History

 

 

Intent 

At South Wootton Infant School, we believe that every child is entitled to a high-quality history education and it is our intent to provide this. Our pupils will develop an awareness of the past and become familiar with using common words and phrases relating to the passing of time. We will help the children to gain an awareness of and sense of the passing of time within a chronological framework. Our pupils will learn to identify similarities and differences between ways of life in different periods. They will do this by asking and answering questions and by using different sources to find out about the past.  

Implementation 

•     History is taught as part of termly topics and is planned using the History progression grid in order to check for coverage. 

•     Historical experiences and lessons are delivered to the children as a whole class and sometimes as a whole year group. 

•     In Reception teachers use ‘Knowledge and Understanding’ when planning and delivering the history curriculum. This is delivered through a group activity especially when the children are exposed to a new resource, skill or experience. During ‘Exploration Time’ children are able to access resources independently in order to experience them and learn from them through first hand contact. 

•     Skills are taught and knowledge is developed either in whole class or smaller groups or through independent activities and tasks. 

•     All year groups use Tapestry to share learning experiences with the parents where appropriate. 

•     Where work is recorded it is done so in the children’s individual history books, floor books or on display in the classroom or year group corridors. 

Impact 

•     The knowledge and understanding that the children gain will be evident in the work in their history books and on history based displays. Their pupil voice can be expressed in their work, in displays and in the lessons where they are encouraged to ask questions and discuss what they have learnt further.   

•     There will be a clear progression of skills through the year groups and these will be reflected in the planned lessons and the recorded outcomes. 

•     Pupils understanding and experiences of history should be memorable and something that when asked about they are able to recall in some detail. 

 

If you were to walk into a history lesson at SWIS you would see: 

1.     Children who are curious about artefacts, events and the lives of others from the past. 

1.     Children who show resilience and resourcefulness when investigating and looking for evidence of the past and when trying to find answers to their questions. 

1.     Children who are reflective when talking about how life in the past was different to their life today. 

1.     Children who can recognise that people and events from the past have had an impact on our lives today. 

 

British Values and Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Learning in History: 

Social: Through History in our school children learn about past achievements of people who lived within our society and of people who have made significant sacrifices for particular cause for example Florence Nightingale. Children will be able to share their views and opinions on events from the past and on how people in the past lived their lives and on the impact of their actions. Children will learn to respect others ideas and opinions.  

Moral: Children will be able to see how the life experiences people had and events in the past helped to change things and led to many others including us having better lives. We provide children with the opportunity to discuss moral issues and choices that people have made, encouraging children to examine their own choices and to learn what is right and wrong.  

 

Spiritual: Children will be able to reflect on how their lives are different to those of generations of their families before them. They will be able to appreciate how our lives have been changed by significant others from the past. 

 

Pupil Voice 

“The Stone age was a long time ago. They used animal skins.”  (Reception child) 

“I know dinosaurs are old.”  (Reception child) 

“History is things that happened a long time ago.” (Year One child) 

“We learn about the past by thinking in our heads what it was like.” (Year One child) 

“It is really fascinating to learn about things a long time ago.” (Year One child) 

“History is in the past and you can learn about it.”  (Year Two child) 

“Grace Darling and Florence Nightingale are famous because Grace saved ten lives and Florence Nightingale made hospitals into a better place.” (Year Two child) 

 

 History progression