Statement of Intent

History

Historical Vocabulary Historical Questions Stories & Sources Historical Concepts

Purpose of Study

A high-quality history education provides pupils with a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It should inspire curiosity and equip children to generate perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments and develop perspective and judgement. History helps pupils 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.

Who is the Five Spires Historian?

The Five Spires Historian has a strong understanding of chronology and can confidently make connections across local, British and world history. They can generate critical and historically- valid questions about the past and suggest how to find the answers. They can efficiently and effectively use an increasingly wide range of stories and sources and can weigh, sift, select and organise relevant information. The Five Spires Historian has a strong grasp of the correct historical vocabulary and can apply this to communicate historically in a range of ways.

Five Spires Curriculum Rationale

Working backwards chronologically from most recent history in KS1 to the Stone Age in Y6;
Thematic approach woven through KS2 to encourage development of chronological understanding;
Purposeful, engaging learning opportunities encourage a love of learning about history;
Objectives across all strands revisited and embedded within and across year groups and key stages to ensure cumulative fluency.

Documents

Whole School Curriculum Map - History

Subject Sequence - History

We Are Historians!

EYFS

In EYFS, the children establish an understanding of the past by considering what has already happened in their lives. For example, the children bought in their baby photos and discussed some events that happened during this stage of their life.

On 11th November, EYFS observed Remembrance Day where they discussed the symbol of a poppy. The children created their own poppy to show respect to those who fought for our country.

Year 1

In the Autumn Term, Year 1 consider famous people, such as Rosa Parks, in their topic 'Guess Who?'. The children enquire about and research the brave actions of Rosa Parks in the past and compare this to the effects in our present. After this, they compare their learning to another significant figure in the past.

In the Spring Term, Year 1's Mini-Mission is named 'London's Burning' as they study the Great Fire of London. During this Mission, the children compare London in the past to London in the present. This is a significant event beyond living memory which hooks the children in with it's interesting facts and extra-curricular links, such as their recreation of the fire in our school playground and their visit to Aston Hall.

In the Summer Term, Year 1 compare toys over time in their mission 'Far, Far Away'. The children discuss their favourite toys to play with in their present life and then research and compare the toys that children would have played with in the past. This creates an excellent link to home as the children are encouraged to talk to their families about the toys that they used to play with and list the similarities and differences.

Year 2

In the Autumn Term, Year 2 learn about the significant figures of Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole in their Mini-Mission 'Time Travellers'. To start the topic, the children look at sources, such as a pestle and mortar, and write questions about their uses. After this, they research their uses and the lives of both people and compare the similarities and differences.

In the Spring Term, Year 2's Mini-Mission is 'Unsinkable?' which is a study of the Titanic, a ship that set sail in 1912. The children immerse themselves into this topic with the cross-curricular and home-school link of creating a Titanic Model at home. As well as this, the children progress through a timeline of events to discover the making of the ship, the journey itself and the efforts of those on board to save as many lives as possible.

In the Summer Term, Year 2 complete a local study where they explore how homes in their local area have changed over time. This has a cross-curriculum to their prior learning in DT where they researched houses and made their own model of one in the Spring Term. This topic is particularly enjoyed by the children in Year 2 as they find it intriguing to learn about the area around them.

In the Spring Term, Year 3's Mini-Mission is named 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicles' as they study the Anglo-Saxons who were in Britain in 450AD-1066AD. This offers an excellent opportunity for the children to compare and contrast as they can make links to their prior-learning about the Vikings in the Autumn Term. This Mission also provides the children with further chances to enquire about sources, research and compare.

Year 3

In the Autumn Term, Year 3 travel back to 793AD-1066BC as they study the Vikings in their Mini-Mission 'What A Saga!'. During this topic, the children carry out an in-depth study of the Vikings and consider their impact on Britain. The children in Year 3 always fondly remember this topic due to the exciting visit from a real-life Viking! During the visit, they learn some Viking terms, how to make a weapon and how to find and cook food.

In the Summer Term, Year 3 complete a local study where they delve into the history of the significant figure of Erasmus Darwin in Lichfield. During this topic, the children visit Erasmus Darwin's House in the town center where they have a chance to ask the experts about the life of Darwin. As well as this, the children experience a dress up session where they dress up as workers of the time and discuss primary sources - predicting what they might be and justifying why they think this.

Year 4

In the Spring Term, Year 4 investigate the legacy of the Romans in Britain and conduct a thematic study of entertainment in their topic 'Veni, Vidi, Vici'. Travelling back to 753BC-476AD, the children immerse themselves into the times with a Roman-themed trip to Conkers! Here, the children learn about using nature to create shelter which links to their prior DT learning in Year 2. At the end of the Mission, children are able to confidently talk about the life of a Roman and compare it to their lives in the present.

In the Summer Term, Year 4's Mini-Mission is called 'Untangling the Greeks' where an in-depth study of 1200BC-146BC takes place. The children have the wonderful opportunity to explore primary and secondary sources and discuss their predictions about their uses. After this, they have a chance to research answers to these questions in the relevant non-fiction books, which they will find on display in their classrooms. Finally, the children will debate the similarities and differences between the Greeks and the Romans, to keep their prior-learning fresh in their minds and fully comprehend the two times.

Year 5

In the Autumn Term, Year 5 conduct a thematic study of crime and punishment in their Mini-Mission, 'Horrible Histories'. This is an excellent Mission as the children delve into the weird and wonderful methods of punishment through time, considering their simillarities and differences today. The children create their own arguments for different methods and conduct an in-class debate about the crime and punishments that they are learning about.

In the Spring Term, Year 5's Mini-Mission is named, 'Marvellous Mayans' where they travel back in time to 1800BC-1500AD. The children carry out an in-depth study of Mayan Civilisation and its impact. Focusing first on the key vocabulary for the topic, the children then enquire, research, debate and compare.

In the Summer Term, Year 5 conduct a local study in their Mini-Mission called, 'Magical Mystery Tour'. In this topic, the children enquire about the history of Lichfield and compare their learning to their previous local study in Year 3. The children thrive on learning about the place that they were born, live in and go to school in everyday.

Year 6

In the Autumn Term, Year 6's Mini-Mission is named, 'Tomb Raiders' as they delve into Ancient Egypt (3100BC-332BC). The children conduct an in-depth study of the significant figures, events and lifestyles by analysing artefacts, enquiring, comparing, discussing and debating.

In the Spring Term, Year 6's Mini-Mission is 'The Iron Age Man' where they explore the times of the Stone Age. The children investigate changes from the Stone Age to the Iron Age and conduct a local study to aid comparisons and the link to present day.

In the Summer Term, Year 6 end their Primary School History learning with a bang! The class conduct a local study in their Mini-Mission, 'A Moment in Time'. Here, the children connect local, national and international history, understanding their place in it. This links to their prior-learning about Remembrance Day where they conducted an assembly in clothes of the time and paid respect to those who lost their lives for our country.

We Are Historians!

After School Club

In After School Club, the children paid their respects to the soldiers, nurses and other significant people of the World Wars by making poppy collages and displaying them proudly in the windows in the Hall.