History

"The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future."

Theodore Roosevelt

At our 100 year old school, history is all around us at St. Mary's. Our history projects develop children’s historical knowledge, skills and subject disciplines. Key aspects and concepts, such as chronology, cause and effect, similarity and difference, significance and hierarchy, are revisited throughout all projects and are developed over time. We also develop historical skills based on evidence and historical enquiry.

Our choice of historical periods include specific details on significant events and individuals chosen to present a rich and diverse account of British and world history. Where there are opportunities for making meaningful connections with other projects, history projects are sequenced accordingly. For example, the project Magnificent Monarchs is taught alongside the art and design project Portraits and Poses to give children a better all-round understanding of the hierarchy and power of UK monarchs. 

History in Reception

With the Early Learning Goal of Understaning the World children will learn about, and compare, 'past and present'. They will: 

• Talk about the lives of the people around them and their roles in society.
• Know some similarities and differences between things in the past and now, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class.
• Understand the past through settings, characters and events encountered in books read in class and storytelling.

History in KS1

In Year 1, children begin the autumn term by studying the project Childhood. This project builds on children’s past experiences, including their family history and events within living memory, and works well as an introductory project. In the summer term, children study the project School Days. This project enables children to learn the history of their school and compare schooling in the Victorian period. 

In the autumn term of Year 2, children extend their studies to explore a broader range of periods in the project Movers and Shakers. This project explores the concept of significance and the significant people that have greatly influenced history. In the summer term, children study the project Magnificent Monarchs. This project introduces children to the challenging concepts of power and monarchy in preparation for more complex historical topics in Key Stage 2. The projects studied in Key Stage 1 provide numerous opportunities for children to explore significant historical events, people and places in their locality.

Year 1

 Year 2