The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future
-Theodore Roosevelt
At Burnopfield Primary School, we are dedicated to ensuring that all children gain a sound knowledge and understanding of historical events. We strive to develop children’s experiences and understanding of History, through igniting their curiosity about the wider world. Our aim in children learning about the past and the methods used to study it, will help them make sense of the world in which they live and appreciate how past events and actions have influenced and formed their present lives. We ensure that children receive high quality history lessons where they are encouraged to ask questions, think critically, consider evidence and make judgements. Teachers regularly plan exciting educational visits that link closely with the work studied in class. This opportunity engages children more fully into the topics they are studying and really brings their learning to life!
Children are by nature curious and it is our aim to develop this curiosity about the past. Children in the Early Years have a past of their own to discover and remember. We therefore aim to develop the children’s concepts of time, place, awareness of their own environment and family allowing them to gain some idea about their own history. This is extended in the later years where areas of study are planned around topics or themes. Within the EYFS history topics will include “Ready, Steady Go!” where children will be looking at changes in themselves and also “Through the Keyhole” looking at changes in buildings around us in the locality old and new.
In Key Stage 1 children will learn about the lives of significant individuals, events beyond living memory and also history in their own locality. We begin by looking at the history of the school within year 1 and then extend this to looking at the history of Burnopfield, within year 2. For example in Year 2 we cover the topic “Girl Power” which is a study of famous people in history such as Mary Seacole, Florence Nightingale and Elizabeth I. We use a variety of sources of evidence such as visits, visitors, artefacts, books and the internet as starting points for history.
Moving into Key Stage 2, children will then learn about changes in British History and we do this in chronological order. The reason for doing this is so that each year the children can build on their previous knowledge and also establish connections between different time periods. They can also make links to reinforce the sense of chronology and using what they have already learned in previous years. We aim to compare the past with themselves and how their lives differ to really embed how much things have changed. In addition, children in Key Stage 2 will look at a local history study, learn about the achievements of ancient civilisations and also study a period in British History post 1066. We have lots of exciting topics including Tribal Kingdoms, Rocking Romans, I want my mummy and Greece is the word to name a few.
To see our wonderful history lessons in action please visit our school Twitter page.
