Thirty-Five Big Lake Middle School students participated in the History Day regionals hosted at St. Cloud State University Sat., March 29. Of those 35 students, 10 advanced to the State History Day competition to be held April 27 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
“Big Lake had a great showing at regionals today,” said Social Studies teacher April Bischoff, “We are sending more students than we ever have before on to state! Hooray!”
History Day
The National History Day website (nhd.org) describes the competition this way, “Each year, students around the world discover history through National History Day by creating historical research projects. Through the process, students develop skills in communication, project management, and historical thinking.”
This year’s theme was Rights & Responsibilities in History.
Once students choose their topics, the process for their projects is broken into three parts – research, analysis, and presentation. Students decide which category they want to present their projects in and whether they want to present individually or as a group. The five categories are documentary, exhibit, paper, performance, or website.
“This historical research project is a big effort by both the teachers and the students, but so many valuable lessons are learned through this process, that it is well worth the extra work,” said Bischoff.
What They Learned
Sixth grader Elise Warnke learned more about the conflicted relationship that existed between Japan and the US before WWII.
“Until I did my research, I had no idea why Japan bombed Pearl Harbor,” she shared. Her project explored Women in WWII, a subject she chose because her Great-Grandma served in the Navy during this period in history. Warnke also gave this insight about the rights of women at that time.
“They (women) hadn’t even had the right to vote yet,” she explained.
Sixth graders Layla Calgaro and Maria Wilfahrt created a group performance on Susan B. Anthony. Calgaro said she learned that “you should never give up if you know it’s not fair, never listen to what others have to say about you when you know yourself best.”
“Don’t take your rights for granted because there were times where very few people actually had them,” said Wilfahrt.
Eighth graders Legion Maxson and Mason Tvrdik learned how the Soviet government harmed their citizens instead of helping them when they covered up the disaster.
“They tried to downplay its severity, which resulted in evacuation efforts being delayed, and a high number of individuals being exposed to dangerous levels of radiation, putting the government’s reputation above people’s lives,” said Maxson.
Best Part of History Day
The MN Historical Society noted that over 450 volunteer judges spent over 3,100 hours reviewing projects and writing comments. Over 2,000 students participated in one of 11 regional contests throughout MN.
Bischoff pointed out what was the best part of History Day.
“There are a lot of students that participate and the fact that we have 10 going to the state competition is absolutely fabulous,” she says. “The best part of History Day, though, is that all of our students at Big Lake Middle School gain so much knowledge and confidence from doing something that is a challenge for them. They showed grit and determination while learning how to read more masterfully, think more critically, and communicate about something that they created. It was well worth the work!”
Advancing to State
The following sixth graders advanced to State: Elise Warnke for her individual documentary, “WAVES of Change: American Women Serving in the Military for the Past Century”; Annika Vagle for her individual performance, “Stonewall Riots”; Lyla Calgaro and Maria Wilfahrt for their group performance, “Susan B. Anthony”.
Seventh graders Mikayla Jerome’s individual exhibit, “Oskar Schindler” and Arianna Cano Fernandini’s individual website “Anne Frank” helped them advance to state as well.
Lastly, eight grade students Legion Maxson and Mason Tvrdik advanced to State for their group documentary. “The Chernobyl Disaster”. Elise Jagusch and Hazel Guldseth advanced for their group exhibit, “The Triangle Fire”. Also, of note, student Makenna Schewe received an honorable mention at the regional competition for her individual exhibit, “Title IX”.
