What’s Oklahoma National History Day?
Each year thousands of Oklahoma students, encouraged by teachers statewide, participate in the Oklahoma National History Day (OkNHD) program. OkNHD is a part of National History Day and is a highly regarded academic program for students grades 6–12. More than 750,000 students across the country participate every year!
State Contest Dates
The OkNHD State Contest will be held at the Oklahoma History Center on May 7–8, 2025.
For OkNHD projects, students choose historical topics related to a theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, and historic sites. After analyzing and interpreting their sources, students draw conclusions about their topic’s significance in history before presenting their work in original papers, exhibits, performances, websites, and documentaries. The student projects are entered into competitions in the spring at regional, state, and national contests where they are evaluated by professional historians and educators. The program culminates in the National History Day Contest each June held at the University of Maryland at College Park.
OkNHD helps students develop the following attributes that are critical to future success:
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Research and reading skills
- Oral and written communication and presentation skills
- Self-esteem and confidence
- A sense of responsibility for and involvement in the democratic process
Contest Information
Once you have chosen a historical topic related to the annual theme, you will conduct primary and secondary research. After you have analyzed and interpreted your sources and have drawn a conclusion about the significance of your topic, you will then be able to present your work in one of five ways: as a paper, an exhibit, a performance, a documentary, or a website. In the spring you may enter your work into the regional contest where it will be judged by professional educators and historians. If your work is chosen as one of the best, you will move on to the state’s NHD contest. As a winner at your state NHD contest, you will be eligible to attend the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park in June. This is where the best National History Day projects from across the United States, American Samoa, Guam, International Schools of Asia, and Department of Defense Schools in Europe all meet and compete.
Sponsors
Oklahoma National History Day is made possible through the support of numerous organizations and foundations. You too can support Oklahoma National History Day. To find out more, please contact the Oklahoma National History Day staff at oklahomanhd@gmail.com.
