History

What does History look like at St Teresa of Lisieux?

At St Teresa of Lisieux Catholic Primary School, we are all historians!

Intent

Our intent is to ignite a passion for History; to equip our children with the knowledge, skills and understanding to become the next generation of historians! We encourage children to be curious and excited to learn about Britain’s past and that of the wider world and understand that History could also shape their future. A high-quality History curriculum encompasses topics which aim to foster awe and wonder and drive children to ask questions linked to the period of time they are studying. Through our teaching of History, we aim to equip children with both the tools and confidence to ask perceptive questions, reflect critically, challenge viewpoints and develop their own judgements based on historical evidence.

Implementation

At St Teresa of Lisieux, we use a unit based approach which is linked to our immersive REAL PROJECT based curriculum. A different unit is studied in each term in order to develop historical skills and to encourage children to work as historians. We intend for our children to learn about History in an active and creative way. Our aims are to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for History; providing a broad and balanced curriculum that encompasses the British Values throughout; ensuring the development of historical concepts, knowledge and skills; and for the children to study life in the past.

The National Curriculum for History aims to ensure that all pupils:

  • Know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day: how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world.
  • Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations; the expansion and dissolution of empires; characteristic features of past non-European societies; achievements and follies of mankind.
  • Gain and deploy a historically grounded understanding of abstract terms such as ‘empire’, ‘civilisation’, ‘parliament’ and ‘peasantry’.
  • Understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance, and use them to make connections, draw contrasts, analyse trends, frame historically valid questions and create their own structured accounts, including written narratives and analyses.
  • Understand the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used rigorously to make historical claims, and discern how and why contrasting arguments and interpretations of the past have been constructed.

Topic areas that we undertake to ensure coverage of the National Curriculum objectives:

KS1:

Year 1:

  • Changes within living memory(Old and new toys).
  • Lives of significant individuals who have contributed to national and international achievements (Rosa Parks, Queen Elizabeth II)
  • Significant historical events, people and places in their own locality(Study of how Liverpool transport has changed over time ).

Year 2:

  • Lives of significant individuals who have contributed to national and international achievements(Lives of significant other monarchs  of England, especially  looking at changes resulting from their monarchy).
  • Events beyond living memory(Great Fire of London).
  • Events beyond living memory( first Atlantic flights, specific study of Amelia Earhart
KS2:

Year 3:

  • Changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.
  • Achievements of earliest civilizations .( Ancient Egypt)
  • Local history study extending the knowledge of British History ( link to King John and Liverpool receiving its charter

Year 4:

  • A study of Greek life and their achievements and their influence on the Western world(Ancient Greeks).
  • Pupils will learn about the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain.

Year 5:

  • Pupils will learn about Britain’s settlement by the Anglo-saxons and Scots
  • A theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066.(World war 2 with reference to the Blitz and Evacuation – particular reference to Liverpool)
  • Pupils will learn about a non-European society that provides contrast with British History ( Mayan Civilization)

Year 6:

  • Pupils will learn about the Viking and Anglo-saxon struggle for the kingdom of England to the time of Edward the Confessor ( from attack on Lindisfarne in 793AD until death of Edward the Confessor in January 1066. )
  • A study of an aspect of British history dating from a period beyond 1066 that is significant in the locality (Case study to reflect on the theme of RULE with particular reference to Queen Victoria and the British Empire).

Through our carefully designed curriculum, the History topics will help children to gain an understanding of the complexity of people’s lives and the process of change; as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.

This will be done by using a range of resources that will bring history to life and include photographs, diaries, newspaper articles, music and handling real artifacts from the past. Excursions and visiting experts will enhance the learning experience.

Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each topic and consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics throughout each year group across the school. By the end of year 6, children will have a chronological understanding of British history from the Stone Age to the present day. They are able to draw comparisons and make connections between different time periods and their own lives. Interlinked with this are studies of world history, such as the ancient civilisations of Greece and the Mayans

Impact

The impact of our History curriculum is measured through a range of different strategies

  • Lesson observations
  • Monitoring of History books
  • Learning walks
  • Pupil voice

The ultimate impact and measure of the History curriculum at St Teresa of Lisieux is to ensure that our children are equipped with historical skills, knowledge and understanding that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and for life as an adult in the wider world. Outcomes in History books evidence a broad and balanced history curriculum and demonstrate the children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge. We want the children to have thoroughly enjoyed learning about History, therefore encouraging them to undertake new life experiences – both immediate and in the future.

History (Fir)

This week we are celebrating our budding Historians. Dominick spoke to Miss Warner and Y6 pupils about The Great Fire of London and really impressed us all. He could recall all the key learning, articulate his knowledge though use of amazing vocabulary and had the confidence to talk about it all with adults and older…
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History (Pine)

Lots of Interacting in Pine Class as we put pictures of cars on a historical time-line in Miss Irving’s History Lesson.
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History (Hazel)

In history we have looked at different sources of evidence to find out the Anglo-Saxons making our LEARNING fun.
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Curriculum Subjects
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