Local Students to Showcase Historical Knowledge at State Competition at Oklahoma History Center

The Oklahoma National History Day competition will be held at the Oklahoma History Center. Hundreds of students from across the state will participate. The event is split over two days. Students in 6th to 8th grades will compete on Wednesday, May 1. Students in 9th to 12th grades will compete on Thursday, May 2. The competition starts at 9 a.m. on both days, with awards given at 2:30 p.m.

Students reach the state competition by winning one of seven regional competitions in Oklahoma. The top two students in each category at the state level will be named Oklahoma Historical Society scholars. They will receive a free membership. State winners will then move to the national competition. This will be held at the University of Maryland at College Park from June 9-13.

The competition is part of an academic program that promotes critical thinking. It aligns with Oklahoma's social studies standards and other subjects. Each year, thousands of Oklahoma students in grades 6-12 participate. The program emphasizes project-based learning. Students conduct in-depth primary and secondary research on historical topics related to a theme.

Students analyze and interpret their sources. They then draw conclusions about their topic’s importance in history. They present their work in original papers, exhibits, performances, websites, and documentaries. These projects are entered into competitions in the spring at regional, state, and national levels. Professional historians and educators evaluate them.

The Oklahoma History Center, the competition venue, is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. It is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and National Archives. It is also an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The Oklahoma Historical Society's mission is to collect, preserve, and share Oklahoma's history and culture.

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