Connecticut History Day
  • Home
  • CHD Blog
  • Regional Contest Day
  • Annual Theme
  • Educators
    • Annual Theme
    • Project Examples
  • Students
    • Project Examples
    • Student Research
      • Connecticut Organizations
      • Digital Resources
    • Student Stories
  • Judges
  • Parents
  • Workshops
    • Student Workshops
    • Educator Workshops
    • Heading to Nationals Workshop
  • Virtual Contest
    • Contest Registration
  • Contests
    • Regional Contests
      • Fairfield
      • Hartford
      • Mansfield/Storrs
      • New Haven
      • Norwich
      • Torrington
    • State Contest
    • National Contest
    • Contest Winners
    • Past Contest Results
  • Contact
    • Sponsors and Friends
  • Shop & Donate to CHD
    • Exhibit Boards
    • Donate to CHD
  • Home
  • CHD Blog
  • Regional Contest Day
  • Annual Theme
  • Educators
    • Annual Theme
    • Project Examples
  • Students
    • Project Examples
    • Student Research
      • Connecticut Organizations
      • Digital Resources
    • Student Stories
  • Judges
  • Parents
  • Workshops
    • Student Workshops
    • Educator Workshops
    • Heading to Nationals Workshop
  • Virtual Contest
    • Contest Registration
  • Contests
    • Regional Contests
      • Fairfield
      • Hartford
      • Mansfield/Storrs
      • New Haven
      • Norwich
      • Torrington
    • State Contest
    • National Contest
    • Contest Winners
    • Past Contest Results
  • Contact
    • Sponsors and Friends
  • Shop & Donate to CHD
    • Exhibit Boards
    • Donate to CHD

Skill lesson 2: Historical Context

12/22/2017

0 Comments

 
This is the second lesson in my series for teachers and students. I often find that students forget to develop context before researching, especially middle schoolers who may not have taken coursework that would provide such context yet. Here’s the lesson I use to encourage my own students to think about vertical (the time period) and horizontal (before and after) context.
Discussion questions: What does the phrase historical context mean? Why is it important in History Day?

When starting research, a lot of students quickly learn many details on their specific topic, be it a person or an event. While this is a necessary first step in research, you’ll also need some context so you can properly frame your thesis. Historical Context refers to the wider picture and circumstances that frame an event or person. Context helps your research make sense.
​

You want to argue that your topic is a significant conflict/compromise. To do this, you need to show how it was a change from the norm!
Picture
Remember, you are researching one coat on a rack. How is YOUR coat different, special, and unique? If it’s the only orange coat with a zipper, that’s a big deal! But we won’t know this unless you describe the other coats.

When considering historical context, think about before, during, after “your” topic.
Picture
Lastly, make sure you include dates when discussing events that fit your topics historical context. Dates firmly anchor events into a timeline and help establish trends or cause-effect. You might not be used to using dates in the Informational or Argument writing you do in ELA class, but in History Day dates are important.
Picture


​Jenn McMunn is a social studies and ELA enrichment teacher at Mansfield Middle School. She has had students participate in History Day for 16 years and currently serves as the Mansfield Regional Coordinator.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Follow us!

  • Home
  • CHD Blog
  • Regional Contest Day
  • Annual Theme
  • Educators
    • Annual Theme
    • Project Examples
  • Students
    • Project Examples
    • Student Research
      • Connecticut Organizations
      • Digital Resources
    • Student Stories
  • Judges
  • Parents
  • Workshops
    • Student Workshops
    • Educator Workshops
    • Heading to Nationals Workshop
  • Virtual Contest
    • Contest Registration
  • Contests
    • Regional Contests
      • Fairfield
      • Hartford
      • Mansfield/Storrs
      • New Haven
      • Norwich
      • Torrington
    • State Contest
    • National Contest
    • Contest Winners
    • Past Contest Results
  • Contact
    • Sponsors and Friends
  • Shop & Donate to CHD
    • Exhibit Boards
    • Donate to CHD