Each year students in secondary social studies classrooms develop their research skills by participating in a social studies research project.   National History Day centers around an annual theme set by the national competition coordinators.  The 2023 theme is Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.  Students can select a topic of at least 25 years old that shows historical impact and relates to the annual theme.   There are five categories through which students can showcase their research.  These categories are exhibits, documentaries, websites, performances, and research papers.  Schools send their top projects to the district showcase in the Spring which is currently held in a hybrid model with some project categories judged virtually and some project categories judged in person.  A selection of students represent the school district at the Florida History Day competition in May.  In 2022, one of our students was awarded first place in the Senior Individual Exhibit category and the project was judged at the national competition. In 2023, one of our students was awarded first place in the Senior Individual Website category and attended the national competition in College Park, Maryland.

Seventh grade students participate in Project Citizen.  This class-wide project focuses on a local problem or issue within their community.  Students work together to research the issue, look for possible solutions, analyze the advantages and disadvantages of those solutions, select one constitutional solution, create an action plan, and reflect on their learning.  Students present at the in-person district showcase in the spring and the top three projects are judged in the state competition.  In 2020 a St. Lucie project earned an Exception rating at the national competition.  In 2016, a St. Lucie project earned a Superior rating at the national competition.

Our purpose of these projects is to help students build research and presentation skills as well as help them grow interests in the social studies and see how they can positively impact their community.

If you have questions or need support, please email kathleen.ems@stlucieschools.org or call 772-429-3641. 

If you would like to sponsor, donate, or volunteer as a judge for one or both of our 2023 Social Studies Fairs, please fill out the forms below.

2024 Social Studies Fair Judging Availability/Contibution Form

https://forms.office.com/r/TRXGkuAdv5