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Building a Project
Whether you have been creating NHDI projects for a while or are looking at creating your very first project, we have all the tools you need for success. We will guide you through the steps of creating a project, from learning about the annual theme, to research, to designing your project and presenting at a regional contest.
You can also take a look at some example projects from previous contest years. See what Indiana students have created in exhibits, performances, documentaries, websites and papers. Use them for inspiration, explore your interests, then begin your own project!
Annual Theme
Each year, the National History Day® offices select a theme to guide project creation. The annual theme is broad enough for you to pick a topic from any time period of place. The theme helps guide you to look for the impact and significance of your topic in history.
The 2025-2026 theme is Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.
Projects can cover a wide variety of local, national, and international topics addressing the concepts of revolution, reaction, or reform. Projects should keep in mind historical context, thinking about the significance of the topic over time along with the impact of the revolutions, reactions, or reforms they choose to address in their project. To better understand the theme, let’s dig a little deeper and look at the concepts of revolution, reaction, and reform.
Revolution, Reaction, Reform:
There are three parts to this theme and while projects do not need to address all three, students need to consider if all three relate when researching their topic. In many cases, topics will connect to more than just one part of the theme. Consider the different revolutions, reactions, and reforms that connect to the topic and how they could impact the development of the project and argument.
Revolution can refer to a major societal change or the overthrow of a government. Reaction refers to how people feel or respond to a particular event or change. Reform then is
the attempt to change something for the better. Students might find that these themes are many times interconnected, or one might lead to the other within a particular topic. Students should take the time to consider what themes connect to their topic, and make sure to bring in any relevant themes when crafting their project. Students have the opportunity with this theme to explore a variety of revolutions, reactions, and reforms, and how they might connect or impact one another. The themes addressed in the project could be political, social, economic, or geographic. The project could be something that happened a long time ago or could be something that occurred in more recent years. The idea is to explore the topic and see how it has impacted the course of history and human life today.
Keep in mind that the project does not have to focus on one event or person. It can explore a group of people or a movement that was involved with some type of revolution, reaction, reform. The other aspect of this theme to keep in mind is the impact the revolution, reaction, or reform being addressed can have. Remember that the impact could have been felt at the time or felt years later.
As you explore your topic and how it connects to the theme, think about the revolutions, reactions, and reforms you would like to address in your project and how those can continue to have significance up to the present day.
Don’t forget to look at topics that are at least 20 years old; you want to have a topic where there is enough time to gain some historical context. You also want to choose a topic where you can find enough information through primary and secondary sources to adequately explore your topic.
For more information regarding the annual theme, visit the NHD website and download the Annual Theme Book.
Your project starts with an idea about a topic. Remember that your topic needs to relate to the annual theme. Outside of relating to your theme and teacher approval, your topic can be any time, place or event in history. It can be local, national or world history. Is there a time period in history or a place that you have always wanted to study? Is there a subject like art, sports or music that you’re especially passionate about and can turn into a project? Do you have a favorite person in history that you want to learn more about? It is a good idea to pick something that you are curious or passionate about. Also, make sure your topic is researchable and that the information is out there for you to have enough sources!
For inspiration, take a look at our 2025-2026 Student Topic Guide. This guide will give you a taste of many different Indiana history topics and break down some places to start your research. If you’re set on winning a special prize, why not take a look this year’s special prizes and draw inspiration from Indiana-related topics? Also, be sure to take a look at past years’ projects to get some good ideas flowing!
