'A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin

and culture is like a tree without roots'

Marcus Garvey

History is all around us. The study of history ignites children’s curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world. Through finding out about how and why the world, our country, culture and local community have developed over time, children understand how the past influences the present. 

History enables children to develop a context for their growing sense of identity and a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people. What they learn through history can influence their decisions about personal choices, attitudes and values. At Alumwell Junior School, our intent, when teaching history, is to stimulate the children’s curiosity in order for them to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding.

We have created a knowledge-based history curriculum and use teaching strategies that allow learning to be memorable and coherent; enabling every child to achieve a secure understanding of each historical concept taught.

When planning each topic, key historical disciplinary knowledge and enquiry skills are selected to be taught. The disciplinary progression throughout KS2 covers Chronological Knowledge, Historical Enquiry and Interpretation of History.  These skills are set out in the Purpose of Study and Aims of the National Curriculum.

Each unit of work is structured around an overarching enquiry question. Each enquiry question is broken down into specific, smaller questions, which create clear, progressive steps throughout the historical unit. Children use sticky facts, which are carefully chosen to enable children to answer the enquiry questions. This carefully sequenced learning allows the children to talk about, learn more and remember more about events in History by the end of the topic, and link this to other Historical areas studied at AJS. End of unit ‘sticky knowledge’ quizzes assess children’s overall recall of key facts at the end of the topic.

History is often taught alongside texts connected to the topic, enabling the children to link a narrative to their learning. Specifically chosen texts are used within history lessons to acquire knowledge, whilst providing opportunities for the children to develop their reading skills.

Using their knowledge, vocabulary and historical skills, the children work to produce creative outcomes in their history topic books. Their work will reflect the learning planned throughout each historical topic.  

Using their forest school skills our Year 4 pupil's worked together to build a woven Anglo Saxon fence.

Children took part in Ancient Egyptian drama, made Egyptian necklaces and took part in an Ancient Egyptian escape room challenge. They also met Queen Nefertiti!

Year 6 had an amazing time enriching their understanding of their local area.