History – curriculum information

History is about real people who lived, and real events which happened in the past. Our History provision aims to instil a sense of curiosity from the children about past events and people that have shaped the world that we live in today.

History involves the acquisition of skills and knowledge, which in turn lead to an understanding of how past events have influenced human society as it is today.

At Victoria Dock Primary School, our History provision offers opportunities to:

• Develop children’s sense of identity through learning about developments in Britain, Europe and the rest of the world.
• Introduce children to what is involved in understanding and interpreting the past

Through historic study, children will:

 

• Understand that the society in which they live has been shaped by developments in the past.
• Learn about the roles that individuals, movements and events have played in shaping modern society.
• Learn to study historical evidence, asking questions and solving problems.
• Develop the ability to communicate historical knowledge and understanding, orally, visually and in writing, using appropriate techniques and vocabulary.
• Appreciate how and why some aspects of the past are subject to different interpretations.

The history curriculum at Victoria Dock Primary School is taught around a set of key concepts and second order concepts. A range of key concepts are explored through each historical unit and provide lenses through which to consider different aspects of history. These concepts are revisited through different historical periods as children move through the school to deepen their understanding. Second order concepts are taught and applied through each unit of history and build progressively as pupils move through the school.

Pupils will also explore some of these second order concepts through other curriculum subjects. The history curriculum makes full use of resources within the immediate and wider local area enabling children to develop a deep understanding of the rich history of their locality through a progressive Hull curriculum.

Each Year group begins the academic year by working on a Hull Study aimed to deepen their understanding about the rich history surrounding their immediate locality. By the end of EYFS, children will know the meaning of new and old. They will begin to compare past and present events in their own lives, those of their families and other people they know. They will also be able to sequence events using language relating to time.

This will be built upon further in KS1 as children develop an awareness of the past and know where the people and events they study fit within a chronological framework. They will be able to make comparisons by identifying similarities and differences between life in different historical periods and recall some significant people from events beyond living memory.

By the end of KS2, children will have developed a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, noting connections, contrasts and trends over time. They will be able to use the appropriate historical vocabulary to describe change, cause, similarity and difference when discussing significant historical periods, events or people and construct informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of historical information.

History is taught progressively across the year groups, so that children achieve depth in their learning. A history progression document identifies the key knowledge of each unit taught at Victoria Dock Primary School and are built around the key and second order concepts. In addition, subject specific vocabulary is presented interactively in all classrooms allowing frequent repetition and practice throughout the year.

Within our knowledge-rich approach, there is a strong emphasis on key local historical figures and the history of our local area. Alongside our history curriculum, children throughout all year groups are provided extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom by working to achieve in our Graduate Award. Our children are encouraged to further explore and satisfy their own curiosities about significant people and events associated with Hull.

As well as following our history scheme of work, pacing grids are used to carefully plan and implement the necessary historical skills for progression throughout Key Stages 1 and 2.

We believe that children learn best when they have access to and are able to handle artefacts in order to bring history to life. School visits form an integral part of the children’s learning and opportunities to attend class trips and experience visits in are implemented twice termly. Within the classroom, the children have access to secondary sources such as books and photographs and also use digital technology to bring history to life within the classroom.

History in EYFS

The teaching of history in the Foundation Stage is taught within the strand of “Understanding the World”. Understanding of the World is about how children get to know about other people, the place where they live and about all aspects of the environment. They are taught to speak about family members and events and experiences that they can remember.

Understanding the World is broken down into three aspects:

• People and Communities
• The World
• Technology

Our EYFS children are taught history primarily through a balance of structured lessons and child-led play. Both approaches give opportunities for the children to make new discoveries on their own, with their peers and through quality first teaching.

History in Key Stage 1

In Key Stage 1 the children are taught about significant historical events, people and places in their own locality. At Victoria Dock Primary School we feel that it is important that the children gain an appreciation and understanding about people who have lived, and events that have happened within their immediate community. We aim to instil within each child a sense of their own belonging within the world and how people and events of the past have shaped their daily lives. All year groups begin the academic year with a carefully chosen local geographical/historical Hull study whereby they broaden their understanding about the importance their community plays.

The children of Key Stage 1 also learn about the lives of significant individuals of the past who have contributed to national and international achievements. Comparisons are drawn upon aspects of life in different periods of both living and beyond living memory.

History in Key Stage 2.

Throughout Key Stage 2 the children are taught about people and events which span from the Stone Age up until the 21st century. They gain an appreciation and understanding of chronology and how different periods have been influenced from others of the past. They use different sources of information to help them investigate the past in greater depth, using significant dates and historical vocabulary to describe events, people and developments. Areas of study within the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum include:

• Stone Age through to Iron Age
• The Roman Empire
• Ancient Civilisations
• Invaders and Settlers
• Changes after 1066 (World War II)
• Local history studies

History at Victoria Dock Primary School is delivered using a variety of teaching and learning styles in order to ensure that all children of all abilities and backgrounds have an equal opportunity to achieve and succeed in the subject. Where required, for SEND children, activities and teaching methods are tailored and modified to suit all needs.

Outcomes in curriculum and English books, evidence a broad and balanced history curriculum and demonstrate the children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge and vocabulary, which in turn reduces the word gap in disadvantages children.

Emphasis is placed on analytical thinking and questioning which helps pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world and are curious to know more about the past. Through this study, pupils learn to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement.

Educational trips and visits are used to further bring history to life and for children to embed what they have learnt and experienced.

We aim for our children to leave our school in Year 6 with a firm understanding of where they have come from and how events and people from the past have shaped their journey to get there.