NHD 2025: Student Resources
Students, we have compiled a big list of resources to help you dig deep into National History Day (NHD) projects.
Understanding NHD Projects
RULES
- Read the Contest Rule Book carefully. English | Spanish
- Watch the NHD Contest Rules video.
Every NHD project presents an historical argument, NHD offers five categories, or presentation, formats, in each division (Junior: grades 6–8, or Senior: grades 9–12). The documentary, exhibit, performance, and website categories offer both individual and group participation options; the paper category allows individual participation only. Groups may include two to five students.
CATEGORIES
Documentary
A documentary is a ten-minute original production that uses media (images, video, and sound) and primary source materials. To produce a documentary, you must have access to equipment and be able to operate it.
- documentary project checklist
- documentary evaluation form
- documentary project example 1
- documentary project example 2
- documentary project example 3
- documentary project example 4
- Ask an NEH Expert documentary videos 2017 | 2018
Exhibit
An exhibit is a three-dimensional physical and visual presentation. Exhibits use color, images, documents, objects, graphics, as well as words, to relay your story.
- exhibit project checklist
- exhibit evaluation form
- exhibit project example 1
- exhibit project example 2
- exhibit project example 3
- exhibit project example 4
- Ask an NEH Expert exhibit videos 2017 | 2018
Paper
Because papers depend almost entirely on words to tell your story, you can usually include more information than in some of the other categories. Various types of creative writing, such as fictional diaries, poems, etc., are permitted, but they still must conform to all general and category rules.
- paper project checklist
- paper evaluation form
- paper project example 1
- paper project example 2
- paper project example 3
- paper project example 4
- Ask an NEH Expert paper videos 2017 | 2018
Performance
A performance is a dramatic portrayal that is presented live. In addition to conducting research and writing a strong narrative that allows your subject to unfold in a dramatic and visually interesting way, you will need to create/gather appropriate costumes and props.
- performance project checklist
- performance evaluation form
- Performing Perspectives: Researching Clothing
- Performing Perspectives: Harmful Stereotypes
- Performing Perspectives: What NOT to Do in an NHD Performance
- Performing Perspectives: Cultural Appropriation
- Performing Perspectives: Who Tells Your Story
- performance project example 1
- performance project example 2
- performance project example 3
- performance project example 4
- Ask an NEH Expert performance videos 2017 | 2018
Website
A website features a collection of interconnected web pages using multimedia that showcases your ability to use website design software and computer technology. All NHD website projects must use NHDWebCentral®.
- website checklist
- website evaluation form
- NHDWebCental Instructions & FAQs
- NHD Colorado WebCentral Tutorial
- Ask an NEH Expert website videos 2017 | 2018
THEME
Each year NHD chooses a particular theme that must be the focus of student projects. Before doing anything else, make sure you understand the theme.
- Read the 2025 Theme Book: Rights & Responsibilities in History.
- Watch the 2025 Theme Introduction Video: Rights & Responsibilities in History (YouTube).
- Discuss how the theme of Rights & Responsibilities relates to people, places, events, technologies, and issues you’ve learned about earlier this year and in previous years and make a list of topics that interest you.
- Free write about what the theme means to you personally or to someone you know.
- Complete the NHD 2025 Theme Graphic Organizer (fillable PDF).
- Investigate theme narratives from different states.
- CA theme narrative
- Minnesota theme narrative
- Ohio theme narrative
Your NHD Project
Choosing a Topic
- Flip through newspaper and magazine articles about current events that you find interesting or concerning and then consider the historical and local angles to those topics. (Remember, your project may not be about a current event.)
- Browse through a history textbook.
- Check out local and state historical sites, museums and websites.
- Search the Primary Source Nexus for additional topic ideas (from the top menu bar, right).
- Watch the Thinkport Inquiry Kits for History Day Students video to get some ideas.
- Investigate these 2023 sample topic resources to see if any might be adaptable to this year’s theme: Rights & Responsibilities in History.
- People
- Places
- Ideas
- Topic Exploration National Women’s History Museum
- Find your state affiliate and look for local resources, like the ones below.
- Alaska History Topic Ideas
- California Topic List
- Chicago Metro History Day Topic Ideas
- Florida Example Topics
- Georgia Topic Explorer
- Indiana Topic Ideas
- Iowa History Topics List
- Kansas Topics List
- Minnesota Topic Ideas
- Montana History Topics
- Nebraska Topic Ideas
- Ohio topic List
- Oregon History Themes
- South Dakota Topic Explorer
- Wyoming History Topics
- Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS): Topic Weebly Brainstorm
- MNHS: Topic & Theme Exploration (PDF)
- Create an outline or mind map of topic ideas that interest you.
- Consider refining your topic according to the following sequential steps: theme, interest, broad topic, narrow topic, thesis.
- Review your topic choice by asking yourself the questions below.
- Does the topic relate to the 2024 NHD theme—Turning Points in History?
- Does the topic relate to local or state history?
- Does the topic really interest you?
- Do you have a personal connection to the topic? (It’s not necessary, but it can be a good thing.)
- Will you be able to find enough primary and secondary sources to thoroughly research the topic?
- Why is this topic important?
- What will people learn from your project?
Developing a Thesis
- MNHS What is a Thesis Statement
- MNHS Thesis Comparison Worksheet
- MNHS Thesis Statement Guidelines
- Thinkport Writing a Thesis Statement self-paced learning module
- MNHS Thesis Development Worksheet
- National History Day in Indiana NHD 2025 Master Guide
- Ohio History Day NHD 2025 Student Guide
Researching Your Topic
- NHD Guide to Research Skills
- NHD Quick Tip Video: What is Historical Significance?
- Digital Research videos
- NHD Research & Writing workshop webinar video recording
- Thinkport Creating a Research Project self-paced learning module
- NHD Guidelines for Conducting Oral History Interviews
Selecting & using sources
- What Are Primary Sources?
- Selecting Sources: Tertiary, Secondary, Primary
- Selecting Primary Sources for Research Projects
- Using the Library of Congress Online: a Guide for Middle and High School Students
- Thinkport Digging for Historical Sources self-paced learning module
- Thinkport Evaluating Sources self-paced learning module
- Thinkport Analyzing Political Cartoons self-paced learning module
- Thinkport Analyzing Charts, Graphs, and Tables self-paced learning module
- Historical Thinking Skills, Part 1: Sourcing and the Three Cs NHD video
- Historical Thinking Skills, Part 2: Perspective, Agency, and Hindsight NHD video
- NHD Quick Tip Video: Why Include Multiple Perspectives?
- To Interview or Not to Interview video
- Ask an NEH Expert: Evaluating Sources
Citing sources
- Tech Tools: Citation Tools
- Citing Digitized Sources from the Library
- Thinkport How to Cite the Right Way self-paced learning module
- Creating an Annotated Bibliography
- Thinkport Annotated Bibliography (Chicago style) self-paced learning module
- NHD Quick Tip Annotated Bibliography Videos
Putting it all together
- NHD Quick Tip Video: Student Voice
- Historical Thinking Skills, Part 3: Evidence, Counter-Evidence, and Arguments NHD video
- Historical Thinking Skills, Part 4: Organizing an Argument NHD video
- Historical Argumentation for Students 2022 NHD video
- Navigating the Historical Argumentation Webinar Series
- NHD Guide to Research & Historical Argumentation
- Organize Your Argument (.pdf)
- Argumentation Plan (.docx)
- Ask an NEH Expert videos
- Every NHD Student Is a Writer video