ROADE PRIMARY SCHOOL

History Curriculum

Intent

Our aim is that, through the teaching of History, we stimulate the children’s interest and understanding about the lives of people who lived in the past through developing skills in perceptive questioning, critical thinking, weighing evidence, sifting arguments, and developing perspective and judgement.  We want them to build a sense of ambition through learning about the developments over time.

Children will become creative in how they explore history.  They will be archaeologists, archivists, research analysts and museum curators. Underpinning all that we do in history is teaching a sense of chronology. Children explore the actions of significant figures, events in recent and ancient history and the impact these have had on change. We ensure our children understand how Britain has developed as a society and learn of historical developments in the wider world.

Children learn to value their own and other people’s cultures in modern multicultural Britain and value diversity, in order to develop a sense of identity and a cultural understanding based on their historical heritage.

In Foundation Stage, our children focus on past and present. This starts from discussing how they themselves have changed from birth and memories of special occasions through to exploring people around them.

In KS1, children further develop their awareness of the past, exploring significant figures. In KS1 they continue to further understand chronology and identify similarities and differences between ways of life in different periods. They explore different sources and how they are used to inform us of the past.

In KS2 our children further secure knowledge and understanding of British history. In KS2, children also explore world history. Throughout KS2 children focus on connections, contrasts and trends over time, continually developing their use of accurate historical terms. Our children in KS2 begin to develop skills in forming valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance. They develop skills in constructing informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information. Children in KS2 will explore a further range of sources to help to understand how our knowledge of the past is constructed.

The study of history ignites children’s curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world. Through finding out about how and why the world, our country, culture and local community have developed over time, children understand how the past influences the present and future. 

History enables children to develop a context for their growing sense of identity and a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people. 

History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time. What they learn through history can influence their decisions about personal choices, attitudes and values.

Our History Threads

We have 6 threads that run through our history curriculum, as part of the key stage 1 and 2 curriculum, they are:

• Overview of history
• Understanding chronology
• Significant people and events
• Settlements and lifestyle
• Communicate historically
• Rules and law

We feel that these threads allow children to piece together the impact history has on our present day lives and why the study of history is so important for us.  Children are encouraged to be critical in their thinking and take an active part in the meaningful discussions that form a large part of our history curriculum.

At Roade Primary School we study History as part of our continuous provision within EYFS.  History is then studied in autumn term 1, spring term 1 and summer term 1 for one lesson per week throughout years 1 to 6.

Our 'History Road', detailing the topics studied through the primary curriculum here at Roade:

Year 1: Childhood

Year 1: School Days

Year 2: Movers and Shakers

Year 2: Magnificent Monarchs

Year 3: Through the Ages

Year 3: Emperors and Empires

 Year 4: Invasion

Year 4: Ancient Civilisations

Year 5: Dynamic Dynasties

Year 5: Groundbreaking Greeks

Year 6: Maafa

Year 6: Britain at War