National History Day 2012 Competition

From the National Coalition for History blog Dec. 2, 2011 -

The National Archives recently announced the launch of a special web site highlighting activities and documents related to the 2012 National History Day theme – Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History. Inspiration for National History Day projects can be found in sample documents, suggested topics at www.DocsTeach.org/home/national-history-day.

These online records include photographs, maps, textual records, posters, patent drawings, and video and sound recordings that reflect the 2012 theme and can be incorporated into any of the five National History Day categories.

Teachers can introduce the 2012 National History Day theme with an activity that encourages students to define the terms revolution and reform, and then examine the differences between them by analyzing documents connected to the New Deal. Another activity, entitled Mrs. Jackson’s Letter, illustrates an emotional reaction to ‘Bloody Sunday’ in Selma, Alabama in 1964. In other activities, students can reflect on why some documents are more effective than others when creating a National History Day project.

To get your creative juices flowing, this document could be your inspiration.

Using the site’s seven interactive tools, teachers also have the option of creating, modifying, and sharing additional activities connected to the 2012 National History Day theme based upon the students’ skill level.

Here are a few local history topics at the high school level that the resources of the BDC could support:

• Ku Klux Klan in 1920s Beaufort County as seen through the Beaufort Gazette.
• Fusion Politics during the late 19th century
  
• The roles of women as seen in the life of Abbie Holmes Christensen, Laura Towne, the Community Club, and the activities of the Female Benevolent Society and Clover Club
  
• The American Revolution in Beaufort District
• I'm sure there are others that could fit the "Revolution, Reaction, and Reform in History" theme
  

If you'd like to discuss a particular topic or brainstorm local history topics that might meet the criteria for this contest, let's talk. Please call me at 843-255-6446 or send me an e-mail at gracec@bcgov.net to set up a time to discuss National History Day topics that BDC resources can support.