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History

Our History Curriculum

At Green Lane Infant School, our aim is to deliver a high-quality history curriculum that inspires our children to want to know more about the past and to think and act as historians.  Our curriculum is designed to build on our children’s knowledge of their own personal history and understanding of the past in order for them develop an overview of Britain’s history, as well as that of the wider world and our immediate locality. This beings in in Early Years, where children begin learning about the past in relation to themselves, their family and events and celebrations.

In order to inspire our children’s love of history and their understanding of its impact on how we live now, we have carefully selected a diverse range of significant events and people to study. This links to our curriculum driver, Opportunities and Aspirations, through which we want to broaden our children’s horizons to future possibilities.

We want our children to be confident to think as historians and be able to: think critically about history and communicate ideas confidently to a range of audiences, have respect for historical evidence and use this to support their learning and develop a sense of curiosity about the past and how and why people interpret the past in different ways.

Our history curriculum is designed to have threshold concepts woven throughout every year group in order to encourage purposeful repetition to ensure the progressive development of historical concepts, knowledge and skills. Our threshold concepts in history are: Investigate and Interpret the Past, Build an Overview of World History, Understand Chronology and Communicate Historically.

“If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything.  You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree.”  – Michael Crichton

“A generation which ignores history has no past – and no future.” – Robert A Heinlein.

We have combined approaches to develop our History curriculum with the framework from The National Curriculum and Chris Quigley Essentials Curriculum. This ensures that units are in line with our school approach of a concept-driven curriculum. History is taught every term throughout the year so that children can achieve depth in their learning. Although a unit may have a particular focus, the learning progress is organised into 4 key concepts: Investigate and Interpret the Past, Build an Overview of World History, Understand Chronology and Communicate Historically. These concepts are strengthened through knowledge categories which are repeated within and across year groups allowing our children to build on previously learnt knowledge.

We recognise that these key concepts and knowledge categories will strengthen the schema as the basis of all historical knowledge. At the beginning of each topic, children are able to convey what they know already as well as what they would like to find out. This informs the programme of study, and ensure that lessons are relevant and take account of children’s different starting points.

Throughout the year, teachers will plan on-going assessment opportunities in order to gauge whether pupils have achieved the key learning objectives. Teachers constantly assess the children’s understanding and correct misunderstandings.

We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

  • Formative assessing of children’s understanding of topic (including vocabulary) using the milestones created by Chris Quigley
  • Summative assessment, through the use of assessment activities
  • Images and videos of the children’s practical learning including seesaw
  • Interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice)
  • Annual reporting to parents of standards across the curriculum

Children have the opportunity, at the end of a topic, to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in a POP (Proof of Progress) Task.

Through studying the past, we can learn so much and think about how to make the world a better place. History opens up a whole world of fascinating careers…

You could be: a researcher, a museum education officer, a museum or gallery curator, an archaeologist, a tv presenter, an author, a costume designer, a hair and make-up artist or an art historian.

Nursery


Reception


Year 1


Year 2

Local places to visit

 

In Leicester, we are very lucky to have lots of museums that you can visit, many of which offer free entry – see links below.

The King Richard III centre tells you all about the discovery of his body and its significance to Leicester.

Entry is free to this amazing museum that has exhibits related to local and world history including dinosaur fossils and real Egyptian mummies! https://www.leicestermuseums.org/leicester-museum-art-gallery/

Another amazing local museum with free entry. Inside the Newarke Houses, there is a full-scale replica of a 1950s street with stories of local people as well as fascinating exhibits showing how life has changed through time. One of our favourites is the toys from the past exhibit.
https://www.leicestermuseums.org/newarke-houses/

Discover how Leicester Cathedral has developed from a smaller church over 900 years ago into the cathedral we all recognise. You can even see the tomb of King Richard III. https://leicestercathedral.org/

Step through the doors of Abbey Pumping Station and you will see Victorian pumping equipment restored to working order and have lots of opportunities for getting hands on with the exhibits. https://www.leicestermuseums.org/abbey-pumping-station/

Belgrave Hall and Gardens is another free visitor attraction where you can explore the history of what is said to be one of the most haunted buildings in the UK. Built in 1713, it was once home to John Ellis, businessman and Leicester MP, who was instrumental in introducing the railway to Leicester in 1833.  There are also lots of special events throughout the year including children’s workshops and live performances.
https://www.leicestermuseums.org/belgrave-hall/

Step back in time at the Great Central Railway where you can visit the tea rooms, take a seat in the waiting room and best of all, go for a ride on the restored steam trains. Our Year 1s love this trip. https://www.gcrailway.co.uk/

Where next?