History Curriculum

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Intent

At Farnborough, History is all around us with the rich density of historical culture on our doorstep, this is capitalised upon, with many year groups using our locality to launch many history topics such as Year 3 visiting the Crofton Roman Villas, Year 4 studying the many Anglo-Saxon and Viking place names around us and Year 6 visiting the local church (St. Giles) to deepen their studies on World War I to name a few. These rich and varied experiences and opportunities enhance our curriculum to inspire, motivate and ignite 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.

Our curriculum is ambitious and broad and is informed by current pedagogy. Children are encouraged to become critical thinkers of events of the past, with our enquiry-based curriculum, which is adapted to suit the needs of all children. We strive to ensure that our children fully understand their place in the world in which we live and how they can make a positive contribution. The History that is taught enables children to develop a clear understanding of how the History of the past impacts our life now, the future and legacies that have become part of our everyday society. What they learn through history can influence their decisions, attitudes and values beyond their school years.

 Implementation

History topics at Farnborough are fun and engaging. They are taught in blocks throughout the year, so that children achieve layers of depth within their learning. All of our topics across the school are planned and sequenced in a way that encourages the children to make links and think critically.
Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each topic and consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics, throughout each year group, across the school. By the end of year 6, children will have a chronological understanding of British history from the Roman Britain to the present day. They are able to draw comparisons and make connections between different time periods and their own lives. Interlinked with this are studies of world history, such as the ancient civilisations of Egypt, Greece and the Romans.

Planning is informed by and aligned with the national curriculum. In addition, staff have access to KS2 History1234 plans and resources, however, teachers lesson design is not limited by this and other resources are used. As a school consideration is given to how we can deepen children’s understanding of the historical topics within each lesson, as well as how all learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion. Each topic is organised with a:
• Covering page – Bright engaging cover to introduce the topic
• Knowledge organiser – key words and knowledge children will learn
• Have you heard the word – vocabulary which will be used throughout the topic
• What have I learnt so far… – making connections with previous learning.
• Big Question – children will write a cold task piece relating to the final question. They will then build their knowledge to understand and answer it gain at the end of the topic. This will give clear evidence of what they have learnt over the topic.
• Weekly – WALT and little question to lead enquiry
• Dig Deeper stickers – Differentiated when possible to delve deeper into the question that they have used for enquiry
Through this process all children at Farnborough will have:
• An enjoyment and enthusiasm about History
• A wider range of historical enquiry skills
• A richer vocabulary
• High expectations
• An understanding of abstract concepts

Outcomes of work are regularly monitored to ensure that they reflect a sound understanding of the key identified progression of skills and knowledge.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) follows the ‘Development Matters in the EYFS’ guidance which aims for all children in reception to have an ‘Understanding of the World; people and communities, the world and technology’ by the end of the academic year.

 Impact

The impact and measure of this is to ensure that children at Farnborough are equipped with historical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and for life as an adult in the wider world.

We want the children to have thoroughly enjoyed learning about history, to develop their own opinions, critical thinking that will enable them to view the world through a clearer historical lens and with this knowledge to question the world they live in Dream Big and make a difference whether big or small to the wider communities that they live within.

 

 

 


Downloads:

Please click on the links below for more:

History Progression of Knowledge and Skills

History Visits Visitors and Experiences

History Curriculum Pathway