Tulare County History Day

Tulare County History Day

March 13, 2009

8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Tulare County Office of Education
7000 Doe Avenue, Visalia

A History Day program participant peers into the screen of his or her computer, surfing the net for one last resource, polishes up one detail on her documentary, adds one more source to his annotated bibliography before going to bed. They can't stop talking about their topic. They interview sources from around the country, even the world. They have become experts themselves. Parents can't believe their child's involvement and interest. In what, HISTORY? What causes this extreme behavior?

What is History Day?
History Day is a theme based research program that breathes life into California Content standards and reading/language arts themes. The broad theme for 2009 is The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies. The program is designed to be used in the classroom at two levels: process and competitive. All children can develop their potential and develop essential reading, writing and research skills through participation in Tulare County History Day.

How Does This Fit Into My Core Curriculum?
History Day can be a part of your core curriculum, both English/Language Arts and History/Social Science. Tulare County Office of Education can assist with resources and technical expertise. Consultants have aligned the 2009 theme to Houghton Mifflin and Open Court Themes. A list of standards that work well with the 2009 theme, The Individual in History: Actions and Legacies, is provided at the state level. More information can be obtained at the Coaches' Meeting on September 18 2008, 4:00-6:00 p.m. Districts can contact the Tulare County Office of Education for coaching help in the classroom to help the teacher get started. Websites at the county, state and national level have many online resources for teachers, students and parents.

What are the Levels of Participation?

Process Level
Any class, school, or district can participate in the non-competitive, process level of participation. This level allows all students to improve their research skills. In a timeline of approximately 1-3 weeks, teachers can guide students through the research process. Projects augment the core curricular materials, and compliment the learning themes in English/Language Arts and History/Social Science. The culmination of the classroom projects at the school or district might become part of your district's multiple measure assessment program. Qualified presenters from Tulare County Office of Education offer classes to prepare teachers to use this program in the classroom. Teachers who complete these classes will receive certificates for all their students that present projects in their school or classroom.
Competitve Level
Some classes, schools and districts have students that are ready to move to the next step, and enter the competitive level of participation. The timeline for these projects is much longer. Students write their thesis statement, build their annotated bibliographies by visiting libraries and interviewing primary sources. Then students document their learning process in a process paper. From their research, they create their exhibit or website to specifications, prepare a 10-minute presentation or documentary, or write a 2,500 word paper. Fourth- and fifth-graders prepare posters, being careful to keep within the guidelines in the California History Day regulations. These projects must include an annotated bibliography with both primary and secondary resources, and a process paper. Their posters, papers, exhibits, websites, documentaries or performances will stand on their own merit to be judged by experts in history. A panel of judges will interview them to validate their hard work, and recommend the finest projects to move on to California History Day Competition. Finalists from California move to the National History Day event held each year at the University of Maryland.

Tulare County History Day Competition

On Friday, March 13, 2009, districts will enter the best projects from grades 4-12.

Tulare County History Day Competition categories include:

Junior division: grades 6-8
- Group Performance
- Individual Performance
- Group Exhibit
- Individual Exhibit
- Group Documentary
- Individual Documentary
- Group Historical Website
- Individual Historical Website
- Historical Paper
Senior division: grades 9-12
- Group Performance
- Individual Performance
- Group Exhibit
- Individual Exhibit
- Group Documentary
- Individual Documentary
- Group Historical Website
- Individual Historical Website
- Historical Paper
Grades 4/5 only
- Group Poster
- Individual Poster

How do I get started?

Attend the September 18, 2008 coaches' meeting. Get a packet of information and hear seasoned coaches talk about their experiences.
- September 18, 2008, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
  Manzanita Room, 7000 Doe Ave., Visalia
Fill out the Intent to Participate Form. Please return by September 11, 2008.