for the 2025 Contest*
The best way to get started is to select a topic that fits with this year's theme and begin researching. Here are some tools to help you select a narrow topic, organize your research, and build a thesis statement. Each activity has a PDF and Google Doc version available.
An exhibit board is like a big poster where you get to use picture and words to tell a story or explain your historical topic. Check out the exhibit planner to help you create a plan for your exhibit. Use the sample evaluation sheet to make sure your project has all the correct pieces.
A performance is like putting on a mini-play where you write a script and act out something in history. You can be the characters and tell the story in your own words using costumes and even props . Check out the exhibit planner to help you create a plan for your performance. Use the sample evaluation sheet to make sure your project has all the correct pieces.
When your project is judged the judges are evaluating your project using two different levels of criteria.
Historical Quality (80%)
The Historical Quality of your project is worth 80% when it comes to the judges' final decision. Historical quality focuses on the accuracy of facts, analysis and interpretation of the material, an understanding of historical context, a wide array of research represented in the annotated bibliography, a balanced presentation of your materials (unbiased) and the use of available primary sources. This section also includes your topic's connection to the annual theme.
Clarity of your Presentation (20%)
This criterion is worth 20% in your final evaluation. Clarity of presentation focus on whether the entry is presented in an effective, original and creative manner. The judges will also consider an entry in compliance with the rules in the final consideration. Failure to follow the rules will count against an entry in the final decisions by the judges.
At every level of competition, ALL JUDGES DECISIONS ARE FINAL!
No, you do not need to prepare an official presentation for the judges. They will read your paperwork, view your project, and then interview you about your project.
Interview questions can vary depending on the judges. Most likely you will be asked content questions about your topic and then questions about your research and how you put together your projects. Here are some sample questions you might be asked: