Wisconsin Historical Society National History Day in Wisconsin Update

August 2011
National History Day logo Greetings!

The new school year is almost here and we are excited to share what NHD in Wisconsin did over summer vacation. After a rewarding experience at the 2011 national contest, we spent the summer getting ready for a fantastic new NHD theme: "Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History." We have brainstormed topic ideas, developed new curriculum materials, and are excited to have you join us for another great year of National History Day.

Read on to learn more about the 2012 theme and how you can begin to bring National History Day into your classroom!
2012 NHD Logo
NHD 2012: "Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History"

Revolution, reaction, reform. Can you think of three words that conjure up more active or engaging possibilities for topics? This year, National History Day asks students to view history through the eyes of others, research, and examine the causes and effects of topics based on the theme "Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History."  

 

The theme is broad enough to include many facets of history, but specific enough to encourage student analysis. The theme helps students to understand their topic outside of its own narrative and encourages students to see how the topic connects to larger ideas, issues, and events in history. The theme asks students to think like historians and heighten the analysis in their projects. To learn more about the theme, check out the 2012 theme sheet

Student news interview at state event
REQUEST FREE CURRICULUM MATERIALS FOR NHD 2012
Our 2012 NHD in Wisconsin Curriculum CD provides interested and participating educators with all the tools they need to begin implementing the program in their classroom. Curriculum materials are provided at no cost. Any interested educator is encouraged to sign up - there is no obligation to participate. Curriculum discs include:
  • Teacher and student guides to NHD
  • Sample projects
  • Category guides for students
  • Theme activities resources
  • Sample topic ideas
  • Rulebook and NHD Theme Book  
  • Classroom-ready PowerPoint presentations
  • NHD event and workshop information   
Visit our website to request your 2012 Curriculum CD. Teacher who participated in NHD in 2011 will automatically receive this year's materials. Discs will begin mailing at the end of August.
NHD Classroom Presentation
INVITE NHD STAFF INTO YOUR CLASSROOM
Invite a National History Day in Wisconsin staff member to join your class for a day! Our interactive classroom presentations are designed to introduce students to the basics of the NHD program, share samples of projects, get students thinking about the theme and topics, and excite participants for their NHD adventure. Especially for teachers working with NHD for the first time, this presentation is a great way to kick off the program in your school. Email Sarah Aschbrenner to schedule a date.
Facebook Logo
FOLLOW NHD IN WISCONSIN ON FACEBOOK
You can now connect with National History Day in Wisconsin on Facebook. You will find relevant and timely updates about the program throughout the year, including event information, news from the national contest, topic ideas, and more. Become a fan by clicking Like on our Page.   
Team Wisconsin 2011
TEAM WISCONSIN SUCCESSFUL AT NATIONAL CONTEST

53 students represented Wisconsin at the 2011 National History Day competition this past June in College Park, Maryland. For these national finalists, the competition represented the culmination of months of hard work as they shared their projects with judges, educators, and their peers. Several Wisconsin students were recognized as having nationally top-ranking entries:   

  • 2nd Place Junior Individual Performance, "Why Really the Moon," Julia Veitinger
  • 4th Place Junior Group Website, "Strategic Bombing," John Venable and Philip Shuler
  • 4th Place Junior Individual Documentary, "The Comic Book Debates of the 1940s and 1950s," Sam Schlesinger
  • 10th Place Senior Group Performance, "The Wisconsin Bennett Law of 1889," Briana Schwaubenbauer and Charles Labuzzetta
  • 12th Place Junior Individual Website, "Elizabeth Cady Stanton," Emma Mutschelknaus
  • 13th Place Junior Individual Exhibit, "Peg Brenden's Pre-Title IX Case," Maisy Dodge

We are proud of the hard work and excellent scholarship of all our national finalists and all 8,500 students participating in NHD at the school level in 2011. We hope that their achievements will inspire you to learn more about getting your students involved in NHD.

National History Day logo
JOB OPPORTUNITY: IT MANAGER AT NHD NATIONAL OFFICE
The NHD National Office is now hiring to fill their IT Manager position. The IT Manager works from the national office in College Park, Maryland and is responsible for NHD's IT requirements, including web site maintenance and operations, and technical support. A complete position description is available on the NHD website.  
Sarah Michele and SarahTHANKS FOR READING!
We appreciate your support of National History Day in Wisconsin.  We are excited to have you as part of our program!
 
Sincerely,

Sarah Aschbrenner, State Coordinator
National History Day in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Historical Society 
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