History
History at Southridge
At Southridge, we believe that History teaching should ignite pupils’ engagement and curiosity about the past. Our teachers equip children to ask perceptive questions, think critically and weigh evidence. They encourage the children to think critically and ask questions about information presented. We help them to relate historical periods and moments to connected present day scenarios (e.g. conflict, inequality, individual/collective action, power) and appreciate the significance of historical moments for life in the present day. These are all crucial skills for children to develop as they ‘lay the foundations for life’.
The national curriculum for history aims to ensure that all pupils:
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Know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day.
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Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world.
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Gain and deploy a historically grounded understanding of abstract terms such as ‘empire’, ‘civilisation’, ‘parliament’ and ‘peasantry’.
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Understand historical concepts.
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Understand the methods of historical enquiry.
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Gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts.
In our school we emphasise cross curricular links and developing the use of computing in History throughout the school. We also support parents to help their children develop their History skills through workshops/History homework activities etc. We also enjoy raising the profile of History throughout the school by making History come alive for the children.
We encourage our children to think as historians. We know the importance of examining historical artefacts and primary sources. In each key stage we give children the opportunity to visit sites of historical significance, as an important way of stimulating interest in the past.
We encourage visitors to come into school to deliver workshops or share expertise in a particular area. We also recognise and value the importance of stories in history
teaching. We help children to understand that historical events can be interpreted in different ways, and we encourage them to ask searching questions.
The Primary National Curriculum (2014) provides the framework for the History we teach at Southridge. In addition, there are regular opportunities built into the topic-themed curriculum for children to develop their Historical and investigating skills.
We have planned the topics in History so that they build upon prior learning. We ensure that there are opportunities for the children of all abilities to develop their skills and knowledge in each unit and we also build progression into the History scheme of work, so that the children are increasingly challenged as they move up through the school.
Early Years
We teach History in Reception classes as an integral part of the topic work covered during the year in the area of Knowledge and Understanding of the World.
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1, History is about beginning to understand the concepts of past, present and future and developing an understanding of their own and their family’s past.
Children:
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learn about people’s lives and lifestyles by finding out about significant people and events from the past;
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listen and respond to stories and use sources of information to help them ask and answer questions;
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learn how the past is different from the present.
Key Stage 2
In Key Stage 2, History is about developing knowledge, skills and understanding of significant people, events and places from both the recent and more distant past.
Children:
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learn about change and continuity in their own area, in Britain and in other parts of the world;
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look at history in a variety of ways e.g. from political, economic, technological, scientific, social, religious, cultural or aesthetic perspectives;
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use different sources of information to help them investigate the past, using dates and historical vocabulary to describe events, people and developments;
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learn that the past can be represented and interpreted in different ways.
Cross-curricular Links
English - History contributes significantly to the teaching of English in our school by activating promoting the skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. The children develop oral skills in History lessons through discussions and role play. They develop their writing skills through writing reports and projects and by recording information. We take the opportunity of combining History and English when appropriate.
Mathematics - The teaching of History in our school contributes to children's mathematical understanding in a variety of ways. Children learn to use numbers when developing a sense of chronology through activities such as creating time –lines and through sequencing events in their own lives. They also study different number systems from past cultures e.g. Roman numerals.
Personal, health, social and citizenship education (PHSE) - History contributes to the teaching of PSHE. Debate and discussion are a valued means of teaching and learning. We help children to develop their knowledge and understanding of different cultures, so that they learn to avoid stereotyping other people, and acquire a positive attitude towards others.
Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
In our teaching of History we contribute where possible to the children’s spiritual development. History contributes to the children’s appreciation of what is right and wrong by raising many moral questions.
Assessment and recording
We assess children’s work in History by making informal judgements as we observe them during lessons. We recognise that not all work needs to be recorded and that significant learning takes place through discussion enquiry.