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Information for StudentsWho else does History Day? Some students participate as part of history class. Others do History Day as an independent project or for extra credit. Students in schools and home schools participate. Creating a project for Vermont History Day can help you learn history and new skills! Watch our VHD YouTube video or follow this link to see what some students from New York have to say.
What is the theme this year? The 2010 theme is Innovation in History: Impact & Change. Your project can be about Vermont history, US history or world history - but it must relate to the theme. Innovation is more than just invention - and innovation can be good or bad. Remember to investigate both the impact of the innovation & the changes that happened because of the innovation. Need more info about the theme? Check out the National History Day "Getting Started " web page, the 2010 Theme Sheet , or the 2010 Theme Booklet! Can you give me an example of a topic that fits the theme? You could do a project about Vermonter Elisha Otis and his innovation, the safety elevator. He didn't invent the elevator, but he developed a safety system to prevent elevators from crashing to the ground, even if the ropes holding them up broke! One impact of the new "safety elevator" is that more companies and builders put elevators into their buildings. With elevators, it was possible to get people and goods up and down taller and taller buildings, changing cities like New York and Chicago. Can you imagine living or working in a skyscraper without an elevator?
What are some Vermont topics that fit the theme? Click on this link for a whole list (PDF). What is a primary source and why do I need to use them? Primary sources are the building blocks of history that help us know what happened in the past. I could tell you about Elisha Otis, but how do you know he really deserves the credit for the safety elevator? You could look at the patent document from 1861 for "improvements to a hoisting apparatus" - with his name on it! Historians - and History Day students - use primary sources so we can develop our own interpretations of the past. Follow this link for more information about primary sources and where to find them online.
Where can I go in Vermont to find primary sources? Many museums, libraries and archives have primary sources like diaries, letters, maps and photographs. The Vermont Historical Society library and archives has a great collection of primary sources. Some of these are even available online. Follow this link for a list of other places to look for primary sources in Vermont. What type of project should I do? There are five categories for History Day projects. You should choose the category that best matches with your strengths. If you are artistic, you might want to create an exhibit or a performance . If you are good with computers, you could make a web site or documentary . And if you like to write, you might want to do a research paper . All of the categories require research - and a bibliography. If you need more help deciding, see what National History Day has to say about starting a project and creating an entry. You also need to decide whether you want to create an individual entry or a group entry - with a group of 2 to 5 students. (Papers must be individual projects.)  Are there examples of projects? The National History Day web site has examples of winning entries in each category. Follow this link and then click on a particular category to find the sample entry. You can also borrow examples from the Vermont Historical Society lending library.
Are there rules I need to follow to create my entry? Yes, there are rules about things like how many words can be in your exhibit (500) or how long your documentary can be (10 minutes). Click here for the official rule book. And if you want to make a web site, you must create your entry using the NHD/Weebly portal.
What will judging at the Vermont History Day contest be like? At the state contest, you will talk with two or three judges about your project. They will probably ask you questions like why did you choose your topic and what did you learn from your research. The judges will also provide feedback about your entry - which is really helpful if you qualify for National History Day. Click here for more information about what the judges will be looking for.
Can I win any prizes? The main reason to participate in History Day is to learn! But there are some prizes. The top two entries in each category with an superior rating qualify to attend National History Day in June in College Park, Maryland. (Each category is also split into Junior and Senior divisions, so you are competing against students your own age.) There are also Special Prizes, some of which offer prize money that some students use to pay for their trip to National History Day.
What's the deadline to enter Vermont History Day? March 5th is the registration deadline. But follow this link for all the details. And here for an entry form. The entry fee is $5 for individual entries, $10 for pairs, and $15 for groups of 3 to 5 students.
If you have any more questions, please This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (802) 828-1413.
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