More than 400 middle and high school students will demonstrate "Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History," the theme for the History Day competition April 30 at the N.C. Museum of History. They will come from public, private and homeschools across the state with performances, websites, exhibits, documentaries and research papers on the theme.
Among topics of the 226 entered projects are Billy Graham, Blackbeard, Neuroscience, A Family Farm, Martha Graham and Black Death for individual or group presentations. A panel of historians and educators will provide the students feedback and rank the projects. The public is invited to view the projects at the N.C. Museum of History and the State Archives/State Library Building.
The top two projects in each category will represent North Carolina in the national competition in College Park, Md. in June. Judging will be between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The National History Day (NHD) Contest increases historical understanding by encouraging students to do the hands-on work of historians. Participating students selected a topic for research and analysis on this year's theme using historic documents, artifacts, travel to historic sites and other primary sources.
National History Day in North Carolina is a yearlong academic program for public, private and home school students in grades six through 12, and is affiliated with the national NHD program.
Sponsors of National History Day in North Carolina are the Office of Archives and History, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and the Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies with substantial assistance from the North Caroliniana Society.