History

History Curriculum

Intent:

At Appletree Gardens First School, we believe our history curriculum aims to inspire our children’s interest, curiosity and understanding about the past. History is about real people who lived, and real events which happened in the past therefore we aim to bring history alive by providing opportunities for children to learn through exciting topics and educational trips. Throughout their Appletree journey, our children will build on their historical knowledge, think critically, 'have a voice' by asking and sharing perceptive questions, weigh evidence and develop perspective and judgement. Above all, we recognise the importance of providing a curriculum where all children feel happy and safe to learn, share ideas and reach their full potential.

We aim:

• To provide knowledge and understanding of people, events and contexts from a range of historical periods, including significant events in Britain’s past.

• To develop a sense of chronology and understand how they fit into the framework of the past, present and future.

• To understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies, and relationships between different groups of people

• To think as historians and evaluate and challenge their own ideas and other’s views to support their explanations and judgements

Implementation:

At Appletree Garden First School, history is embedded in our topic-based approach to learning. We maintain strong links to the National Curriculum to ensure all aspects, knowledge and skills of history are being taught across all the year groups. As teachers, we plan sequences of lessons between year groups, to ensure we build on and develop children’s knowledge and skills throughout the school. Educational trips are a key part of our history curriculum, we also encourage visitors into school to share learning and provide hands on experience for our children. Furthermore, children have access to a variety of artefacts, books, photographs, internet, videos to ensure all learning styles are achieved in our history lessons.

Little Pips and Early Years, our children are given the opportunity to find out about the past and present events in their own lives and in their families. They will begin to develop their historical language using words - now, soon, after, before and the concept of passing of time through the world around them. Our children will be introduced to a broad range of stories to support their early history skills.

Key Stage 1, our children will be build on their early learning experiences and continue to develop an awareness of the past, using common words and phrases relating to the passing of time. They will understand the people and the events they study fit within a chronological framework and identity similarities and differences between life in different periods.

Key Stage 2, our children will build on their historical vocabulary showing clear connections, contrasts and tends over time. They will continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives between the eras.

Curriculum Impact 2022-23:

• All children have had the opportunity to participate in a history based educational trip.
• During a history monitoring visit, children expressed enjoyment for the subject and were able to talk about their learning.
• Monitoring also highlighted clear progression through the year groups in the children's historical knowledge and vocabulary. 
• End of term assessments show the majority of children achieve age related expectations in history.