10 History Passion Project Ideas for High School Students

History, as a field of research, is about identifying and connecting important events and figures from the past. Although the words “history” and “story” share a common root, good history rarely fits into our definition of a compelling story. History has no clear beginning, nor middle, nor end. There isn’t always a clear protagonist or singular moment of climax. In truth, the best history research usually demonstrates that the past was much more complex and nuanced than we previously believed. Fittingly, within the field of history, there is also a sub-field called historiography: the study of how history has been told (in other words, the history of history).

Great history passion project ideas inspire students to become close readers and convincing argumentative writers. Along the way, students build and strengthen a set of valuable and versatile soft skills. These include critical thinking skills (strengthened by recognizing bias in an author’s point of view and by comparing conflicting interpretations) and attention to detail (strengthened by fact-checking and keeping track of primary and secondary sources). The University of Georgia lists the following as essential soft skills for history students:

• Curiosity

• Patience

• Flexibility

• Empathy

• Precision

• Persistence

• Gauging the representativeness and relevance of data

• Time management

• Communication and presentation skills

These skills are highly valued and sought by college admissions offices and, more broadly, the professional world. Beyond building these essential life skills, students who successfully complete history passion projects come away with impressive, tangible outcomes that clearly demonstrate the depth of their abilities. This helps students stand out even in competitive applicant pools when applying for college or a summer research program.

Why Study History?

There are countless justifications for studying history. First of all, students who are passionate about history and who are motivated to think critically about the past are better prepared to understand the present and the future. History students are especially equipped to understand and foresee the behaviors of people and of societies. Another great reason to study history is to better comprehend the forces of change and stasis. As historian Peter N. Stearns explains, “Only through studying history can we grasp how things change; only through history can we begin to comprehend the factors that cause change; and only through history can we understand what elements of an institution or a society persist despite change.” In short, if you want to understand the complex forces shaping the world around you, then diving into history is a great first step.

If you are eager to understand when, why, and how decisions have been made over time, then you should consider becoming a historian! Students who grapple with the past have the edge when it comes to making real-world impacts and building a better future.

If you are passionate about history but not sure where to begin when it comes to conducting history research, we’re here to help. Ignite your passion for history research by joining our Polygence Pods program! It is specifically designed to help high school students develop history research projects while working with an experienced research program mentor and a small cohort of budding historians.

How Can I Find the Best History Passion Project Idea For Me?

Before jumping into an independent history project, it’s best to take the time to identify a passion project that is a great fit for your interests as well as your goals. As a first step, consider the following queries. For each question, write down an answer or journal for a few minutes to reflect. Don’t worry about zeroing in on a specific passion project just yet. The idea is simply to take note of and organize your own interests and goals regarding your history research.

1. What type of outcome do you want to produce? Possible outcomes include research papers, documentary-style films, history-based short stories, and more. Different passion project ideas lend themselves to different results, so think carefully about how you envision showcasing your project.

2. Which skills would you like to strengthen through this passion project? For example, if you want to build your archival research, critical thinking, communication, presentation, or academic writing skills, then you could choose a passion project that specifically targets those areas.

3. Are there places that you are passionate about researching? This could be as specific as a neighborhood or community in a city, or as broad as a region or a country.

4. Are there time periods that you are especially interested in? For instance, are you passionate about ancient history? Or, are you more inspired by modern history? 

5. Are there people or events that you have always been curious about? Instead of focusing on a place, you could focus on a person (such as a ruler or cultural figure) or an event (such as a revolution or a war), tracing your subject’s development over time and geography.

6. Is there a particular subtopic or a lens within history that you’d like to explore? For example, you could conduct your research through the lens of the history of music, the history of technology, the history of religion, etc.

Once you’ve completed this initial step, check out all of the history projects you can find that were recently completed by other high schoolers. You can browse the project ideas listed below, as well as our list of completed history projects by Polygence scholars. For additional inspiration, you can take advantage of our Project Idea Generator! At this point, Write down a list of your top three project ideas that you are most excited about and that best fit your interests and goals.

Finally, it’s best to speak with a mentor about your top history project ideas. An experienced history mentor can help you narrow down your search for the ideal passion project by pointing out research gaps in the field, directing you to important archives and other valuable resources, and advising on the scope and feasibility of each project idea. Together, you and your mentor should be able to select the best history project for you!

Interesting History Project Ideas to Research and Explore

1) Write a History Research Paper About Your Favorite Event

In this project, you’ll choose a single event or theme and explore it from multiple historical angles. After choosing the event (it can be any moment of political, economic, cultural, military, or social significance), you’ll identify your primary questions, find primary sources, and read deeply on your topic. Next, you’ll synthesize your findings into an original history research paper.

Idea by previous history research mentor Charles

2) Research Your Family History

This project will allow you to better understand your family’s past and the historical events surrounding your ancestors. Start by interviewing your relatives and listening to their stories to collect as much information as possible. Ask questions about your ancestors, and places where they’ve lived, collect documents, record oral histories, etc. Using this information, you can conduct a deep dive into your family's past and discover how to situate it within the broader landscape of contemporary events. Write your own family’s history or create a podcast!

Idea by history research mentor Luther

3) Explore Comparative (Ancient) History Topics

Develop a research paper focused on an ancient historical event of your choosing. Start by choosing your topic (it can be anything from ancient history: roughly 3000 BC – AD 500). Next, determine a research gap within your event that you would like to explore further. From there, identify five research questions revolving around your event gap that can help you fill in the blanks. Work on developing research to find the answers to your questions!

Idea by previous history research mentor Supratik

4) Write a Review: History vs. Hollywood

Choose a few different movies that revolve around real historical events. Watch the movies and take detailed notes. Next, conduct detailed research on each of the places and events that the films depicted. How realistic are the movies? What information was added, left out, or exaggerated?

Idea by previous history research mentor Holly 

5) Study Propaganda in World War II

If the Second World War fascinates you, this is your project! Pull together as many pieces of propaganda from that period as you can find. They could be on posters, milk cartons, comic books, etc. (Hint: the U.S. National Archives, the UK National Archives, and the Holocaust Memorial Museum websites offer great starting points). Analyzing your findings will provide you with an understanding of the different reactions portrayed through society at this time. How does this compare to today?

Idea by history research mentor Jonathan 

6) Create a Video or Podcast About History

First, choose a historical event that interests you. Next, pull together articles, news stories, and other formats (e.g. social media, if the event took place in recent history) to view the different reactions to this event that occurred. In a podcast or video format, compare this current event to a similar past event. Discuss the factors that led to the two events and compare their respective aftermaths.

Idea by previous history research mentor Samantha

7) Create a Newspaper: The Interwar Herald: News of the World

Are you intrigued by the roaring 20s? If so, create your newspaper revolving around historical events from the 1920s! The idea is to write as if you were a journalist in a local community working one hundred years ago. First, choose a few news topics from around the same period. Next, put yourself in someone’s (real or imaginary) shoes and start putting your thoughts on the page. How are people reacting? How would you analyze the situation in real time? Get creative and design your paper using pictures, articles, ads, interviews, and letters all from that time period.  

Idea by previous history research mentor Erin

8) Find Global History in China

Learn more about the rich and nuanced history of China! Choose a specific time period and topic revolving around Chinese history that you would like to further explore. Conduct a research paper summarizing your findings.

Idea by previous history research mentor John

9) Learn about Henry VIII, The Misunderstood Tyrant

If you like to hear about the drama of other people's lives, studying up on Henry VIII might also entertain you! Henry is best remembered for establishing the Church of England and having six wives, but there has to be more to him than that. Can you think of a research question that would lead to an interesting discussion of his character or actions? Dive into this project to uncover the secrets of this notorious British monarch!

Idea by previous history research mentor Rebecca

10) Explore Nature's Past through Environmental History

When you think of “history,” you might think of politics and battles but it is so much more than that! Instead of writing a paper on a specific event, try focusing on the environment and the natural world. How much better was the environment when everyone rode horses instead of driving cars? What environmental problems did societies face in the past and how do those compare or differ from today? Once you’ve chosen your research question, you’ll read books and articles and then synthesize your findings in the form of a review paper.

Idea by previous history research mentor Gustave

Mentorship: Turning Your History Passion Project into a Tangible Outcome

How Mentorship Can Guide Your Project

History projects, when coupled with mentorship, can go from a simple idea to a powerful, polished, and impressive product. Mentorship provides invaluable guidance, offering insights into how to structure your research, refine your analysis, and communicate your findings in a way that highlights your soft and hard skills and helps you stand out. A mentor can help you identify research gaps, explore different methodologies, and even point you toward the best historical sources.

Through Polygence’s mentorship program, you’ll be paired with an expert historian who will guide you through every step of the project, from brainstorming ideas to final presentation. With personalized feedback and support, you’ll not only produce a high-quality history project but also gain deeper insights into how to approach research and critical analysis.

Mentorship ensures that you:

• Receive personalized guidance to shape your passion project into a tangible, high-quality outcome.

• Learn the nuances of historical research and develop your analytical thinking.

• Produce a passion project that will help you stand out in college applications by showcasing initiative, passion, and intellectual curiosity.

Skills Gained by Completing a History Project

Students who go through the process of completing a successful history project will build both hard skills and soft skills. Each project targets and strengthens different skills, so it’s crucial for high school students to choose their projects carefully based on their goals. Remember that the depth of your abilities is equally important as, if not more important than, the breadth of your skills.

Depending on the project you complete, the technical skills you will develop may include:

• Research methods (e.g. working with archives and databases)

• Argumentative writing (e.g. structured analyses, citations, and annotated bibliographies)

• Foreign language comprehension (depending on the geographic focus of your research)

• Data management (e.g. maintaining and organizing notes, documents, and versions of your work)

• Digital tools (e.g. GIS tools and data visualization softwares)

Not only are these skills great for developing your craft, but they're also important for when you want to showcase your work forf college admissions.  Additionally, you may build and strengthen the following soft skills through your history project:

• Curiosity (e.g. by learning deeply about how other people lived and thought)

• Flexibility (e.g. by keeping an open mind while absorbing information from authors whose conclusions differ with each other)

• Empathy (e.g. by exploring unfamiliar cultures and societies)

• Precision (e.g. by fully and accurately capturing and describing a moment in time from various angles)

• Persistence (e.g. by carefully investigating difficult and hard-to-find materials)

• Communication (e.g. by corresponding with other historians, librarians, and archivists to request access to materials and sources)

• Collaboration (e.g. by working closely with peers and mentors)

• Time management (e.g. by setting and sticking to deadlines related to your reading, outlining, and writing)

• Presentation skills (e.g. by presenting your research clearly and effectively in written and verbal forms)

As noted above, every passion project is different and will strengthen different “muscles” for acquiring, analyzing, and presenting information. Additionally, your passion project will almost certainly build other employability skills that are not listed above.

Independent High School Research Passion Project About History

A well-executed history passion project not only helps you explore fascinating historical topics but also enhances your research, analytical, and communication skills. Whether you create a digital scrapbook, design a history video game, or dive into the lives of historical figures through a podcast, these projects offer real-world relevance and creativity.

Interested in taking part in a dedicated history research program for high school students? Polygence's Pods offer an exciting opportunity to connect with an experienced historian-mentor and a small group of fellow young history enthusiasts. These dynamic Pods meet once per week for a fast-paced five- to six-week period, with sessions conducted via video call that you can join from the comfort of your home or any private study area.

Each Pod session combines engaging lectures, stimulating group discussions, and personalized guidance on your chosen historical research topic. With a maximum of six students per Pod, we create an intimate, fun, and supportive environment where everyone can thrive and succeed in their historical explorations.

Meanwhile, students who are looking for individual mentorship on their own independent research project should check out our renowned research mentorship program. 

Those students who are eager to build practical skills in a professional environment can apply for our Work Lab program, which matches high-achieving, self-motivated high school students (15 years and older) with innovative startup companies. Collaborating closely with their industry mentors, students get hands-on experience and complete exciting and challenging projects for real-world impact.

Ready to embark on a journey through time? With Polygence, you'll learn how to apply historical methods to uncover the nuances and complexities of historical events and figures. Discover inspiring history research projects from our previous high school students, such as Sanaya's fascinating exploration of Serbian radio history in Croatia. Take the first steps towards becoming a historian with Polygence!