History at Leamington Primary School
Curriculum intent
Our children are: EXPLORERS, ARCHEOLOGISTS and HISTORIANS. We instil in our children curiosity, questioning and a desire to further extend their learning. Our children develop a thirst for knowledge as our curriculum provides an opportunity to spark their understanding, to delve deep into the past and to immerse themselves into different time period. We provide our children with real life artefacts and experiences through our immersive curriculum. We believe in engaging our wider community in school life and often have visitors from our local area to talk about their history. We offer a range of trips that link closely to our History topics to give our children a hands-on experience and bring their lessons alive.
History implementation
The History curriculum supports our children with a wide range of knowledge that aids an inquisitive mind set and provides them with the tools to be historians. Our school provides our children with the statutory national curriculum requirements. Year 5, during their History topic ’Why were the Anglo Saxons so smashing?’ engrossed the children’s creativity by building the burial site of Sutton Hoo on our school ground. All members of year 5, staff and children, became archaeologists. As part of our curriculum, our teachers create an environment that enriches knowledge and ignites enthusiasm by using drama-based learning and transporting our children into the past. Each year group studies several time periods across the academic year and we believe that our children are excited about the past as it shapes their future.
Our school enhances children’s life experiences with exciting, meaningful opportunities, which will remain with them for life. We believe that trips and experiences bring our children’s lessons to life, which cements their knowledge. Year 2’s History topic is ‘How has St. George’s Hall changed?’ The year group take a trip to St. Georges Hall and visit the underground cells and compare and contrast changes in the building and the court room from the past to the present. We aim high to provide our children with a wide range of unforgettable experiences that supports and engages them in their learning journey. We incorporate trips, visitors and the use of artefacts into our lessons that contributes to their learning and provides our children with a greater understanding in their current topics. Year 4 have a Crime and Punishment visitor that takes our children on a journey through the different eras and what crimes and punishments occurred through the times and comparing it to life now. Our teachers go above and beyond providing our children with memorable opportunities. Our year 3 children travel back in time and delve deeper into our Local History. The children experienced a day in the life of an archaeologist and why their job is so important for finding evidence of why specific events occurred. Without a doubt, our school facilitates our children with not only the statutory curriculum but goes above and beyond to make their time at Leamington an education to remember.
History impact
As part of our History curriculum, we provide our children with a range of creative opportunities that allows teachers to gain greater knowledge and understanding of the children’s outcomes. We have implemented reflection tasks that are completed at the end of a topic, which is an exciting way of showcasing everything they have learnt. Teachers have specifically chosen reflection tasks for the children to complete at the end of a set topic that is fun and engaging for our children. These include: debates, information booklets, documentaries, persuasive texts etc.
Reflection Task Whole School Overview
We also use knowledge, understanding and skills grids that support teachers in ensuring targets are met as well as assessing children’s skills and ensures that targets, which are linked to the National Curriculum, are monitored closely.
Curriculum Area Overview – Humanities
History trips/visitors
To help stimulate our children’s learning, we bring our topics to life by providing exciting opportunities that encourage and engage all children through differential learning. Each year group uses a range of artefacts, goes on trips or have visitors coming to our school, which enhances their love of learning. These additional opportunities for children give a wide range of high-quality learning activities, both inside and outside of the classroom.
- Beatles museum
• St George’s Hall
• Eco centre – Stone age walk, dig and web quest
• Stone Age archaeologist visitor
• Norris Green Park Norris Mansion
• Crime & Punishment visitor
• Titanic museum, Liverpool
• World War Two Tunnels
Important Documents: