History

Intent

In history, we enable our children to become historians through the acquisition of historical skills. We develop the skills of; chronology, using sources and artefacts to tell us about the past, interpreting the past, understanding events, people and changes in the past, research and enquiry. We believe that through the acquisition of these skills, children can further develop their historical knowledge and awareness.

In history we hope to promote children’s interest in the history of our local area, of Britain in general and of some areas of the wider world.

In Early Years, children learn to understand the world. By comparing pictures of themselves as babies to how they look now, they start to understand how things change over time. They begin to explore how places can change too, by comparing the seaside then and now.

In Key Stage 1, children learn about and compare their lives and everyday items to the time of their parents and then their grandparents.  They research, using primary and secondary sources, the history of the local area and also explore how the Ancient Egyptians lived. The children learn about the beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians, the hierarchy of their society, and the importance of the River Nile through various sources, enquiry and interpretation.

In Key Stage 2, children are taught periods of history in chronological order in order to develop their understanding of chronology. They learn about and enquire the impact of how Romans, Tudors and Victorians have shaped the lives of people in the past and today; in Britain and all over the world.

During their history lessons in lower Key Stage 2,  children learn that it was the Romans who built the first roads, aqueducts and towns in Britain, and that the Tudors influenced the types of foods we eat today, and many other aspects of modern life, due to their explorations.

In learning about Victorian Manchester, children study the changes the Industrial Revolution brought to Manchester and also gain a perspective on all the changes that have taken place in the city over a longer time span.

Children also learn about World War 2, the impact the war had on lives and the changes that happened as a consequence.