Creating Historical Documentaries

Have you heard about National History Day--the standards-aligned academic program for grades 6-12 that engages students in research topics related to an annual theme? If you are curious about the program, you can learn more from their website, or contact NHD co-coordinator Melissa Hibbard, who will be happy to answer any questions. 

Even if you aren't having your students participate in National History Day, you might be interested in this two-hour online training, designed to teach educators how to help students create historical documentaries. 

Here's the scoop, taken mostly from the press release: 

NHD is partnering with KQED and PBS Learning Media to help educators understand and use short-form video and video editing software to assist students in creating historical documentaries and student-created video content to bring the past to life and help make sense of complex historical topics. 

To coincide with the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the release of Ken Burns' new upcoming documentary, The American Revolution, educators are invited to a training to explore how student-created history documentaries can help your students share their voice, knowledge, skills, and creativity in coordination with the PBS Learning Media Youth Challenge on the American Revolution.

What educators will do during this workshop:

• Explore ready-to-use curriculum using National History Day’s 2026 theme of Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History and the Revolutionary Era as a case study
• Practice video pre-production strategies
• Start a sample mini-documentary you can use as a model with students

What educators will leave the workshop with:

• Guidance to assist students on their National History Day documentary projects
• Modifiable curriculum and resources in English and Spanish for PBS LearningMedia’s The American Revolution Youth Media Challenge (hosted by KQED)
• No-cost access to web-based video editing tools
• A copy of the presentation deck to modify and use with students
• A PDF letter of attendance–verifying 2 hours of attendance. Submit this to Melissa and she'll get you an OPI Renewal Unit certificate. Or submit it directly to your administration. 
• Ongoing facilitator support for technical and classroom implementation questions, as needed

This workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, 2025, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Here is the link to the information page with the link to register for the workshop.

 P.S. If you teach American history, do make sure to check out the PBS Learning Media Youth Challenge on the American Revolution--whether or not you attend this training or have any interest in National History Day. It sounds really cool.

P.P.S. Check out some of the videos Montana students made last year for National History Day!