Innovation in History

The theme for the 2009-2010 History Day competition is Innovation in History: Impact and Change. What does this mean, you may ask? Does my topic have to be scientific in nature? Do I have to pick an invented object for my topic? What counts as an Innovation?

Well, that is all up to you. While science topics may seem the most obvious, the theme is much broader than that. The Merriam-Webster definition of "Innovation" is: 1) the introduction of something new 2) a new idea, method, or device. When searching for a topic, consider your interests and what you'd like to research and find out what is innovative about that subject area? What happened during the time period that is the result of a human idea, creation, or action and changed the way people think about or do things.

For example, how did the bottling of Coca-Cola in Chattanooga change the way we consume soft drinks in the world? How about Piggly Wiggly? How did the establishment of this grocery store chain change the way we shop for groceries in the U.S.? Consider Oak Ridge National Laboratory? How did it change the world? The Grand Ole Opry? Sequoyah and the Cherokee Alphabet? Changes in Music? These Tennessee history examples are all ideas to consider when interpreting this year's History Day theme, Innovation in History: Impact and Change.

Remember to adequately tell the story of an innovation, you have to place the topic in context. So, do some research about what else is happening in the world at the time your innovation occurs and include that research in your project!

Teachers and students with questions about the theme should consider reading the excellent essay on this year's theme written by Julie McCullough. If you visit our website at http://www.tennesseehistory.org/2010HistoryDayTheme.htm you'll find it there along with the teacher curriculum guide for this year's theme. A list of sample topics is also available and in the upcoming weeks, we'll be posting a list of Tennessee related topics.

If you have questions or would like some feedback on a topic idea you have, feel free to email your state coordinator at historyday@tennesseehistory.org. Good luck with your History Day research!