At St Alban’s we follow the Programmes of Study from the National Curriculum. We use our spiral curriculum to develop historical skills and knowledge from FS1 to Year 6.
Chronological understanding
We develop chronological understanding from retelling simple events in the correct order, to discussing distinct periods of time and using relevant dates and terms. Our children are taught to develop their understanding of vocabulary such as past and present, old and new to using vocabulary such as century, decade, Common Era, Before Common Era, social, religious and cultural both in discussions and in their writing.
Using and Creating Timelines
Each year builds on the previous work on timelines to develop skills in beginning to order events, placing them on timelines and creating their own timelines using a range of scales.
Historical Enquiry
In the foundation stage, our children begin to answer questions about objects from the past and then in KS1, they begin to ask questions of their own. Through working in this way, in KS2, they devise their own historical questions about change, cause, similarity, difference and significance.
Range and Depth of Historical Knowledge
As children have the opportunity to develop their historical knowledge, they begin to identify similarities and differences between ways of life at different times and know that events and people are seen as significant as their actions result in change. They
Interpretations of History
In the Foundation Stage, children are encouraged to distinguish between fact and fiction. As their skills develop they begin to compare versions of events and consider ways of checking the accuracy of interpretations.
Organise and Communicate Historical Knowledge and Understanding
Children begin their historical journey through sharing their understanding through simple oral answers or captions and develop further by beginning to write in a more explanatory way. Later, they provide evidence for their ideas and begin to see more than one side of an argument. Finally, they use language which shows an understanding of uncertainty, using vocabulary such as perhaps, may or might.
The children are provided with many opportunities to use both primary and secondary sources for historical enquiry. Where possible we also provide first hand opportunities and experiences from field work visits to bringing historical specialists in to deliver workshops.
Link to the History National Curriculum
What do children think about history at St Alban’s?
History is fascinating and exciting.
I enjoy history because you get to see what it was like before now.
We have found out fascinating facts about the Ancient Egyptians and I learned about Ancient Egyptian writing which is hieroglyphics. I even learned to read some of them.
I liked learning about how the Ancient Egyptians connected to their gods.
History Progression at St Alban’s
