Holy Family School

History Fair

2007-2008

What is a History Fair?

    Our Fair is a competition, but also a learning experience.  It is an historical investigation and a study of the relationships involved with one particular topic.  It gives each Junior High student a chance to study a topic in depth.  It allows you to be challenged.  It gives you the opportunity to share the results of your hard work.  You will learn the skills needed to achieve a quality project and find that when questioned, you can educate others and be an expert in your topic area.

How do I choose a topic?

    In our state of Illinois, the annual History Fair emphasized the study of Illinois.  This year's theme is: "Conflict and Compromise."  We are going to concentrate on this area.  We will also allow those who want to participate in the National Contest to use the national theme.  Please let your teacher know if you choose to combine your Illinois topic with the national theme.

Deadlines

Meeting Deadlines

    Your first deadlines will be handing in a list of topics that interest you.  About five specific topics will be fine.

    Next, you must choose your final topic.  Please be sure that it is a topic that you will 'stick with' as I am not inclined to allow you to change topics in the middle of the deadline schedule.  All topics must be approved by me.

    As you dwell on your topic choice, be writing down the names of your sources so that you will have that information for later when you have to write your bibliographies. 

    You are to obtain book sources and article sources from credible journals and magazines.  You may also use websites, videos, interviews, etc.  Use a variety of different types of sources!

    Together, you will need 10 sources.  All sources will need annotated bibliographies.  It is very important that we keep up with this schedule of deadlines.  There is not a lot of room to change it.  If you do not keep up, your grade will reflect that.

Your Paper

    Your paper is very important to your grade.  It is required.  It will put all your thoughts down and organize them for your presentation.  The final paper should be typed, double-spaced, a 12 font size, and in paragraph form.  It should be between 1,500 and 2,500 words long.  Too much can sometimes negatively affect the quality of your paper.  Be concise, but add detail so that your final paper is the best quality that you can produce.

    Besides the length and format, your paper should reflect your topic, how it is related to Illinois and what value learning about your subject has for us today.  Think about what kind of questions someone might ask you about your topic.  Make sure you find out the answers to those questions so you can include them in both your paper and your presentation.  Spend some time thinking about what you want to write about before your write it out.

Oral Presentation

    Your presentation is a summary of what you learned about your topic.  It is an oral summary which will be given at the Fair.  It should be concise, interesting, and easy to follow as your audience learns what you know.  You will not be graded on your presentation for your history grade.  You will be judged, though, during the History Fair based on your oral presentation, a written summary, and a display board of your work.

    A good oral presentation shows you do not rely entirely on cards or notes to give your summary.  It also means you are using good eye contact with your audience.  Just as in a speech, you are using a pleasant voice, not too loud and not too soft.  Referring to your display during your talk adds to the overall quality of your presentation.

Your Display

    Look Well--Your display should be well designed, clean, and well maintained.  It should have a good color scheme, which improves the overall appeal or attractiveness.  It should be interesting.

    Be Visible--Make sure your display has an uncluttered look where the physical layout is divided into components for a specific reason.  Your exhibit labels should be easy to read, and any objects or artifacts are well placed and defined.

    Attract and Hold Attention--Be creative and innovative in your design and construction.  Pick interesting photographs and graphics.  Avoid using copier machines for these graphics and photos.  They lose clarity when you copy them.  If you have to copy something, go to a copy store that has a high quality machine.  They are not that expensive.  Choose objects or artifacts that are unique and different.  Don't choose one-of-a kind object that we would have to worry about turning up missing.  Use components that add another dimension to your exhibit.

    Be Worthwhile--Tell a simple, but important store, based upon thorough historical research of your subject matter.  Be accurate in your labeling and script writing.  Be brief and to the point, but remember an exhibit is not a book.  Arouse interest in subject matter so that the viewer will want to learn more about your topic.

Judging

    Judges for the History Fair will be chosen by Mrs. Wiggins, Ms. Keller and Mrs. Murray.  One thing we look for in a judge is that they are people who care about young students.  I think we do find parishioners, other parents, historians, and professionals who take an interest in students who put a lot of hard work into their projects.

    Each student will be judged by more than one adult.  Each 'judging' will take place as your are giving your presentation.  Each presentation will be made in front of 2 judges at a time.  This set of judges stays together for the length of the judging period and will evaluate more than 1 student.  6th graders are judged twice.  So, they give 2 presentations and are evaluated 4 times.  7th and 8th graders will be judged by 2 or 3 sets of judges.  That means each student will receive possibly 6-9 evaluations and give 2 or 3 presentations.

    There are 4 judging criteria.   

1. The first is historical knowledge.  That means how well you researched and shared your information about your topic.

2. Second is the quality of the display.  Did you use the display in your presentation?  Did it enhance your talk and paper or did it detract for your overall story?

3. Third is the quality of your sources.  Did you label where you found your information and photos?

4. Lastly, the quality of your presentation.  Did you create an overall great presentation?

    Each judge will write down comments on their sheets which I will share with you after the Fair is over.  The scoring will be divided into ranges of numbers from 30 to 11, the more points, the better your score.  The total points will then be divided into 3 categories: Superior, Excellent and Good.  Superior scores for the 7th and 8th graders will earn them a chance to go to the regional History Fair in Charleston, Illinois.