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Curriculum

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>> HISTORY

‘The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future’

Theodore Roosevelt

 

Intent

At Chivenor Primary School- we are historians. We provide a high-quality history education that helps pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Our aims are to; provide a broad, ambitious and differentiated curriculum; ensure the progressive development of historical concepts, knowledge and skills; and to foster, within our children, a curiosity and a love for history. Children are encouraged to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgment to enable them to become thoughtful, skilled and empathetic learners.
Our curriculum provides coverage of a range of historical periods and events to ensure children:

  • observe and understand the lives of significant individuals and events in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements,
  • recognise changes within living memory and then research beyond living memory,
  • have a knowledge of local history and how the past has had an impact on the local area and environment,
  • interpret, debate the past using high quality primary and secondary source materials,
  • build a deeper appreciation of where we come from and what aspects of history have influenced modern day from the diverse communities and narratives embedded within our curriculum,
  • develop a secure understanding of the chronology of events in their local area and across the world, considering the cause and effect of events through time,
  • value the cultures’ of others in our multicultural society and understand British values,
  • build an enjoyment of history through a range of opportunities including our Wide Horizon co-curricular visits,
  • become enthused historians, developing their skills in enquiry, investigation, analysis, interpretation, evaluation and presentation.

Implementation

The History curriculum is overseen by the humanities HUB who promote continuous improvement by reviewing, evaluating and sharing best practice All planning is informed by two fundamental, complimentary tenets: 1) to develop technical skill and 2) to acquire a deep understanding of historical knowledge. History is taught throughout the year as an integral part of our creative curriculum. Facilitators plan lessons to progress knowledge and skills by following the medium term planning documents; these plans allow children to build upon prior knowledge as they discover each term’s overarching stimulating topics.
Teachers plan and deliver engaging, hands-on lessons that allow children to develop a range of humanities skills whilst inspiring a sense of awe and wonder. Learning is brought to life though the inclusion of drama in lessons, immersing children in historical events through ‘teachers in role’ and with the use of digital tools such as ‘Now Press Play’ – an immersive learning experience where children use wireless headphones and are plunged into the world of their topic. Children understand that their skills and knowledge are transferable and apply them in other lessons such as English and Art.

Regular school trips to historic museums as well as immersive workshops are carefully planned, to widen our children’s horizons. Always linked to their learning, trips transport children back into the past and allow them to deepen their understanding of the topic. Teachers also exploit opportunities to inspire children though events such as Black History Month and The International Day of Dance.

EYFS:
The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum supports children’s understanding of History through the planning and teaching of ‘Understanding the World’. This aspect is about how children find out about past and present events in their own lives, their families and other people they know. Children are encouraged to develop a sense of change over time and are given opportunities to differentiate between past and present by observing routines throughout the day, growing plants, observing the passing of seasons and time and looking at photographs of their life and of others. Practitioners encourage investigative behaviour and raise questions such as, ‘What do you think?’, ‘Tell me more about?’, ‘What will happen if..?’, ‘What else could we try?’, ‘What could it be used for?’ and ‘How might it work?’ Use of language relating to time is used in daily routines

Impact

Chivenor’s History curriculum is high quality, broad and balanced. Children’s learning is built upon as they progress through school, meaning learning is consolidated.

Our children leave Chivenor with a love of History and can recognise a vast and diverse range of historical individuals and events, confidently articulating how history has shaped and impacted the world we live in today. They become enthused historians, developing their skills in enquiry, investigation, analysis, interpretation, evaluation and presentation.

Our children build their skills to become critical and reflective learners, confidently using a range of evidence to clearly articulate their point, evidence and explanation in response to a vast range of sources. These skills lead to our children to being curious about the world around them, respectfully challenging ideas to help them formulate their unique, well-thought through opinions. They know how to pursue their own interests in a topic and can develop further lines of inquiry to support them in their future learning.

Proud Traditions | Wide Horizons | High Achievement

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