National History Day: Exhibit Notes

At the NHD National Competition a couple of years ago, I took a lot of notes about what I saw from exhibits. At any stage in the process, whether you're just starting or trying to fix up your exhibit for Nationals, these are some things to consider.

Exhibits
 

The best exhibits are more like museum exhibits than science fair boards. The colors, decoration, and even design of the board tend to correspond to the topic.

Lots of entries use video screens integrated into the board.

Most entries use a trifold shape, and many of them make use of the traditionally empty are on the table between the sides of the trifold. Here there may be models, maps, relevant timelines, etc. It’s important to not just try to fill this space, though – everything present should add something to the exhibit.

Because of the limit on student produced words, most boards have lots of quotes, images, and documents.

No one will read a long block of text – split the text up. However, too many short text blocks can make the board look busy, so there has to be a balance. The board should provide lots of information in an organized fashion.

Choose two or three thematic colors that go together, and make sure there is enough contrast that the board is easy to read. Choose a readable font in a large enough size, and don’t use very many different fonts.

Some exhibits use texture backing material on the board to theme it – thin cotton for Triangle Shirtwaist, woven plant mats for Guam, etc.

Most exhibits were trifolds – cardboard, foamcore, wood, even corrugated metal – and tall. However, others had three or four sides and spun. One of the entries that made finals was in the form of a very large book because the topic was Dr. Seuss.

Some of the exhibits were two pieces vertically joined with latches, Velcro, or braces.

Don’t just glue everything flat to the board. Using foamcore to bumpt things out creates a more polished appearance.

Some exhibits are interactive: lift the flap areas, layered stacks of pages, trains that ran, video selections.

Every exhibit has electricity available. Lighting makes a big difference. Some used tap lights so didn’t need to wire.

A PowerPoint can be converted into a good exhibit board. Exhibits that look like converted papers, though, don’t do well.

Not just construction paper for matting things – mat board, scrapbook paper, etc.

There was one exhibit that used an academic conference style poster for the center portion of the trifold.

Pictures can be made 3D – print two copies, cut out part to be highlighted, glue on top of original picture with a spacer in between.

A scrapbook consultant could help with color selection and layout.

Sturdiness is important, and shipping can be expensive – multi-hundred dollar shipping costs. At least one exhibit was damaged in transit.

Nothing should be drawn or hand-lettered unless the student is an amazing artist.