Humanities
Humanities (History & Geography)
Brockworth is a welcoming, caring community school. Our curriculum not only reflects the population which we serve but challenges pupils to see the wider world. We aim to prepare all of our young people for the next steps in their often complex lives.
“A high-quality history education will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It should inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. Teaching should equip pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement.” DfE, 2013
“A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.” DfE, 2013
Intent
Humanities emcompasses the traditional subjects of history and geography, which are both taught separately. History and geography lessons ensure there is a strong link between knowledge and skills. Obtaining knowledge and practising skills are connected and both are vital to the learning process . A strong foundation of knowledge is needed to make the practice of skills meaningful
History lessons encourage engagement and enjoyment from all pupils through exploring a range of historical events. Children are encouraged to think on a deeper level to understand similarities and differences between the past and present day by researching from a range of primary and secondary sources. Lesson series will focus on understanding changes within living memory, events beyond living memory and the lives of significant, historical people. In addition to this, children will develop chronological knowledge of these people and events and use historically accurate language to discuss them, as well as thinking of further questioning.
Geography lessons encourage enthusiasm and enjoyment from all pupils by developing their contextual knowledge of globally significant places. Children are taught in a variety of ways and are able to collect, analyse and represent a range of information collected through different experiences, such as fieldwork, comparisons and research to deepen their understanding. Children will be encouraged to think on a deeper level and use a range of resources to understand similarities and differences between the area they live and locations across the country and wider world.
For SEND learners this means
pre-teaching subject vocabulary to decrease the vocabulary gap and to give oracy for a purpose
adapted resources and teaching to provide enhanced opportunities to record and experience learning
Implementation
Each year group’s curriculum includes both History or Geography units. Skills are explicitly taught weekly for 90 minutes during Humanities lessons.
The content of the lessons are driven by the National Curriculum.
The school has commissioned the ARK Curriculum+ to support teachers and children with learning in history and geography. Within this curriculum, the focus is on gaining knowledge, using strategically sequenced lessons to ensure a broad and effective learning experience for all pupils.
Each unit of work is underpinned by a clear rationale and conceptual rigour. Where connections are meaningful, links between the subjects have been embedded to ensure pupils gain a rich understanding from both a historical and geographical perspective.
Knowledge is progressively built upon over time and key concepts are interwoven throughout the curriculum, such as chronology and methods of historical enquiry. Within geography, these concepts include locational and place knowledge, as well as human and physical features.
ARK resources support teacher’s continuing CPD needs and ensure they become experts within the unit areas they teach.
Vocabulary is progressively shared and taught to the children within each unit.
Children are encouraged to formulate their own questions and lines of enquiry
Each classroom has a Humanities working wall, which displays the key vocabulary needed and demonstrates the learning journey within each unit.
For an overview of what we teach across the school year, take a look below:
