History Intent

Children are given the opportunity to act as historical enquirers, developing an understanding of chronology and a concept of time. Pupils will use a  range of historical sources to understand local, national and global history. Opportunities are given to make comparisons and links across historical periods. Children will leave school with a rich understanding of our country’s past, inspired by lessons that engage and enlighten.
 

Curriculum Narrative

The history projects are well sequenced to provide a coherent subject scheme that develops children’s historical knowledge, skills and subject disciplines. Key aspects and concepts, such as chronology, cause and effect, similarity and difference, significance and hierarchy, are revisited throughout all projects and are developed over time. All projects also develop historical skills based on evidence and historical enquiry.

The choice of historical periods follows the guidance set out in the national curriculum, with specific details relating to significant events and individuals chosen to present a rich and diverse account of British and world history.

Where there are opportunities for making meaningful connections with other projects, history projects are sequenced accordingly. For example, the project Dynamic Dynasties is taught alongside the art and design project Taotie to give children a better all-round understanding of ancient Chinese arts and culture.

All history projects are taught in the autumn and summer terms, with opportunities for schools to revisit historical concepts in some of the spring term geography projects.

Little Acorns
In Cycle A, children explore their family history and look at how they have changed since being babies. Children are introduced to the vocabulary of time, such as yesterday and last week. They learn about the lives of people in their community and their role in society. Children are introduced to the theme of monarchy and royalty and find out about kings and queens in stories. They begin to compare life in the past with their lives by looking at artefacts. They are introduced to significant historical figures and events when they learn about the first moon landing. They explore how life and transport were different in the past. They find out how farming has changed over time. 

In Cycle B, children explore significant people from the past as they find out about famous explorers. They explore objects from the past and observe how everyday machines, vehicles, clothes and toys have changed over time. Children talk about events in their lives and lives of family members. They use stories and non-fiction books to find out about life in the past and make comparisons to their lives. They use the vocabulary of time to talk about and order familiar events. They build on their knowledge of life in the past as they discuss the illustrations in nursery rhymes and traditional tales. They learn about dinosaurs, prehistoric creatures and the Stone Age. Children continue to develop their understanding of life in the past, as they learn about seaside holidays and compare these with their own experiences of visiting the beach. 

Class 1
In Cycle A, children begin the autumn term by studying the project Childhood. This project builds on children’s past experiences, including their family history and events within living memory, and works well as an introductory project. In the summer term, children explore a broader range of periods in the project Movers and Shakers. This project explores the concept of significance and the significant people that have greatly influenced history.

In the autumn term of Cycle B, children study School Days. This project enables children to learn the history of their school and compare schooling in the Victorian period. In the summer term, children study the project Magnificent Monarchs. This project introduces children to the challenging concepts of power and monarchy in preparation for more complex historical topics in Key Stage 2.

The projects studied in Class 1 provide numerous opportunities for children to explore significant historical events, people and places in their locality.

Class 2
In Cycle A, children begin the autumn term by studying the chronology of British history in the project Through the Ages. This project teaches children about the significance of prehistoric periods and the changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. In the summer term, children continue to develop their knowledge of the chronology of British history in the project Emperors and Empires. This project teaches children about the Roman Empire, its invasion of Britain and Britain’s ensuing Romanisation.

In the autumn term of Cycle B, children resume their learning about British history in the project Invasion. This project teaches children about the Roman withdrawal and the invasion and settlement of the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings. This project concludes at 1066, which meets the guidance from the national curriculum for British history. In the summer term of Cycle B, children begin their studies of ancient history by studying the overview project Ancient Civilisations. This project enables children to learn about the achievements of the earliest civilisations, including ancient Sumer, the Indus Valley civilisation and ancient Egypt.

Class 3
In the autumn term of Cycle A, children continue to build their knowledge of ancient civilisations with an in-depth analysis of ancient China in the project Dynamic Dynasties. This project enables children to study the significance and influence of ancient China and its prowess and advancements in the written word, technology and metalwork. In the summer term, children further study ancient and world history in the project Groundbreaking Greeks. This project enables children to explore life in ancient Greece, including examining the achievements and influence of ancient Greece on the western world.

In the autumn term of Cycle B, children study the more complex historical issues of enslavement, colonialism and power in the project Maafa. In this project, children explore a range of African kingdoms, including the Kingdom of Benin, and study Britain’s role in the development, perpetuation and abolition of the slave trade.  In the summer term of Cycle B, children complete their historical studies with the project Britain at War. This project enables children to study the role war has played in Britain’s history since 1066, focusing on the First and Second World Wars as crucial turning points in British history.

Throughout the history scheme, there is complete coverage of all national curriculum programmes of study.