History
History is taught through an enquiry-based approach. Children explore, investigate and answer questions to gain knowledge and understanding of a given topic. They learn about local, national and global events and each topic helps to build upon previous skills and learning. Cross-curricular links are developed with other subjects such as Art, Literacy and IT to enhance this learning further. Children are also given the opportunity to visit and work with local heritage sites to suport their learning. For more information about our intent for History, please see our History Policy document below:
History in the EYFS
At Early Years Foundation Stage, our curriculum supports children’s History learning by helping them to understand the world around them. Children investigate past and present events in their own lives, focusing on their families and other people that they know.
Children are encouraged to develop a sense of change over time and are given opportunities to observe and differentiate between past and present by observing routines throughout the day, observing the passing of seasons and time and looking at photographs of their life and of others.
Language relating to time is used in daily routines and conversations with children such as: ‘yesterday’, ‘old’, ‘past’, ‘now’ and ‘then’. This vocabulary is developed and built upon throughout KS1 and KS2.
History in KS1 and KS2
Our History learning is delivered across a two-year cycle at Key Stage 1, Lower Key Stage 2 and Upper Key Stage 2. For a summary of the History topics covered in each cycle, please read our overview document below:
We have created Knowledge Organisers for each topic to highlight key concepts, facts and vocabulary for our children to learn by the end of a unit.
Key Stage 1 Cycle A
- Why are my toys more fun than my grandparents’ toys?
- Why was mining so important to our area?
- Have we always liked to be beside the seaside?
Key Stage 1 Cycle B
- Why are Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong important?
- What would we find exciting about our town?
- What was our school like in the past
Lower Key Stage 2 Cycle A
- How can we rediscover the wonders of Ancient Egypt?
- Why do we remember the Ancient Greeks?
- Who were the Maya?
Lower Key Stage 2 Cycle B
Upper Key Stage 2 Cycle A
- Were the Saxons really smashing?
- Were the Vikings really vicious?
- How did the Industrial Revolution change Britain?
Lower Key Stage 2 Cycle B
- How could Hitler convince a nation?
- How did the railway change the world and what role did the North East play
- UKS2 Local history study.pptx
Events
Throughout the year, we hold events in school to celebrate historical figures and events, not to mention to understand and raise awareness of important geographical issues such as climate change.
Some of last year’s events included:
- Black History Month
- International Women’s Day
- Remembrance Day
- National Recycling Week
- Holocaust Memorial Day
- Climate Week
Our Progress Journey
History
