History
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Our Curriculum Intent
Please scroll to bottom of the page for more details about what your child will be studying this term.
The History Curriculum at Barton St Lawrence has been specifically chosen and adapted to meet the needs of our children, making use of the rich history in our local area and ensuring that they leave school with an understanding of History that has been built upon systematically and sequentially. We ensure our curriculum maximises prior learning and considers future teaching in the way it is structured as well as ensuring what we learn is linked back to the modern day whenever possible. They will cover all of the statutory requirements for that Key Stage from the National Curriculum.
At Barton St Lawrence, we believe that a high-quality History education will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It is important that pupils at Barton St Lawrence understand why we teach History and why it is important. This is made clear in our planning and discussions with the children about how History has changed the world and what we have learnt from it. History is taught in a sensitive way, so children can understand that viewpoints may change.
Have a look at our topics below (From Academic Year 23/24)
Reception
Children in Reception cover two topics of History.
They look at herbivores and carnivores.
They look at the past and the present.
They do not complete these at a set point of the year as EYFS is child-led learning. The units are placed at points of the year to suit the children.
Year 1
Children in Year 1 cover two topics of History.
Their first is in the Autumn term when they explore how toys have changed over the past 100 years
Their second is in the Summer term when they look at the Great Fire of London.
Their second is in the Spring term when they explore how toys have changed over the past 100 years.
Year 2
Children in Year 2 cover three topics of History.
Their first comes in the Autumn term when they look at how their local area has changed over the last century.
Their second topic looks to compare and contrast two significant figures in world history in the Spring term. They look at Neil Armstrong and Christopher Columbus.
Finally, Year 2 finishes their history journey for the year by looking at Victorian holidays. They can then compare and contrast what they have found to the holidays we have today.
Year 3
Year 3 covers three topics of History.
First, In Autumn, they extend their learning from Year 2 by looking at how the City of Preston has changed over the last 100 years. This unit has a specific focus on the cotton mills of Preston.
Their second topic comes in Spring and is the first to stretch their historical understanding into BC. Year 3 will look at Ancient Britain in the Stone Age period, with a specific focus on the construction of StoneHenge.
Finally, Year 3 will look at Roman Britain in Summer. They will explore the influences that the Roman invasion had on our society and can use what they have learned about Barton and Preston in previous years to support what they find.
Year 4
Year 4 covers two topics of History.
In Autumn, Year 4 looks at a key event in British history beyond 1066 by looking at the plague. This has cross curricular links to their science topic at the time as allowing them to revisit London in the 1600's (previously visited in Year 1) with a greater historical understanding.
In Summer, Year 4 looks at Ancient civilisations before focussing on Ancient Egypt. This is their first topic set entirely outside of the UK, so they are relying on their skills as a historian in a very unfamiliar context.
Year 5
Year 5 covers three topics of History.
Year 5 starts off in Autumn by looking at the settling of the Anglo Saxons in Britain. They will look at the reasons for the Anglo Saxons coming to Britain and compare them to any similar world events in the present day. They will move on to look at the influence the Anglo Saxons had on our society and can compare to the impact of the Romans, with the Anglo Saxons being the next group to occupy Britain. Then, Year 5 look at the Viking and Anglo Saxon struggle for England. This is an opportunity for children to utilise their learning from the previous unit and flesh it out with the rest of the ‘story’. They can make links to their prior learning about the Anglo Saxons and explore what part the vikings played in the narrative they have already established.
In Spring, Year 5 looks at the Ancient Islamic Empire. This is compared to this part of the world today to see how places change over time and what can influence that change. It is then also discussed in comparison with Empires learned about in Years 2, 3 and 4. It is also compared to their understanding of the Anglo Saxon culture, as these periods of History cross over.
Finally, Year 5 looks at Ancient Greece in Summer. The influence of Greek culture around the world is explored, their history, democracy and government compared to those looked at previously as well as that which we have today. At this point, children have a variety of Empires and Civilisations to compare the Ancient Greeks to. They make good use of their historical understanding and enquiry skills to do so.
Year 6
Year 6 covers one topic in History.
They begin in Autumn term by looking at The Battle of Britain. They consider the dramatic effect this had on the country and the world at the time as well as using the wealth of local experiences to deepen this topic. It is taught in year 6 to ensure that children have a solid foundation of historical understanding to grasp what a significant period of history this was. Teaching it in the Autumn term also allows links to Remembrance day, with children taking an active part in Remembrance day services.
This is the culmination of History at Barton and provides opportunities to explore sources of information, reliability, credibility, and gives a background for the children to express their own viewpoints on a significant part of British History.
