What is Utah History Day?
Utah History Day, formerly known as Utah History Fair, is the National History Day program affiliate serving the 4th through 12th grade students of Utah. Part of the largest history education program in the country, Utah History Day is an exciting way to engage students and teachers in the study of historical issues, ideas, people, and events through critical inquiry and analysis as well as creative presentation. This year-long educational program fosters increased literacy, academic achievement, and intellectual growth by developing historical knowledge and perspective. Through the series of regional, state, and national competitions, students—working individually or as part of a team—develop critical thinking, cooperative learning, and problem solving skills that will help them manage, use, and share information now and for the future.
This program has been in continuous operation since 1981. Thousands of Utah students participate in Utah History Day in their schools each year, and the program is available to children in communities large and small throughout the state. Beginning in the fall, Utah students begin to select their topics, conduct their research, and design their projects in preparation for the regional contests that take place in February and March. Regional winners will travel to the annual Utah History Day state competition in April. State winners will advance to the National History Day contest at the University of Maryland in June.
Benefits for Students
All types of Utah students participate in History Day activities—urban, suburban, and rural students; public, private, parochial and home school students; students from every cultural, social, economic, and educational background. Students grow academically and intellectually as they integrate the arts, economics, sciences, and other disciplines into a historical presentation. Participation in History Day . . .
Benefits for Teachers
Statewide Participation, Statewide Service
Thousands of Utah children participate in National History Day in their schools each year; of these some 3,000 compete in one of the nine Regional History Day competitions held around the state. The regional programs are grounded in the local communities of Utah. Many are operated in partnership with the history departments of local colleges and universities, who generously donate campus space and the expertise of their faculty. These programs are expressly designed to serve the needs of students in their areas. Click here to find your regional History Day program.
The state office sustains the regional programs by providing leadership, coordination, NHD materials, training, and some financial assistance. In addition the state coordinator administers the annual state competition, escorts the national team, and coordinates with educators and stakeholders statewide as well as with the National History Day organization.
This program has been in continuous operation since 1981. Thousands of Utah students participate in Utah History Day in their schools each year, and the program is available to children in communities large and small throughout the state. Beginning in the fall, Utah students begin to select their topics, conduct their research, and design their projects in preparation for the regional contests that take place in February and March. Regional winners will travel to the annual Utah History Day state competition in April. State winners will advance to the National History Day contest at the University of Maryland in June.
Benefits for Students
All types of Utah students participate in History Day activities—urban, suburban, and rural students; public, private, parochial and home school students; students from every cultural, social, economic, and educational background. Students grow academically and intellectually as they integrate the arts, economics, sciences, and other disciplines into a historical presentation. Participation in History Day . . .
- Helps students foster pride in their heritage and an understanding of the history of our nation by exploring the world around them and understanding viewpoints different from their own;
- Encourages students to develop research, thinking, and presentation skills which they will use throughout their lives;
- Encourages the study of history by allowing students to present their topics in a variety of formats that showcase his/her special talents;
- Interests students in learning about history by integrating interdisciplinary methods and materials in social studies, art, literature, composition, language, music, and theatre into their entries;
- Helps students to develop poise and self-confidence, interpersonal skills, and team-building skills;
- Provides them with an opportunity to interact with participants in history as well as with academic and public historians.
Benefits for Teachers
- History Day offers a powerful classroom tool that correlates to the Common Core State Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and the Technical Subjects;
- History Day can be integrated into any social studies or history classroom, helping teachers expand and enrich the existing curriculum by bringing together historical context, research in both primary and secondary sources, analysis, argument, and presentation;
- History Day provides an excellent model for outcome-based or performance-based learning.
Statewide Participation, Statewide Service
Thousands of Utah children participate in National History Day in their schools each year; of these some 3,000 compete in one of the nine Regional History Day competitions held around the state. The regional programs are grounded in the local communities of Utah. Many are operated in partnership with the history departments of local colleges and universities, who generously donate campus space and the expertise of their faculty. These programs are expressly designed to serve the needs of students in their areas. Click here to find your regional History Day program.
The state office sustains the regional programs by providing leadership, coordination, NHD materials, training, and some financial assistance. In addition the state coordinator administers the annual state competition, escorts the national team, and coordinates with educators and stakeholders statewide as well as with the National History Day organization.