Subject Information:

Intent:

Aims and Objectives

These aims are intended for all children in school. How they are implemented is dependent upon the age and ability of the children.

• To enable pupils to know about significant events in British history, and to appreciate how things have changed over time.

• To foster in pupils an interest in the past and to develop an understanding that enables them to enjoy all that History has to offer.

• To develop a sense of chronology.

• Pupils are motivated by the opportunities available through ICT, real artefacts and educational visits in order to gain a deeper understanding of history.

• To know and understand how the British system of democratic government has developed and in doing so to contribute to a child’s citizenship education.

• To understand how Britain is part of a wider European culture, and to study some aspects of European history.

• To know and understand historical developments in the wider world.

• To help pupils understand society and their place in it so that they develop a sense of their cultural heritage.

• To develop in children the skills of enquiry, investigation, analysis, evaluation and presentation and local area.

Pupils are encouraged to make a positive contribution by working collaboratively and having opportunities to become involved with the local community.

Implementation:

Teaching and Learning Styles

At St Johns we aim to give the children practical and rich experiences in History. In each Key Stage we give pupils the opportunity to visit historical sites and examine historical artefacts. We encourage visitors to come into school and to share their experiences. As class teachers it is essential to use a variety of teaching techniques in order to meet the learning objective with the greatest success. These include co-operative group work, collaborative learning, individual work and enquiry-based research activities.  We encourage children to ask as well as answer historical questions, such as ‘how do we know?’

Children will develop historical knowledge, skills and understanding in a range of subjects. Children should be given the opportunity to learn through cross-curricular means, particularly in morning subjects (Maths, English) that link to the History theme during the afternoons.

The children should be given the opportunity to learn through:

• Discussion and debate
• Drama / role play / talk for writing
• Research using primary resources
• Practical investigation
• Educational visits
• Asking questions
• Collecting and analysing data.

Children will use secondary sources to stimulate historical enquiry and to answer posed questions.

Learning is presented in a variety of ways - orally, visually and in various written formats.

ICT tools are used to further their knowledge and understanding of a particular topic.

History resources are primarily kept in year group communal areas or classrooms. Specific topic resources are kept in the Orangery, such as artefacts. Some year groups and classes also have their own resources, depending on their current topics, and these are kept in Year Group corridors or in classrooms. Other more general historical resources (encyclopaedias, general books, biographies etc.) are kept the Library.

Each topic taught by year groups will have an accompanying ‘Topic Knowledge Organiser’ to supplement the learning in lessons.

Impact:

Children’s historical understanding will show that they are able to ask and answer questions using key historical vocabulary. They will be able to identify significant events from Great Britain and the wider world and place them chronologically on a timeline.  Through history our children will develop a deeper cross-cultural awareness and understanding of their own and others’ heritage, through looking at evidence and asking and answering questions.

Our children will understand cause and effect, showing a knowledge of how events in the past have made an impact on the present day. They will be able to empathise with older cultures and traditions, understanding that the changing of time has changed the way we look at situations. Children will also be able to identify similarities and differences between life then and now.

What do History lessons look like in school?

Our History lessons are usually framed around a key question for the children to investigate with opportunities to ask questions about sources and artefacts that they are provided with. As their History knowledge increases the children are also asked to draw conclusions from the evidence. Our children are encouraged to communicate their responses in a variety of ways.  We encourage children to ask as well as answer historical questions, such as ‘how do we know?’

During a typical lesson the children use a timeline of Historical periods and knowledge organisers to show, recall and discuss their knowledge about the past. 

What will the children be learning this year?

EYFS Coverage for History

What else is happening in History this year?

• ​​​​​Our Year 1 children have taken part in a very exciting Florence Nightingale workshop in school in January 2023. 
• The Year 3 children had an Egyptian Day in September 2022. 
• Our Year 4 children are taking part in a Roman Workshop in March 2023. 
• The children are taking part in numerous trips throughout the academic year to Cromford Mills, the Imperial War Museum in Duxford and the Sudbury Hall Museum. 

History at Home

Please find below some helpful websites that you can use to support your child’s learning in History at home below:

https://www.theschoolrun.com/other-subjects/history

http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/history/index.html

Children's Comments