Connecting Classrooms to Connecting Classrooms to Primary Sources using Primary Sources using National History DayNational History Day

A TPS ProjectA TPS Project

John BuchingerJohn Buchinger

j.buchinger@nysha.orgj.buchinger@nysha.org

New York State History DayNew York State History Day• What is History Day?What is History Day?

National History Day, a year-long educational National History Day, a year-long educational program sponsored in New York State by the New program sponsored in New York State by the New York State Historical Association, encourages York State Historical Association, encourages students in grades 6-12 to students in grades 6-12 to explore local, state, explore local, state, national, and world historynational, and world history. After selecting a . After selecting a historical topic that relates to an annual theme, historical topic that relates to an annual theme, students conduct extensive research by students conduct extensive research by using libraries, archives, museums, and oral using libraries, archives, museums, and oral history interviewshistory interviews. They . They analyze and analyze and interpretinterpret their findings, their findings, draw conclusionsdraw conclusions about their topics' about their topics' significance in historysignificance in history, and , and create final projects that present their work. create final projects that present their work.

New York State StatsNew York State Stats

Professional Staff:Professional Staff:

Tobi Voigt Manager of

Statewide Programs

John Buchinger

Associate Director for Education

New York State StatsNew York State Stats

Participation GrowthParticipation Growth

• 2005-2006 = approx. 5,000 students2005-2006 = approx. 5,000 students

• 2006-2007 = 7,219 students (+30%)2006-2007 = 7,219 students (+30%)

• 2007-2008 = 8,457 students (+17%)2007-2008 = 8,457 students (+17%)

Why the project?Why the project?Despite all this success we still aren’t Despite all this success we still aren’t

that big of a deal back home!that big of a deal back home!

Why the project?Why the project?

• Introducing participants to the National Introducing participants to the National History Day program and offering History Day program and offering training on program implementation training on program implementation and student-driven projects based on and student-driven projects based on primary source research will primary source research will provide a real world context for provide a real world context for student learningstudent learning and and engagement engagement with History Day resourceswith History Day resources..

Why the project?Why the project?

• History Day is the only program in the United History Day is the only program in the United States endorsed by the US CongressStates endorsed by the US Congress

• The program is a perfect marrying of The program is a perfect marrying of student driven experiencestudent driven experience, in a , in a process process of inquiryof inquiry that mirrors that mirrors historic academic historic academic research utilizing primary sourcesresearch utilizing primary sources

• Has a proven track record of Has a proven track record of inspring life inspring life long learninglong learning

New York State History Day New York State History Day is is About kids researchingAbout kids researching

.and analyzing primary sources

Teachers in geographically isolated, financially challenged rural districts will get the support in making TWPS a reality

The AudianceThe Audiance

• Interested teachers will be able to Interested teachers will be able to apply for apply for mini-grantsmini-grants, assisting them , assisting them with with implementing the program in implementing the program in their individual schoolstheir individual schools, and for , and for interested participants, interested participants, extend the extend the experience into the regional and experience into the regional and state competitions associated with state competitions associated with New York State and National New York State and National History DayHistory Day

How do we get there?How do we get there?

• New York State History Day (NYSHD) New York State History Day (NYSHD) staff, guest speakers, and distance staff, guest speakers, and distance learning opportunities learning opportunities will provide will provide the training, and curriculum the training, and curriculum materialsmaterials to be delivered to to be delivered to teachers, and librarians from across teachers, and librarians from across the BOCES' districts of New York the BOCES' districts of New York State.  State.  

How do we get there?How do we get there?

• This training will facilitate use of the This training will facilitate use of the Library of Congress' on-line Library of Congress' on-line collectioncollection, the , the American Memory American Memory ProjectProject, and provide , and provide web based web based support tools for National support tools for National History DayHistory Day implementation implementation

Summer Teacher InstituteSummer Teacher InstituteJuly 13 – 14 2009: Library and Internet

Research

Summer Teacher InstituteSummer Teacher InstituteJuly 18: Judgment Day

Web ResourcesWeb Resources

Web 2.0Web 2.0Facebook YouTube & Flickr

Web 2.0Web 2.0e-newsletter blogs

History Day is ContagiousHistory Day is Contagious

• Once experienced by teachers and Once experienced by teachers and students- students- the process germinatesthe process germinates

• It represents a real world application of It represents a real world application of use of primary sources and use of primary sources and provides provides meaning behind the study of historymeaning behind the study of history

• This will provide long term growth and This will provide long term growth and expansion of historic research and student expansion of historic research and student interaction and understanding of primary interaction and understanding of primary source documents.source documents.