Kentucky History Day

Kentucky History Day (KHD) is an educational program for students in grades 4-12. Throughout the school year, students conduct research using primary and secondary sources to prepare projects based on an annual theme. The annual theme is broad enough to encourage investigation of topics ranging from local and state history to U.S. and world history. Through the Kentucky Junior Historical Society and Kentucky History Day, students gain valuable 21st Century Learning skills of communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking, and make lasting connections with peers and educators that will benefit them long after they graduate!

Kentucky History Day is an affiliate of the National History Day program. We have three divisions: junior division (grades 6-8), senior division (grades 9-12) and a youth division (grades 4-5). Students may work individually or in a group of up to five students. Junior and senior students may create projects in any one of these five categories: paper (individual only), exhibit, performance, documentary or Web site (individual and group combined). Youth division students may create projects in the exhibit and documentary categories and will only compete at the state contest.

For junior and senior division students, the program culminates in a series of contests held at the district, state and national levels. District contests are usually held in March and April. Each district's top entries in each category and division are eligible to compete at the state contest to be held in Frankfort on April 28. The top two entries in each category and division at the state level are eligible to compete in the national contest, which is held at the University of Maryland each June.

Themes

2010: Innovation in History: Impact and Change
2011: Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures and Consequences
2012: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History
2013: Turning Points in History: People, Ideas and Events




Click here for some History Day project examples


2013 Youth Division Rules (Unchanged from 2011-12)


2013 Contest
Turning Points in History: People, Ideas and Events

District Contests
There are eight district contests held in Kentucky. Registration for all the district contests is handled by the state coordinator. To find out which district you will compete in, consult the NHD District map.

District 1 & 2, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Owensboro, March 23, 2013
Results: District 1 and 2



District 3, duPont Manual High School, Louisville, March 9, 2013
Results: District 3



District 4, No contest location, compete at District 2 or 3 contest


District 5, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, March 16, 2013
Results: District 5



District 6, Northern Kentucky University, Covington, March 2, 2013
Results: District 6




District 7, No contest this year


District 8, Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, Cumberland, March 29, 2013
Results: District 8



KJHS Conference and Kentucky History Day Contest
Participants advance from the district contests to the state contest, held at the University of Louisville, Louisville, April 26-27, 2013.
2013 KJHS Conference and Kentucky History Day Winners

National Contest: University of Maryland, College Park, Md., June 9-13, 2012


Kentucky Junior Historical Society Conference
A two-day event, the Kentucky Junior Historical Society Conference, was combines the Kentucky Junior Historical Society (KJHS) convention and Kentucky History Day state contest. The KJHS convention includes among other things, a quick recall tournament, tours and activities, election of officers to the KJHS student board and a Friday night dance.

Annual conference cost is $5 per student for those who do not pay the flat fee to participate.


To learn more, contact Cheryl Caskey at 502-564-1792, ext. 4461, or cheryl.caskey@ky.gov.