History

 

 

Intent

At Grange Infants, we believe that high-quality history lessons inspire children to want to know more about the past and to think and act as historians.

By linking learning to a range of topics, children have opportunities to investigate and interpret the past, begin to understand chronology, learn about Britain’s past as well as that of the wider world, and to be able to communicate historically.

We provide opportunities for children to develop the following essential characteristics to help them become historians:

>An excellent knowledge and understanding of people, such as Florence Nightingale, events, such as the Great fire of London and contexts from a range of historical periods, including significant events in Britain’s past; this includes local people of significance such as Mary Anning, the palaeontologist  and Mary Ellis the spitfire pilot.

>Learning about the concept of chronology, which underpins children’s developing sense of period, as well as key concepts such as change and causation.

>The ability to think critically about history and communicate ideas confidently

>To begin to develop the ability to support, evaluate and challenge their own and others’ views using historical evidence from a range of sources;

>To begin to develop the ability to think, reflect, discuss and evaluate the past by formulating and refining questions and lines of enquiry;

>A respect for historical evidence and the ability to make use of it to support their learning;

>A developing sense of curiosity about the past and how and why people interpret the past in different ways.

 

Implementation

(Early Years)

In the Early years they are led by the new curriculum that has end of EYFS milestones. These are used to plan experiences for child initiated ‘busy bee’ time and group learning. These activities are recorded both on tapestry that parents have access to, and in the big floor books. These have explanations of what the children take part in and experience, pictures of the children taking part, comments the children make any other comments relevant to the tasks.

The end of curriculum milestones at Grange Infants are:

>Talks about the lives of the people around them and their roles in society

>Know some similarities and differences between things in the past and now, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class

>Understand the past through settings, characters and events encountered in books read in class and storytelling

Implementation

(KS1)

In Key Stage 1, from September 21, history is taught on a two year topic cycle to allow for coverage due to a split year group 1-2 class in the academic year 2021-22.

History is sometimes taught as weekly lessons and occasionally blocked if it serves a purpose. We are also developing learning journey books (Big floor books) to help children to recap and revise learning already taught, use and apply key skills and showcase good examples of learning. These will also include key vocabulary to help develop children’s ability to reason and explain.

The skills required to be good historians will be explicit in the planning and teaching. to use and apply that knowledge. Modelling and support will be more evident in Year 1 while Year 2 will allow for more independent thinking and recording.  KS1 learning is done in pre prepared booklets that allow children to record important key learning.  These allow for differentiation and support where necessary. There is also opportunity for children to prove greater depth learning if they are able.

 

Impact

Children will understand and be able to explain what history is appropriate to their age. The history curriculum is planned for good coverage and to enable progression in knowledge and skills.. They will be able to retain key knowledge and vocabulary and use it to explain what they have found out through investigation.  Children will be able to look back on past units in learning journey books and recall their learning.

Assessment for each unit will show which children needed support, who are on track to reach ARE and who is working at greater depth. This is also tracked as a class with the big book to show successes.

Pupil conferencing demonstrates what children know and understand in history throughout their time at Grange Infants.

 

Photos from our trip to the 17^th Century village Little Woodhams

 

Photos from SEARCH for toys at the Gosport museum