History

HISTORY

Studying History enables the children to understand how events in the past made things the way they are today. It gives children the tools to analyse and explain problems in the past and provides them a crucial perspective for understanding and solving current and future problems.

The topics studied each term are broad which allows the children to engage with the facts and consider some of the bigger questions.

Through History children will be taught how historical information is formed from different opinions from a range of sources. They will develop understanding of chronology, knowledge and interpretation and historical enquiry with the option of linking to foundation subjects.

To enhance our History curriculum and learn about key figures in History as well as broaden their historical vocabulary, children will study high quality texts in English lessons.

The key topics covered within History are:

Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6
Stone Age to Iron Age Children learn about life in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, a period covering a million years of history. As well as understanding the chronology of this fascinating time, children will learn about the food, religion, homes, technology and art and how each of these areas developed and changed over time and how amazing developments occurred from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.	Anglo Saxons Children will investigate the nature of invasion and settlement in history by learning about Anglo-Saxons. They will study the broad context of Anglo-Saxon people and period, such as their beliefs, their art and their laws. Through a study of the broad social context of the Anglo-Saxon period, children will learn how this important group of settlers fits into the chronology of Britain.	Vikings Children learn about Viking raids and invasion. Where did they come from? Where did they invade and settle? How do we know about them? They will discover the chronological place of this key era in the History of Britain. Children will learn how to identify the reliability of sources. They will work on timelines and maps. They will begin to appreciate why the Vikings were successful and to empathise with the people of Britain who experienced invasion.	World War II Children will learn about the Second World War in Europe and why the Battle of Britain was such a significant turning point in British History. They will learn about the timeline of events such as the outbreak of the war, the Battle of Britain, the heroic rescue at Dunkirk, the Blitz, the D-Day landings, the liberation of the concentration camps and the celebrations of VE Day. Children will research the lives of the ordinary people who faced the Blitz and coped with rationing and evacuation. They will learn about the inspiring stories and achievements of significant people such as Anne Frank and Winston Churchill.
Romans in Ancient Britain and life of Romans in ancient Pompeii. Children will focus on the changes that the Romans brought to Britain as well as the resistance from the local tribes and how the Romans have helped shape our lives today. Children will look at different historical accounts of key people, such as Boudicca, and see how historical information is formed from different opinions from a range of sources. Children will learn the difference between a primary and secondary source looking at extracts from the letters of Pliny The Younger and how this teaches us about the events of the eruption of Vesuvius.	Ancient Egyptians Children will learn all about the Ancient Egyptians. Investigate the men and women who studied the kingdoms of Egypt and explore their discoveries. Look at some of the Pharaohs and the development of the pyramids, as well as the mythology that permeated Ancient Egypt. They will look at the role the Nile had in allowing this civilisation to flourish and examine daily life, comparing it to our own.	Ancient Greeks During this topic, children will study life in Ancient Greece, and their achievements and influence on the western world. They will investigate the timeline and four main periods of the Greek Empire. Children will explore different kinds of historical sources and evaluate their usefulness. They will marvel at Alexander the Great and the empire under his leadership, learn about trading and design, research lifestyle and clothing, and study key Ancient Greek buildings. They will research democracy and examine the exciting Olympics and its modern legacy.	Ancient Islamic Empire During this topic, children will track the development of the great Islamic city of Baghdad including trading practices and everyday life and compare it with contemporary cities in Western Europe. They will learn about the spread of Islam through the Middle East and beyond and the legacy of and continuing influences of early Islam.