History Curriculum
Why is History important?
History is important because it helps pupils to understand and interpret the past, and therefore, the present. Through history, pupils develop a deeper cross-cultural awareness and understanding of their own and others’ heritage, through looking at evidence and asking and answering questions. In history, we can analyse successes and failures, which, in turn, teaches us to learn from our mistakes.
When is History taught?
History is taught through thematic units. The attached overview (Appendix 1) maps out which thematic units feature in this subject and the Long-Term Plan (Appendix 2) clearly shows the objectives taught.
Appendix 1
|
|
Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
|
Nursery |
All about me |
Celebrations |
Traditional tales |
Growth and mini-beasts |
Dinosaurs |
Space |
|
Reception |
People and places |
Around the world |
Space |
Traditional tales |
Growing and mini-beasts |
Under the sea |
|
Year 1 |
|
Gunpowder Plot |
|
Changes in transport |
|
Significant people |
|
Year 2 |
Significant people (Florence Nightingale) |
|
Great Fire of London |
|
Holidays/Seaside changes over time |
|
|
Year 3 |
Romans |
|
Vikings |
|
Stone Age |
|
|
Year 4 |
Ancient Greece |
|
Victorians |
|
Tudors |
|
|
Year 5 |
Ancient Egypt |
|
|
Anglo-Saxons |
|
Titanic |
|
Year 6 |
|
WWII |
Mayan Civilisation |
|
|
Benin |
Appendix 2
|
|
Unit 1 |
Unit 2 |
Unit 3 |
National Curriculum links |
|
Year 1 |
Gunpowder Plot |
Changes in Transport |
Significant People, including St Alban |
*Changes within living memory *Events beyond living memory that are significant nationally *Lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements *Significant historical events, people and places in their own locality |
|
Year 2 |
Significant People (Florence Nightingale) |
Great Fire of London |
Holidays/ Sea-sides over time |
*Changes within living memory *Events beyond living memory that are significant nationally *Lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements |
|
Year 3 |
Romans |
Vikings |
Stone Age |
*Changes in Britain from Stone Age *Roman Empire and its impact on Britain *Viking struggle for the Kingdom of England *Study of an aspect of local history or a site |
|
Year 4 |
Ancient Greece |
Victorians |
Tudors |
*Studies of an aspect of British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066 *Ancient Greece – a study of Greek life and achievements and their influence on the western world *Significant turning point in British history *Local history study (how aspects of national history are reflected in the locality) |
|
Year 5 |
Ancient Egypt |
Anglo-Saxons |
Titanic |
*Achievements of the earliest civilisations *Britain’s settlements by Anglo-Saxons and Scots *Studies of an aspect of British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
|
|
Year 6 |
WWII |
Mayan Civilisation |
Benin |
*Studies of an aspect of British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066 *Non-European society that provides contrasts with British history |
How is History taught?
History is taught through a combination of subject knowledge, historical skills, enquiry and fieldwork. Learning takes place both inside and outside the classroom. Lessons have a heavy enquiry focus where children are encouraged to ask and answer questions using a range of sources, including ICT. Children are given opportunities to learn through handling and investigating a range of resources and artefacts.
Historical trips/workshops:
Year 1 – Gunpowder Mills (Waltham Abbey)
Year 2 – London (Pudding Lane, Monument)
Year 3 – Verulamium
Year 4 – Victorians (Bushey Museum), Hatfield House
Year 5 – British Museum (Egyptians)
Year 6 – Mayans workshop
In EYFS, History is taught throughout all topics, covering the following skills from the EYFS Curriculum;
*Talks about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members.
*Looks closely at similarities, differences, pattern and change.
*Explains why some things occur.
*Talks about changes
Who do we learn about in History?
We learn about the following individuals:-
Saint Alban
Neil Armstrong
Samuel Pepys
Florence Nightingale
Mary Seacole
Roman Emperors and rulers
Viking Gods, e.g. Odin, Thor, etc
Ragnor Lothbruk
Greek Gods
Queen Victoria
Henry VIII
Egyptian Pharaohs and Gods, e.g. Tutankhamen
Howard Carter
King Alfred
Thomas Andrews
Molly Brown
Adolf Hitler
Winston Churchill
Mayan Gods and Rulers
Benin Obas