2010 Theme Information Now Available!

Lately I have been itching to get my hands on the National History Day theme information for 2010. It's not that I have a particularly large stake in the new theme - Innovation in History: Impact and Change. I think it's just that I am eager to get moving on the next History Day year.

I know I am not alone here. John and I conducted a teacher workshop yesterday with 10 teachers from all across the state. A few had already been discussing topic ideas with their students and it's barely July! I love it!

Well, my friends, I have good news. I discovered today that not only has NHD digitized the annual theme sheet, but also have made a copy of the new theme book available as a free PDF download. You can find both on our website at www.nyshistoryday.org/theme.htm

I am telling you this because I know you want to know, but also because I can't speak highly enough of the new theme book. It's leaner than in previous years, but chock full of really helpful information. I haven't been this excited about the content in an Annual Theme Book since, well, EVER!

It contains the theme sheet and list of suggested topics, as usual, but also has several short essays from educators and historians on the annual theme that are perfect reading for students or teachers.

Ann Claunch, NHD's Curriculum Director, wrote a great article on how to integrate History Day into the classroom that provides theme-related graphic organizers, lesson ideas, and a suggested calendar.

I think I am most excited about the article penned by Lee Formwalt, the executive director of the Organization of American Historians. Mr. Formwalt answers the oft-asked question "When is a history topic too recent to study?" This one article would be mandatory History Day reading for everyone if I ruled the world. But I don't, so I will urge you all to check it out on your own. :-)

Visit the New York State History Day website: www.nyshistoryday.org to get your free copies of the theme sheet and book now!