May 4, 2015

(Photos: Kien Nguyen/Center for Inspired Teaching)

On April 30, Real World History students competed in DC’s 2015 National History Day competition, held at the National Archives.

Two Real World History students – Kellie, a senior at Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy – Capitol Hill, and Jerusalem, a senior at Roosevelt Senior High School (DCPS) – won the group documentary competition for their short film on “The Exhibit of American Negros,” a work compiled by scholar and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois for the 1900 World Fair.

(L to R): Kellie and Jerusalem; Real World History students and winners of the group documentary competition at DC’s 2015 National History Day

Kellie and Jerusalem are now completing second-semester Real World History internships at the Library of Congress, and their documentary thoughtfully incorporated photographs and other primary sources from the Library’s extensive archives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhumvwLreOU

Real World History students also competed in the exhibit, research paper, and performance categories, presenting on a wide range of topics ranging from President Lincoln’s legacy to the role of service dogs during the Vietnam War.

(L to R): Real World History students Josh, Tyrone, Jay, and Kelly, joined by course creator and instructor, Inspired Teaching’s Cosby Hunt

Capturing the experience of Real World History students at the National History Day event was a film crew from WETA, which has been recording Real World History over the course of school year 2015-16 for a project on adolescent literacy.