Teaching History Day
Chicago Metro History Day
Teaching History Day
The CMHD Teacher’s Guide (PDF) will help you integrate History Day in your classroom. From understanding the different History Day project categories to writing a thesis statement and building the final project, there is something in this guide to cover every part of the History Day process. Check it out and let us know what you think!
Looking for Google versions of handouts? Check out our Drive folder of student handouts. Just “make a copy” of the files you would like to use to get started. If you’re looking for an older resource, you can find past resources for students here.
We are continuing to add to the resources below, so please share your requests with us! If you’re looking for a resource that used to be on our page but don’t see it below, you can find it on our CMHD Resource Archive page.
On This Page You Will Find:
Standards and Framework Alignments
- Junior Division (middle grades) Civics Mandate Alignment (PDF) – see how History Day helps middle grade teachers meet the new ISBE Civics Mandate
- NHD and the Common Core State Standards (PDF) – as an NHD regional affiliate, History Day is a proven program implemented successfully all across the country!
- International Baccalaureate (IB) MYP Individuals and Societies (PDF) – this document shows the alignment between CMHD program elements and the IB-MYP Individuals and Societies assessment criteria
Planning History Day in Your School
When planning History Day at your school, the most important thing is to work backward from your registration due date. This is the date by which you will need to have selected the projects that you will advance to the regional CMHD contests. We recommend allowing at least ten weeks (preferably more) for students to work on their History Day projects from start to finish.
Rules and Categories
- A quick visual guide to the five project categories (PDF)
- Check out the NHD evaluation forms (PDF) that are used at ALL levels of competition (regional, state, national)
- All projects will be assessed in accordance with the NHD Rule Book (PDF). There is no separate CMHD rule book.
- All projects must include a process paper and title page (or home page for websites) – see instructions (PDF)
Theme and Topics
All History Day projects should incorporate the NHD’s 2026 theme, “Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.” Students may choose any topic that connects to this theme.
- Visit our Theme and Topics page
- Visit our Topic Guide website
- An in-person or virtual field trip to the Chicago History Museum is a great way to get your students “thinking like historians” and generate topic ideas
Historical Questioning and Thesis
Asking questions about their topic is the foundation of good student research, and the attempt to answer a good historical question can often lead to an effective thesis statement. The thesis statement is the core of the student’s historical argument.
- Research Questions student worksheet (PDF)
- How to Write a Thesis Statement (PDF)
- Developing a Thesis Statement (PDF)
Looking for old worksheets? Please visit our Drive.
Research and Analysis
- List of Online Resources
- Historical Thinking Chart (adapted from SHEG) (PDF)
- Tabla de Pensamiento Histórico (adapted from SHEG) (PDF)
- “Doing Research at Local Archives” video series – Created just for History Day students!
- The Secondary Source Trail (PDF)
- Analyzing a Document (PDF)
- Analyzing a Secondary Source (PDF)
Argument and Student Voice
Judges are now asked to rate students on their ability to represent their own conclusions in their own voice. Instead of just summarizing the facts or quoting other historians, students must explain how the evidence they gathered led them to their own historical conclusions.
Project Checklists and Evaluation Forms
- Exhibit: Project Checklist (PDF) and Evaluation Form (PDF)
- Documentary: Project Checklist (PDF) and Evaluation Form (PDF)
- Performance: Project Checklist (PDF) and Evaluation Form (PDF)
- Website: Project Checklist (PDF) and Evaluation Form (PDF)
- Paper: Project Checklist (PDF) and Evaluation Form (PDF)