National History Day 2021

National History Day (NHD) is a nonprofit organization that creates opportunities in which middle and high school students learn history by selecting topics of interest and launching into year-long research projects. When studying history through in-depth research, students learn critical inquiry by practicing it, asking questions of significance, time, and place. They become immersed in a detective story, a story that they will, ultimately, be the author of.

Beginning this fall, students choose a topic related to the annual theme (in 2021, "Communications in History") about which they conduct extensive primary and secondary research. After analyzing and interpreting their sources and drawing conclusions about their topics’ significance in history, students present their work in original papers, exhibits, performances, websites, or documentaries. These projects are entered into competitions in the spring at local, regional, and national levels, where they are evaluated by professional historians and educators. The program culminates at the national competition held each June.

Since we began the East Side Freedom Library, we have assembled a team of retired teachers, college professors, and college student interns to provide mentorship to these middle and high school students. We have worked with hundreds of students, all of whom have grown their learning experiences, and some of whom have won state and national recognition for their work.