- National History Day is an innovative process for students to learn history by selecting topics of interest and launching into a year-long research project.
- NHD is an opportunity for teachers and students to “do” real historical research.
This year's National History Day theme, Innovation in History: Impact and Change, provides students the opportunity to think broadly about where, when, and why humans create, design, construct, compose, problem solve, and invent.
What is Innovation?
Innovation suggests creative new approaches to any facet of life. What is it about the topic that is new and different, and is also the result of human ideas or actions?
Innovation suggests creative new approaches to any facet of life. Examples topics can come from science like Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, new discoveries like Isaac Newton’s laws of gravity, or new inventions like the automobile.
Students might explore innovation in artistic or musical forms. Changes in political, social or religious institutions or arrangements might also be considered as innovations, as new ways to respond to problems facing society.
What is in History?
The important aspect of any National History Day research project is to place the topic in the historical context, through analyzing and exploring the questions of why and so what?
An examination of historical context begins with looking at why this innovation came about when and where it did. Establishing historical context means showing what economic, political, social, technological, cultural, religious or other circumstances existed before, and perhaps caused or contributed to, the innovation of interest. It is critical for students to read about the time period first. Without historical context it is impossible for students to analyze the impact of an innovation.
The other aspect of the in history part of the theme is to look at the effects or results of the innovation. How did people react initially, in the short term (within a few years), and over the longer term (in later years and decades), to the new idea, arrangement, organization, or technology?
Sample Topics
• Longbow or the Stirrup or Gunpowder: Revolutionizing Warfare
• Metallurgy: Transforming Agricultural, Military and Artistic Tools
• Irrigation: Urbanization of Communities
• Ox Drawn Plow: Opening Trade, Transporting Goods
• Electrum: Standard Unit of Measure
• Anesthesia: Improving Surgery, Improving Health
• Waterwheel: Harnessing Energy
• The Compass and Exploration
• Lateen Sails: Sailing Against the Wind
• Gatlin Gun or Repeating Rifle: Faster than a Speeding Bullet
• Telescope: Bringing the Stars into Focus
• Gutenberg Press: Spreading Literacy to the Masses
• Heliocentric Solar System: Centering our Thoughts on Astronomy
• Mercator’s Projection: A Grid of Directions
• The Sextant: Guided by the Stars
• Barometer: Under Pressure
• Pendulum Clock: Measuring Time
• Telegraph: Communicating through Code
• The Steam Engine: Faster and Stronger
• Spinning Jenny: Automation of Weaving
• Canning: Preserving Food
• Cotton Gin: Expanding Production and Slavery
• Automated Loom: Speed Weaving
• Transcontinental Railroad: Linking a Continent
• Electricity: Shedding Light
• Photography: Capturing Time
• Refrigeration: Cold Storage
• The Reaper: Slicing through Labor Costs
• Sewing Machine: Seamless Production
• Dynamite: Exploding and Expanding Construction Projects
• Plastics: The Gift that Won’t Stop Giving
• Internal Combustion Engine: Speed and Energy
• Telephone: Communication Connection
• X-Ray: Seeing through the Future
• Household Vacuum: Cleaning Up
• Airplanes: Transforming Transportation: Connecting the World
• Polio Vaccine: New Hope
• Laser Technology: Curing without Cutting
• Barbed Wire: Fencing the Future
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