Our history curriculum allows our pupils to learn about the past and make connections between different periods of history. The methods used to study sources, and draw conclusions, helps pupils to understand the world in which they live.
The EYFS & KS1 history curriculum focuses primarily on our locality and the introduction of skills. In EYFS, history is introduced through looking first at their own family and then linking further historical events and significant individuals to their own experiences. In KS1 the curriculum follows a two year cycle. In cycle A, the children look at the history of our town and how inventions have impacted on our daily lives, comparing life today to The Great Fire of London and what we have learnt from this disaster. In cycle B, there is a focus on toys and our school before looking at Lumley castle and asking: Why can we see a castle from our school field?In years 3 & 4, periods of history have been carefully selected to allow pupils to build on previous knowledge whilst building a chronological understanding of our history. Within each topic, specific identified themes, such as food, housing, religion etc. are taught to allow our pupils to make links between new learning and what has previously been taught.
History in Y5 and Y6 continues to compare and contrast historical periods making the same explicit links to themes whilst developing their historical skills.
Each history lesson identifies key skills from the following list to ensure skills are clear and progressively taught:
- constructing the past
- sequencing the past / chronology
- continuity and change
- cause and effect
- significance and interpretation
- historical enquiry
- using sources as evidence
- vocabulary and communication