Chicago Metro History Day
Students Learn History Through Inquiry
Where Students Make History!
Chicago Metro History Day, formerly known as the Chicago Metro History Fair, is a project-based inquiry program that empowers students to become historians who conduct research and share their conclusions. Guided by their teachers, students in grades six through twelve choose their own topics connected to an annual theme, and then conduct research, analyze sources, make an argument, and finally produce a project to show their work. Students make websites, performances, documentaries, papers, and exhibitions which are evaluated by community volunteers at annual competitions in the Chicago metro area. This rigorous and rewarding program prepares students for high school and college expectations and helps young people become informed, engaged citizens. Come make history with us!
See this year’s important dates and deadlines.
Opportunities to judge – Registration now open!
The 2025 Chicago Metro History Day regional contests are just around the corner. We’re looking for volunteer judges for both the Junior Division (grades 6–8) and the Senior Division (grades 9–12). Both In-person events will be held at the University of Illinois Chicago Student Center East (750 S Halsted).
There no formal requirements. You just need an interest in history, comfort with giving constructive feedback on historical research, and a commitment to giving students a positive experience!
Learn more on our CMHD judges page or register with zFairs, our contest management system.
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News and Opportunities
January 10, 2025
Online Seminar Series: Exploring Illinois’ Inclusive Learning Mandates
The Illinois Council for the Social Studies is pleased to offer an online professional development seminar series. Each 2-hour online session explores a different Illinois Inclusive Learning Mandate. ICSS members may earn Professional Development credit as they explore holocaust/genocide education, Asian American History, Native American History, and Disability Education.
Session dates and times, membership links, and registration links can be found at https://www.illinoiscss.net/.
January 3, 2025
NOW OPEN: NHD National Contest 2025 Summer Internship Applications
National History Day is now accepting applications for this summer’s internship at the NHD national office. Candidates must be able to be in College Park, MD, from May 27th through the end of June. Interns will assist the NHD National Office staff with preparations, administration, and clean-up of the National Contest.
Applications for the 2025 Summer Internship are due by Friday, February 28, 2025. Find more details and apply at nhd.org/internship.
September 4, 2024
Professional Development for 2024–25
We invite teachers to learn about CMHD by attending our fall Teacher Kickoff or History Day 101 events. Teachers planning to start History Day in their classrooms are encouraged to attend History Day Methods.
Learn more about these events and see the full list of offerings.
August 27, 2024
CHM is excited to announce that we have received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The grant will support and expand “Rethinking the Gilded Age and Progressivisms: Race, Capitalism, and Democracy, 1877–1920,” a seminar-style program for K–12 teachers. Now in its seventh year, the three-week summer institute in Chicago will continue to engage 30 participating educators with readings, discussions, lectures with leading historians, guided excursions, and opportunities to develop classroom materials rooted in their own inquiries.
We’re thrilled to continue to give educators a space to contemplate and debate this critical period in US history when radically different perspectives often dominated public discourse. See the press release and full list of awards.
June 14, 2024
National History Day Accolades
Congratulations to the 66 students who represented Illinois at the National History Day® National Contest held June 9‒13, 2024! Their 36 entries advanced from a statewide pool of nearly 10,000 students who created History Day projects at the classroom level.
Their achievements include seven students placing in the top 10 entries in their category; special prizes such as the U.S. Constitution Award, Equality in History Prize, Asian American History Prize; two entries winning Outstanding Affiliate Awards; and three projects featured in National History Day’s Showcase Events.
Celebrating Student Historians
See past winners and their projects at regional, state, and national contests on our Student Accolades page.
See Past WinnersOur Sponsors
Chicago Metro History Day, a program of the Chicago History Museum, is made possible by participating History Day schools and the generosity of area organizations and individual donors. We gratefully acknowledge support provided by Busey Bank, HBK Engineering, the Minow Family Foundation in honor of Josephine Baskin Minow, and the University of Illinois Chicago. Additional programmatic support is provided by the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program, the Black Metropolis Research Consortium, the Latin School of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University Libraries, and our many prize sponsors. Chicago Metro History Day is a regional affiliate of National History Day.
Support from donors makes it possible for Chicago Metro History Day to reach more than 10,000 students annually from numerous schools in the Chicagoland area. Help us spark a lifelong love of history through this wonderful program. Consider making a gift today.
Need to get in Touch?
cjohnson@chicagohistory.org
maly@chicagohistory.org