History
History at St Stephen's
How we Aspire in History
A – A whole school curriculum with high expectations and excellence delivered rigorously through well sequenced subjects, progression in generative knowledge, rich vocabulary, concepts and skills.
The History curriculum has been sequenced to build upon the units in each year group and key stage and to develop learning from other subjects across the Primary curriculum. We teach National curriculum objectives throughout the school curriculum map, make links and revisit key skills in order to extend and consolidate previous knowledge. We provide the children with knowledge organisers at the start of, and to utilise throughout the topic, to develop their vocabulary and aid their knowledge retrieval. History lessons commence with retrieval quizzes to recall knowledge from previous lessons.
S –Stimulating enquiring minds by providing rich and relevant experiences, purposeful and connected learning, and creative thinking.
Our History curriculum is sequenced to build upon three main historical themes: chronological understanding, historical knowledge and interpretation and historical enquiry. Pupils have a relevant curriculum, utilising the history and achievements within in the local area e.g. in KS1 we look the history of the factory seen from our school playground and the significance of the Hugh Mason statue only a few 100 metres away from school. In KS2, we explore the local history which relates to the industrial revolution, as well as many historically significant Mancunians that we hope will aspire them to become equally as inspirational. We offer the children rich and relevant experiences, such as visits to local museums and reflection tasks based on non-statutory historical subjects including Black History Month and Remembrance Day.
P – Placing nurturing, lifelong learning behaviours – resilience, risk taking, independence, perseverance, and pride in success - at the heart of our curriculum.
The curriculum has been structured to teach and reflect upon the children’s chronological understanding, key moments and periods within history and history that is relevant to them and their backgrounds. We encourage the children to look at their environment and surroundings and consider the history of the world they live in and how those in the past had an impact on their lives today. We encourage the children to respond positively to challenge and ask questions to further their enquiry of history. Our teaching strategy includes Rosenshine's principles and regular retrieval practice boosts independent learning and resilience. History motivates children to investigate the past and enables them to recognise the importance of its impact for the future.
I – Inclusivity and flexibility which allows us to cater for individual needs, abilities and interests
All pupils are able to access our History curriculum and teachers adapt plans where necessary to cater for individual needs. Differentiated support, task and outcome can support and challenge all learners to achieve their full potential and inspire a curiosity for the world around us. We have the flexibility to adapt our curriculum in response to children's interests and own experiences of places.
R- Revisiting key knowledge, skills and vocab, so pupils know more and remember more.
Historical knowledge is revisited at the start of every lesson by using their retrieval practice. Key vocabulary is regularly reviewed and discussed. Quizzes at the end of topics all pupils to show how much they remember.
E -Encompassing the Whole Child – developing their faith, values, spirituality, health and well-being, and understanding of the world we live in, their future role in our culturally diverse community and country where equality and tolerance is promoted
Our History curriculum inspires a curiosity about the past and celebrates the different people, faiths, cultures and achievements of our vastly diverse world . Christian values are embedded in our curriculum, particularly friendship and wisdom. We teach the children historical knowledge so that they can recognise the importance the significance of others from the past, and the impact they can have for their future and the future of others. We prepare them to be a member of a class, school, local community and also for their future role in modern Britain and as a global citizen
Summer Term Knowledge Organisers
Y1 KO Who lives at Buckingham Palace
Y2 KO Who worked at the factory through our window
Y3 KO What did the Ancient Egyptians achieve and believe
Y4 KO How can the history of Manchester inspire us
