West Virginia State Social Studies Fair and History Day

Student Programs Webinar 2012-2013

The 2013 West Virginia State Social Studies Fair will be held on April 26 at the Charleston Civic Center.

Exemplary education requires the reciprocal participation of the community and the student.  Effective social studies education requires the engagement of the learner in the investigation of the social science issues.

West Virginia social studies education affords all students the opportunity to ask essential questions, recognize patterns of behavior, think critically, create solutions, predict outcomes and draw conclusions to help them learn to solve problems.  With these opportunities in place, students of social studies will be prepared as participatory citizens of the 21st Century global society. The West Virginia State Social Studies Fair provides the opportunity for students to excel in these realms.

Objectives

It is the intent of the social Studies fair to:

  • Recognize and reward outstanding achievements of Social Studies students;
  • Implement the Next Generation West Virginia Content Standards and Objectives for Social Studies (Policy 2520.4);
  • Develop among participants an ability to apply the scientific method as it applies to social studies investigations;
  • Challenge students to be inventive and think creatively;
  • Provide relevance;
  • Encourage students to demonstrate what they know and to observe what others throughout the state know regarding social studies content;
  • Provide the opportunity for students to interpret the cultural, social, political, geographic and economic forces of historical and current issues and events and to understand more fully the nature of social studies;
  • Encourage students to draw more heavily on all areas of social studies as a means of broadening and deepening their understanding of social science concepts and principles;
  • Encourage students to practice information and communication skills, thinking and problem-solving skills, interpersonal and serf-directional skills;
  • Provide a forum for student public speaking;
  • Generate public interest in and appreciation for the broad interdisciplinary areas of social studies;
  • Develop a greater public appreciation and understanding of the abilities of youth;
  • Encourage global awareness, economic and civic literacies, health and wellness;
  • Provide an opportunity for students to implement the 21st Century learning skills (Policy 2520.14);
  • Encourage the utilization of technology tools where appropriate (Policy 2520.14).

 

Please visit the West Virginia State Social Studies Fair webpage for all information related to the fair:

http://www.wvssfair.com Listed below are some of the items you will find at the site.

  • Coordinators
  • Students
  • Judges
  • Score cards
  • Abstract
  • Categories
  • Classifications
  • Project planning process
  • Hotel reservations
  • Driving directions
  • Complete schedule for the April 26, 2013 Fair
  • National History Day -

    The West Virginia State Social Studies Fair is very excited to be partnered with National History Day.  Students may only enter one project in either the State Social Studies Fair or National History Day they may not enter a project in both.

    All National History Day projects must be registered on the State Social Studies Fair site by April 2, 2013.  Classroom teachers please be sure and get your National History Day Registrations in to the county coordinators in enough time for them to get them entered into the system before the deadline.  Remember National History Day Participants can only be from Division II and III (grades 6-8 and 9-12).  Also small groups for National History Day can have no more than five people.

     

     Please make sure that these participants have read and followed the National History Day Rules from their website, including the theme.  National History Day Projects that have not followed the guidelines set-up by National History Day will not be judged. National History Day projects also fall under many of the same rules and regulations of the State Social Studies Fair.  The National History Day participants do not have to complete the abstract required for State Fair Projects, however the must complete all the required written material listed on Page 10 of the National History Day Contest Rule Book.  The National History Day/State Fair Coordinator makes the last call on all rules and regulations.  So if in doubt please ask in advance.  Send all questions about National History Day to Joey Wiseman at rjwisema@access.k12.wv.us .

     

    All other projects will follow the rules and regulations for the WV State Social Studies Fair.  Remember many of the state rules have changed this year as well so be sure to read your rules carefully.  Good luck to everyone.  If you have questions or are unsure about anything please contact us immediately.  Next year National History Day participants will compete at the Local and Regional levels.