5 History Competitions for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Jul 7
- 5 min read
As a motivated middle school student with an interest in history, entering a competition can be a foundational step toward building your academic profile early on. History competitions for middle school students give you the chance to dive deeper into historical topics, develop research and writing skills, and think critically about past events and their relevance today. These experiences not only strengthen your understanding of the subject but also stand out on future high school applications, scholarship forms, and academic resumes. Many contests promote public speaking, teamwork, or creative expression, offering more than just a grade or certificate. Participating in history competitions for middle school students demonstrates initiative, curiosity, and the ability to engage with complex ideas in a structured way – which is why we have curated a list of the best ones for you!
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: $165
Competition dates: June 8–12
Application deadline: April 9–May 13
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6–12
If you make it to the NHD National Contest, you're joining nearly 3,000 middle and high school students from across the U.S. and abroad who have advanced through local, regional, and state-level competitions. To get there, you'll spend months researching a topic tied to the annual theme–past themes have explored ideas like leadership, communication, or conflict and compromise–and create a project in one of five formats: paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or website. At Nationals, held at the University of Maryland, you will get to present your work through interviews (for paper, exhibit, and website categories) or live/showcased performances and screenings (for performance and documentary). Judges evaluate your project on historical accuracy, depth of research, clarity of argument, and connection to the theme. The competition is intense but rewarding, and finalists can earn medals, scholarships, and national recognition. In this history competition for middle school students, you can also take part in campus events like museum tours and social activities that celebrate your work and connect you with like-minded peers.
Location: Connecticut’s Old State House
Cost: Free to nominate
Program dates: Inauguration Day: January 23 | Snow Date: January 30
Application deadline: October 23 (for nominee’s campaign video and entry forms)
Eligibility: Open to 5th graders
As a motivated 5th grader in Connecticut interested in leadership and civic action, the Kid Governor program gives you a chance to experience a real statewide election. You and your classmates can nominate one student from your school to run by creating a campaign video that highlights an issue you care about, along with researched solutions and an action plan. After local primaries, each school’s nominee advances to the state level, where a panel selects seven finalists whose videos are viewed by thousands of 5th graders across the state. You will then participate in a November election that mirrors the actual voting process, casting your ballot for the candidate whose platform you support. The winner of this one-of-a-kind civic and history competition for middle school students becomes the official Kid Governor for a one-year term, working with the Connecticut Democracy Center and a student Cabinet to promote their chosen issue. The program is designed to teach you about state government, voting, public service, and how young people can lead change in their communities.
Location: Virtual or Washington, D.C.
Cost: $2,000 per team
Competition dates: April 25–26 (National Invitational)
Application deadline: Unspecified
Eligibility: Open to all middle- and high school students
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Invitational invites middle schoolers to step into the role of a constitutional scholar and engage in simulated congressional hearings to defend their ideas before expert judges. As part of a middle school team, you will dive into topics like the foundations of American democracy, the Constitution’s structure, civil liberties, and how constitutional principles apply today. You will prepare detailed responses to annually updated hearing questions, present your answers in a formal setting over Zoom, and then respond to follow-up questions that test your depth of understanding and analytical thinking. Teams from across the country compete virtually, and awards are given not only to the top three overall teams but also to those with the highest scores in individual thematic units. This virtual history competition for middle school students challenges you to connect historical ideas with modern-day issues and is one of the most respected programs you can join.
Location: Virtual submission
Cost: Free to enter
Submission deadline: January 20
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6–8
C-SPAN’s StudentCam challenges you to produce a 5–6 minute documentary that tackles a national issue connected to the annual theme–in 2025, it's “Your Message to the President.” Open to students in grades 6–12, the history competition for middle school students lets you work solo or with up to two teammates to research a civic topic, present multiple perspectives, and express your own views through a compelling video. Your film must include relevant C-SPAN footage for context and support, and you’re expected to explore opposing viewpoints and possibly even interview experts to strengthen your argument. Judges look for depth of research, balanced presentation, clear messaging, and technical quality. You will also need to cite your sources properly and meet strict time requirements, as videos outside the 5:00–6:00 minute range are disqualified. Winning entries can earn cash prizes, split among team members, making this both an intellectually demanding and rewarding project.
Location: Virtual submission (competitions are individually organised by Bar Associations of various states across the U.S.)
Cost: Free to enter
Submission deadline: Varies by state
Eligibility: Open to all middle- and high school students
The American Bar Association’s Law Day Art & Essay Contests invite you to explore legal principles and historical themes through writing or visual art, based on an annually changing theme focused on the rule of law. Open to middle school students in various states such as Oklahoma, Maine, and Minnesota, this political-and-history competition for middle school students asks you to either write a thoughtful essay or create a compelling poster or photo that reflects your understanding of the given topic. Submissions are judged on originality, relevance to the theme, clarity of expression, and creativity, depending on whether you're submitting art or an essay. You will be expected to engage with ideas like justice, constitutional rights, or civic responsibility, making this ideal if you’re interested in history, law, or government. Top entries may be recognized at the local or state level with certificates, awards, or public display, and some regions may offer prizes or opportunities to present your work at Law Day events.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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