The Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) is calling all Philadelphia teachers and administrators to engage their students in history through National History Day Philly. For students in grades 6-12, this program provides an opportunity to explore a topic of their choice based on the theme “Turning Points in History.” Through exhibits, websites, documentaries, performances, and papers, students can showcase their projects to their peers and judges at a local competition in March. Teachers, librarians, and after-school club directors are all encouraged to participate.
Students who participate in National History Day develop valuable research, communication, and critical thinking skills via primary source research. They hone an argument and support it with evidence, and they describe the impact of their topic on the world today. One Philadelphia teacher describes it as “simply the best project [she] has come across in twenty plus years of teaching.”
Alongside a dozen Philadelphia archives, museums, and cultural organizations, HSP provides research and project support over the course of the winter through virtual visits to classrooms and arranging research visits to libraries. Official registration for the competition begins in February, but educators can learn more and get their students’ projects started with the following steps:
1) Learn more with this short video and explore the theme Turning Points in History.
2) Submit an interest form so NHD Philly can discuss students’ needs and topics with educators.
3) Mark Wednesday, March 6 (grades 6-8) and Thursday, March 7 (grades 9-12) for the National History Day Philly competition at the National Constitution Center.
Participation in National History Day Philly is free, with supplies and transportation provided.
Contact Katie Clark at kclark@hsp.org or at nhdphilly@gmail.com. Visit https://hsp.org/nhd
National History Day Philly is made possible with support from the Connelly Foundation and National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Read more about our visit to HSP:
