Welcome to the Chicago Metro History Fair Blog!

History Fair students and teachers now have the opportunity to get the latest from HF staff and share their own questions and ideas so that all participants' experience with History Fair may benefit. Click on the links listed in the right-hand column to learn news, ask questions, post comments. Let's keep the conversation in all the blogs relevant and positive!

History Fair Insider
We'll post our ideas, tips, and news about this year's History Fair--and we encourage you to join the conversation. Your questions or finds will help other teachers and students.

Teaching Chicago History
Chicago History can be used effectively throughout the U.S. History survey. On the blog, we will offer ideas and resources to expand your knowledge of and use of Chicago history topics. For example, when you are teaching about abolition, you can introduce students to John and Mary Jones, two free blacks who were part of the abolitionist movement in Chicago or show them the newspapers about the blacks and whites in the city who regularly rescued helped escaped slaves and defied the Fugitive Slave law. Abolition did not only occur on the East Coast--it happened right here, and by exploring it through the local lens, students may become even more engaged!

Teachers can share Chicago History syllabi, specific lessons plans and activities, field trip tips, and links to other curricula. You may also post questions and comments: looking for a lesson plan on the homefront during World War 2 or took a great field trip with your students to Pullman Porters Museum? Post it in comments!

NHD 06
Get a peek at last year's experience at NHD in College Park, Maryland. We are so proud of and delighted with the students, parents, teachers (and principal!) who joined us.

NHD 07
As NHD approaches, we'll post information about rules and approaches followed by the national contest participants, lodging and sight-seeing inf, conversations among the students who have been selected to represent Illinois, and a daily blog AT NHD. Stay tuned!