National History Day Guides

Books & Resources available through our Lending Library. Learn how to borrow here.

Making History: A Guide to Historical Research Through the National History Day Program, by Jodi Vandenberg-Daves, ed.
(College Park, MD; National History Day, 2006). This teacher resource book offers a methodical approach to facilitating in-depth historical research in your classroom that results in quality entries for the National History Day program. This book offers solutions to some of the common obstacles that teachers may face as they guide their students through the historical research process such as finding resources, recording information, and analyzing multiple documents.
Reading level: middle school - adult
Number of copies: 2

Making History: How to Create a Historical Documentary, by Amma Ghartey-Tagoe
(College Park, MD; National History Day, 2006) This teacher resource, which includes both a book and a DVD, offers over 12 activities that will guide students in their creation of a historical documentary for the National History Day (NHD) contest. There are eight activities that address pre-production. These activities outline some of the key steps to support a smooth production process such as creating a budget, setting up interviews, and writing a script.
Reading level: middle school - adult
Number of copies: 2

Making History: How to Create a Historical Exhibit, by Bruce Bustard
(College Park, MD; National History Day, 2006) This focused teacher resource written by an experienced archivist and curator outlines the multiple steps necessary for student’s to create an informative and visually compelling exhibit for the National History Day contest. Some of the important steps that this guide breaks down in more detail include “Selecting items to Put on Exhibit,” “Writing your Exhibition Script,” and “Designing and Constructing your Exhibit.”
Reading level: middle school - adult
Number of copies: 2

Making History: How to Create a Historical Paper, by Maureen Costello
(College Park, MD; National History Day, 2006) Written by the Director of the Newsweek Education Program, this teacher resource elaborates on some of the critical steps that need to go into producing a strong historical paper.· Some of the critical steps that are discussed in more depth in this National History Day guide include finding and analyzing primary sources, note taking, and structuring your writing to support your thesis.
Reading level: middle school - adult
Number of copies: 2

Making History: How to Create a Historical Performance, by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
(College Park, MD: National History Day, 2007) This teacher resource book guides students through the steps of creating a historical performance including research, writing a script, developing characters, blocking the performance and practicing. The corresponding DVD has pointers on creating a performance and includes 4 examples from past National History Day contests.
Reading level: middle school - adult
Number of copies: 2

Making History: How to Create a Historical Web Site, by the Center for History & New Media at GMU
(College Park, MD: National History Day, 2008) This teacher resource book provides guidance for the development of a strong web site project for the National History Day contest. Covering both layout and content, this book is a great place to start for students (and teachers) who are new to web site design. Includes a glossary of terms and numerous illustrations.
Reading level: middle school - adult
Number of copies: 2

Vermont History Day (2008), produced by the Vermont Historical Society
Filmed at Vermont History Day 2007, this video provides students and educators with an introduction to the Vermont History Day program. Clips from judging and the awards ceremony and brief interviews with students, judges and parents explain how the contest works.
Format: DVD
Running time: 9 minutes
Number of copies: 5

Generation H: National History Day (1999)
This video follows four projects from start to finish, showing students as they research and prepare their projects and as they compete at the state and national level. One of the highlighted groups is from Black River High school in Ludlow, Vermont. The video does not include the web site category (a more recent addition) but otherwise provides a good overview of the History Day process from the perspective of the students.
Format: DVD
Running time: 50 minutes
Number of copies: 1

It’s About Time! To Get Started on Your History Day Adventure 2 (2008), produced by the Minnesota Historical Society
This updated version of the video explains the most important information that students need to know for working on History Day entries. Mr. History takes students through the process of selecting topics, starting research, and presenting information on each History Day entry category.
Format: DVD
Running time: 35 minutes
Number of copies: 1

Exhibits Made Easy: National History Day Projects on a Budget (2005), produced by National History Day in Minnesota
This entertaining and informative DVD offers a brief overview of exhibit design and a detailed look at different options for constructing a panel exhibit. An interview with two students about their National History Day projects provides additional insights about creating a background for displaying an exhibit.
Format: DVD
Running time: 30 minutes
Number of copies: 1

The Ripper Reformation: Communicating Fear, Social Understanding and Political Reform (2005), distributed by National History Day in Minnesota
This Senior Individual Documentary won first place in the National History Day contest. The presentation connects to the theme: Communication in History: The Key to Understanding and clearly shows how the murders by Jack the Ripper led to reform in British politics and improvements in the condition of the English working class. The DVD also includes an interview with the student about the process of making the documentary.
Format: DVD
Running time: 15 minutes
Number of copies: 1