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THD Newsletter - August 2025
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New school year,
new NHD theme!
 2026 Theme Resources
To coincide with the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the 2026 theme will be Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History. Revolutions and reforms are often reactions to ideas, actions, or events. In turn, revolutions and reforms inspire reactions.Â
While students are not required to address revolution, reaction, AND reform in history, they are encouraged to do so depending on their chosen topic.Â
Check out the following resources are available to start defining your topic and begin your research.
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Getting Started: Resource HighlightsThe foundation of a History Day project is similar to the foundation of most activities done in the history classroom: social studies practices that involve analyzing primary sources, synthesizing multiple resources, and understanding context. To get there, students must start with the basics. Here are a few recommended resources as you begin the school year!
- Educator Resource - History Day Roadmap: One of the largest hurdles to beginning an NHD project with students is the planning. When do you start? What do students do first? What do I need to prepare before they are introduced to the project? The History Day Roadmap was developed for educators to use as you begin the year.
- Historical Vocabulary: The language found on the NHD rubric isn't unique to History Day projects; it is general historical vocabulary for students to use in the classroom. If your students become familiar with the language on these rubrics prior to their use in research, you will spend less time deciphering the judges' (or your) feedback for the students. The slides and associated handout are prepared as a quick activity as you begin the process of NHD research.
- Building Blocks of a Paragraph: For students to understand the elements and structure of a developed argument, sometimes it helps to start with paragraphs. This resource walks students through the construction of a paragraph and explains some rules to keep in mind as they write.Â
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New Coordinator and Location for Southeast Regional THD Program
We have exciting news for our Southeast Region! Starting this contest season, the Tennessee History Day regional contest will be held at Chattanooga State Community College. This new location offers students, educators, and families a spacious and accessible venue to support our growing program.
We are also happy to introduce the Southeast Tennessee History Day coordinator, Dr. Michelle Bailey. Dr. Bailey taught in Georgia for over thirty years, mainly at the high school level. After retiring, Michelle worked as an observing teacher for student teaching candidates and now teaches adjunct at Chattanooga State. We are so excited to have her experience and energy for the Southeast Tennessee History Day program!
We’re thrilled to partner with Chattanooga State as we continue to foster historical inquiry and student achievement across Southeast Tennessee. Welcome, Dr. Bailey!
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Changes in the Northeast Region
Starting this contest season, the Tennessee History Day northeast district will now be a regional contest in February! It will take place at Tusculum University and be coordinated by Dr. Peter Noll. Northeast 1 and 2 districts will be consolidated into one region, with a few counties going to the east regional contest based on proximity.
For more details on these changes, check out the regional pages for both Northeast and East. We will send information directly to those with regional changes in the next two weeks! We are looking forward to this new contest schedule for our northeast participants.
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Student Program Alert!
Research Roundup on Saturday, September 27th!
This September, the Tennessee State Library & Archives is partnering with Tennessee History Day to host a Research Roundup in Nashville! This event is intended to break down barriers that keep students from using archives and libraries as resources for their National History Day projects by creating a welcoming environment where students can receive project and research support through a variety of activities.
The Research Roundup will take place on Saturday, September 27th, from 9:00am to 3:30pm at the Tennessee State Library & Archives in Nashville. Students and educators participating in the National History Day program, especially those with Tennessee and American history topics, are welcome to attend and learn about all the physical and digital resources that the Library & Archives has to offer. Pre-registration is encouraged and can be completed by visiting the “National History Day” page of the Library & Archives’ Education Outreach website at https://tnsoshistory.com/education-outreach/national-history-day.Â
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Library & Archives by emailing education.tsla@tnsos.gov. We hope to see you and your students in September!
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Fall Webinar Series
Join Tennessee History Day and special guests in an introductory webinar series on the basics of the National History Day program and earn up to 6 hours of professional development credit.
Sessions will take place at 5:30 PM CT / 6:30 PM ET on select Thursdays during the fall semester. Session topics include: Tennessee History Day Prep, Developing Research Questions and Refining a Topic, Using Objects as Primary Sources, and more!
August Sessions
Thursday, August 14th -Â Tennessee History Day Prep: Timeline, Planning, and Pacing
Led by Nikki Ward, THD and Lisa Oakley, ETHS
Thursday, August 28th - Tennessee History Day Prep: Resource Walkthrough Â
Led by Nikki Ward and Courtney Beard, THD
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NHD Silent Heroes Programs
National History Day (NHD) is excited to announce two opportunities for teachers to engage with our Silent Heroes professional development program in the 2025/2026 academic year. Teachers may earn up to 90 professional development hours OR three graduate extension credits. Don't wait, the deadline to apply is August 13, 2025!Â
Researching Silent Heroes is a teacher opportunity to create a profile for a Silent Hero from World War I, World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War.
Silent Heroes: Untold Stories of the U.S. Marine Corps in World War IIÂ is a teacher/student opportunity to research and profile the experiences of two U.S. Marine Corps Veterans who served in World War II.
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TNCHE ConferenceYou are invited to be a part of the 2025 Tennessee Council for History Educational (TNCHE) conference on September 30 - October 1, at the Martin Professional Development Center in Nashville. The 2025 theme is Doing History. If you are interested in submitting a session or poster proposal, there is still time! Proposals are being accepted through August 22nd. For proposal details, click here.
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TPS-Southern Region at MTSUÂ
This month Teaching with Primary Sources is excited to share the launch of their new website. For the past few months, they have been busy working with their partners at the MTSU Walker Library to revamp their website to better serve their needs as the Southern Regional partner.
You can find some great information about the new site in this month's newsletter. You can also find information about a new album that TPS staff has been working on for the Southern Region group on the TPS Teacher Network on WWII Home Front in the South. Follow the link below for professional development opportunities, the TPS newsletter, and more! Â
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Tennessee Geographic Alliance Workshop
Where: East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902
When:Â Monday, October 6th, and Tuesday, October 7th (9-5 ET)
Workshop Goals:
Enhance Geographic Literacy
Utilize Primary Source Materials
Develop Engaging Pedagogical Approaches
This comes with a $600 stipend for the completion of the program. TGA can provide lodging, per diem, and mileage for those traveling more than 50 miles to Knoxville.
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Nikki Ward, State Coordinator Tennessee History Day
Tennessee Historical Society
Ground Floor, War Memorial Building
305 6th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37243
615-741-8934
historyday@tennesseehistory.org
www.tennesseehistory.org/tennessee-history-day
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