What is History Day?

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National History Day is a national competition sponsored by National History Day and National Endowment for the Humanities. Each year, students present and compete on a local, county, state, and national level. The national competition is held in the DMV area—right in our backyard!

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At NCAC, we encourage all ages to participate, from kindergarten through high school. We will give out awards for each grade level in each category: research paper, exhibit, documentary, website, and dramatic production. For the official National History Day competition sponsored by NHD, those competing at the middle or high school level have the opportunity to move on to the Charles County competition, and possibly on to the state and national level.

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NCAC is the only competition venue in Charles County for those not sponsored by Charles County public schools. Homeschoolers and private schoolers are welcome to join our local competition, and our winners will move on to the Charles County competition.

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History Day is an exciting enrichment program that furthers students understanding of historical issues, ideas, people and events.  It is an academic adventure that provides teachers and parents with an innovative teaching tool that fosters students' enthusiasm for learning.  Students will develop invaluable research and analytical skills as they progress through their projects and define the significance of their topics.

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We are looking forward to our information session with National History Day representative, Ms Grace Woodward, in October, who will excite our students with inspired project ideas, ways to get started, and examples of finished projects!

 

Competition Categories

 

Middle school and High School (there is not an elementary level in Maryland, so fourth and fifth graders are welcome to join the middle school competition.)

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Students can compete in the following categories: Paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or website. 

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Students may sign up individually or as a member of a group (with the exception of the “History paper” category). In the past, very few participants have entered the performance category, so we encourage students to pursue this option!

 

 

Registration & Tuition

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This event is free for NCAC's EFH students (under the fees).

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To register, please reach out to Ms Georgia at msgeorgia@neighborhoodcreativeartscenter.org.

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$25/ first child

$15/second child

$10 for each additional child

 

 

What happens to the participants that win? 

 

The NCAC History Day program is part of a statewide competition that involves over 35,000 students each year. Our NCAC winners will move on to the Charles County competition, and those winners will move on to the Maryland State Finals.

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The winners of the state competition will represent Maryland at the National Competition.  The 2024 National Contest will be held in June at the University of Maryland, College Park.
 

 

Volunteering

 

Participating students and teachers spend months brainstorming, researching, writing, editing, designing, and preparing for the History Day Competition.  But it cannot be a successful event without volunteers.  Judging the History Day Competition is a great way to get involved in this event and provide students feedback on the project they have spent so much time and energy creating.  NCAC offers judge orientations instructed by experienced judges to provide all the information you will need to continue the excellence of this tradition.  If you are interested in volunteering as a judge please contact msgeorgia@neighborhoodcreativeartscenter.org. The Judge Orientation day will be announced. New judges are required to attend orientation.