St Thomas' C of E Primary School

St Thomas' C of E Primary School

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  1. Curriculum
  2. History

History

History at St Thomas

Please take a look at History at St Thomas'

History at St Thomas’

At St Thomas’ key stages work together in mini phases (Nursery & Reception, Year 1 & Year 2, Year 3 & Year 4, Year 5 & Year 6)  to collaborate and share ideas. This means that the objectives from the National Curriculum are based on a 2 year cycle.

During our History lessons, teachers support the children to learn how to become historians. They help the children to develop the skills to analyse sources of information e.g. newspaper reports, posters and photographs as well as artifacts e.g. pottery, tools and jewellery, to try and understand the past. Children use timelines to support their understanding of chronology and are encouraged to make links in their learning by comparing the periods of history that they have studied. Teachers develop the children’s knowledge through a range of activities and the children are taught lots of historical vocabulary which they use to form historically based questions. 

Children at St Thomas’ learn about the different periods of history by exploring the following historical concepts:

  • Continuity & Change
  • Cause & Consequence
  • Similarity, Difference & Significance
  • Civilisation
  • Settlement
  • Invasion
  • Trade

History Offer

Please have a read of our School History Offer

Click here for our History Offer

History Overview

History Concepts

EYFS

In EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage), children learn about the past through their ‘Understanding the World’. The children are encouraged to think about their own past experiences and read stories & look at photographs to compare life before they were born to now.

KS1

In Key Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2), the children use the skills and concepts above as they begin to look at changes within living memory - this goes as far back as the 1930’s (because there are still people alive that can talk about their experiences from this time). They also look at events beyond living memory as they begin to learn about significant people, places and events by comparing them across different time periods studied. The children also begin to learn about the History of our local area.

Lower KS2

In Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4), the children use the skills and concepts above as they begin to explore the history of Britain and the history of the wider world. They learn about:

  • The Stone Age - Bronze Age - Iron Age
  • The Roman Empire and its impact on Britain
  • The achievements of the 4 Ancient Civilisations: Egyptians / Shang Dynasty / Ancient Sumer / Indus Valley
  • They also do a depth study: Shang Dynasty 
  • A post 1066 study: Windrush 

Upper KS2

In Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 & 6), the children use the skills and concepts above as they continue to explore the history of Britain and the history of the wider world. They learn about: 

  • The Ancient Greeks
  • The Anglo-Saxons and their struggle with the Vikings for the Kingdom of England
  • A post 1066 study: Migration of people over time
  • Early Islamic Civilization study
  • Local History Studies on: The industrial revolution/Peterloo Massacre and WWII   

Wider opportunities 

We try to encourage the ore and wonder of history through a range of trips and visits and the use of sources and artifacts.