After School Activity for the History Intellectual

Have you ever wanted to join an after school activity that combines fun, learning, and a hint of competition? Welcome to History Day, the after-school activity where students and their friends research a topic about history and create a project to demonstrate their learning. The club meets on Wednesdays in the library with Ms.Olsen, the librarian, and Mrs. Molloy, an eighth-grade social studies teacher. In the video, our news reporter, Reina Salama interviewed Julia Tucker, a returning participant of History Day.

The club ends in a competition between schools, which is held on Saturday, March 11. The competition allows students to enter their work in one of five different ways. The project categories are paper, website, documentary, exhibit, and performance. There are three levels to the competition: the regional level, the state level, and the national level. Students advance through the levels by creating entries that are superior to other students. When asked why why she recommends History Day, Julia stated, “I would reccomend History Day to anyone who likes anything about history.”

When she participated last year, Julia especially loved the field trips. At the beginning of the year, all the participants in the club went to the Harriet Beecher Stowe House to learn about how Stowe took a stand against slavery. Then, the participants went on a walking tour around the Farmington Village to learn about the Amistad and the underground railroad in Farmington.

History Day is a fun way for history-loving students to spend their time with like-minded people. If you want to find out more about the topic, send an email to Ms. Olsen or come visit her in the library to inquire about next year. Students at Farmington High School also participate in National History Day.

Watch the interview with Julia Tucker here.