History
History
Why is History Important?
History is about real people and real events that occurred in the past. At St Joseph’s, we strive to inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Teaching History enables 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. In History lessons children will have an appreciation of chronology, similarity and difference, causes and consequences and continuity and change.
We believe that History equips pupils to discover the understanding of enquiry. Asking perceptive questions, thinking critically, weighing evidence, sifting arguments and developing perspective and judgement are all skills that are crucial in their learning development and valued in adult life. History supports learners to be able to develop their own opinions, decisions and values based on the sources and information they have been provided.
St Joseph’s Aim for History
Our Kapow Primary History scheme of work aims to inspire pupils to be curious and creative thinkers who develop a complex knowledge of local and national history and the history of the wider world. We want pupils to develop the confidence to think critically, ask questions, and be able to explain and analyse historical evidence.
Through our scheme of work, we aim to build an awareness of significant events and individuals in global, British and local history and recognise how things have changed over time. History will support children to appreciate the complexity of people’s lives, the diversity of societies and the relationships between different groups. Studying History allows children to appreciate the many reasons why people may behave in the way they do, supporting children to develop empathy for others while providing an opportunity to learn from mankind’s past mistakes. Kapow Primary's History scheme aims to support pupils in building their understanding of chronology in each year group, making connections over periods of time and developing a chronologically-secure knowledge of History.
We hope to develop pupils’ understanding of how historians study the past and construct accounts and the skills to carry out their own historical enquiries. In order to prepare pupils for their future learning in History, our scheme aims to introduce them to key substantive concepts including power, invasion, settlement and migration, empire, civilisation, religion, trade, achievements of humankind, society and culture.
Kapow Primary’s History scheme of work enables pupils to meet the end of Key stage attainment targets in the National curriculum and the aims also align with those set out in the National curriculum.
At St Joseph’s, our curriculum for History aims to ensure all pupils:
´ understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, chronology, cause and consequence, similarity and difference.
´ Use these historical concepts to gain knowledge and understanding of people, events and contexts.
´ Can think critically about history and make connections, draw contrasts, analyse trends and communicate these opinions in structured accounts, including written narratives.
´ Know how people’s lives have shaped been shaped by historical events and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world
´ Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world
´ Develop an understanding of the importance of enquiry. They can ask and answer questions, choosing and using parts of the sources to show that they know and understand key features of events
´ Understand the methods of historical enquiry and how/why people interpret the past in different ways.
´ Be able to think, reflect, debate and discuss the past, devising their own questions and recognising the impact of history on today.
Subject Content
Across Key Stage 1, pupils will be taught about:
o changes within living memory.
o events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally.
o the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements.
o significant historical events, people and places in their own locality.
Across Key Stage 2, pupils will be taught about:
o changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age
o the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain
o Britain’s settlement by Anglo-Saxons and Scots
o the Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle for the Kingdom of England to the time of Edward the Confessor
o a local history study
o a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
o the achievements of the earliest civilizations – an overview of where and when the first civilizations appeared and a depth study of one of the following: Ancient Sumer, The Indus Valley, Ancient Egypt, The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China
o Ancient Greece – a study of Greek life and achievements and their influence on the western world
o a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history – one study chosen from: early Islamic civilization, including a study of Baghdad c. AD 900; Mayan civilization c. AD 900; Benin (West Africa) c. AD 900-1300