CATEGORY information
& SAMPLE PROJECTS
SCROLL DOWN TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE A
PERFORMANCE, EXHIBIT, DOCUMENTARY, WEBSITE, AND PAPER! Once you have learned a lot about your topic, you will need to determine the best way to present it all. Choosing the right category is an important one because it's how all that research will be judged.
REMEMBER: All projects require a Process Paper and Annotated Bibliography. For more details on those click here. |
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Documentary (SHORT MOVIE)
Students can create a documentary as an individual or as a group. Using photos, documents, videos, interviews they find in their research, students create a 10-minute documentary about their thesis statement.
Watch actual TOP-RATED student documentaries
Click THIS LINK to see more STUDENT DOCUMENTARIES FROM MN HISTORY DAY |
SALK GROUP DOCUMENTARY
1st Place in MINNESOTA |
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2015 WINNING NATIONAL SENIOR GROUP DOCUMENTARY FROM MN (WON $5,000)
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Exhibit (MUSEUM DISPLAY)
NEWS FLASH! 2021 VIRTUAL EXHIBIT INSTRUCTIONS HERE! YOU NEED TO READ!Students create a museum display using a wide variety of primary sources to support the story. Exhibits can be an individual or group project. Students can only use 500 of their own written words, the rest of the story must be told using those quality sources. A quality exhibit board needs to show primary and secondary sources that support your writing. Large boards can be purchased from school very reasonably or a used board from school can be repurposed (they are in good condition) for no charge. Students can build one from wood. Creativity should be expressed on an exhibit board but there is a general system of organization students should follow.
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Performance (SHORT PLAY)
In this category, students brainstorm scene ideas (usually 2-4 scenes) then write a script built around the thesis statement. That includes planning a simple set, costumes, and stage choreography. Then, the student becomes the star on stage--either as a solo performer or group. There are many ways to write a quality 10-minute performance but it's best to use the guidse below to help you. There are also scripts written by Salk students to help you.
NEWS FLASH! 2021 VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE INSTRUCTIONS HERE! YOU MUST READ!!
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Lots more great student performances to watch here! great places to get ideas and notice their sets, scenes and costumes
Website (ONLINE EXHIBIT)

In this category, students create a website about their thesis statement using the free online web builder found at website.nhd.org. A website uses audio, video and up to 1,200 student-composed words. Use the outline below for creating a high-quality website.
EVEN MORE WEBSITE SAMPLES...CLICK HERE!
PAPER (SCHOLARLY PAPER)
This is the only project that must be done by an individual (no groups). It entails a student writing a 1,500 to 2,500 word paper supporting their thesis statement. The format of the paper is the same as all the other categories, but students are limited in their use of visuals/photos with a few exceptions (they go in an appendix at the end of a paper, not inside the actual paper). This is the most traditional method of presenting historical research and the most like how you'll be expected to demonstrate learning in High School and College (as well as in the workplace).
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WATCH THIS VIDEO FOR SOME EXPERT INSIGHTS ON MAKING A QUALITY HISTORY DAY PAPER
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