Researching History

History Intent

At Little Green Junior School, we are HISTORIANS! We want our children to love history. We want them to have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up wanting to be archivists, museum curators, archaeologists or researchers. Our aim is that, through the teaching of History, we stimulate all children’s interest and understanding about the life of people who lived in the past. Our History curriculum will engage and inspire curiosity, while encouraging children to think critically and ask questions. Through our history curriculum we aim to teach children the importance of enquiry,  investigation, research and analysis; and teach an understanding of the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups.  

History will also ensure our children understand how Britain developed as a society and learn about aspects of local, British and Ancient History.  We teach children a sense of chronology and this wider awareness leads to the children having some knowledge of historical development in the wider world. We believe that by allowing the children to understand the importance and enjoyment of History through different opportunities, they will become enthused learners in History.

History Implementation

At Little Green Junior School, History is taught in every year group.

• Topics are blocked to allow children to focus on developing their knowledge and skills, studying each topic in depth.

• We have developed a progression of skills for each year group, which enables pupils to build on and develop their skills each year.  (History tracker and Rising Stars - History Progression Framework) 

• In KS2, UK history is taught chronologically to allow children to confidently place each time period. This allows pupils to consistently build on previous knowledge and learning by placing previously taught History topics on a timeline.

• In order to support children in their ability to know more and remember more, there are regular opportunities to review the learning that has taken place in previous topics as well as previous lessons.  Children are also given the opportunity to share what they already know about a current topic.

• Learning will be supported through the use of Knowledge Organisers that provide children with scaffolding that supports them to retain new facts and vocabulary in their long term memory. Knowledge Organisers are used for pre-teaching and to support home learning. (Cross curricular link to Guided Reading)

•  Effective CPD opportunities are available to staff to ensure high levels of confidence and knowledge are maintained.

• To support teaching, staff access a range of resources and planning including The Historical Association.

• Planning for all units will cover key historical concepts: Chronological understanding, Historical knowledge, Historical interpretation, Historical enquiry and Organisation and Communication.

• Children are given opportunities, where possible, to study artefacts leading to enquiry, investigation, analysis, interpretation, evaluation and presentation. 

• We plan for effective use of educational visits and visitors, to enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experience and the History curriculum.

• History assessment is ongoing throughout the relevant cross-curricular themes to inform teachers with their planning lesson activities and differentiation. Summative assessment is completed at the end of each topic where history objectives have been covered; a History tracker is used to inform teachers which skills need to be covered and track pupil progression. . Our History Tracker supports teachers in covering the key skills each child needs to meet in lower and upper Key Stage 2 and track their progression..

• Effective modelling by teachers ensures that children are able to achieve their learning intentions, with misconceptions highlighted and addressed within it.

• Through using a range of assessment tools, differentiation is facilitated by teachers, to ensure that each pupil can access the History curriculum.

• Children are given clear success criteria in order to achieve the Learning Intention with different elements of independence.

• Pupils are regularly given the opportunity for Self or Peer Assessment, which will then be used to inform planning, preparation, differentiation and address misconceptions within that lesson, or for the next lesson.

• Cross-curricular links are planned for, with other subjects such as Geography, Writing, Art and DT. 

• Children create their own displays, which answer key questions they have researched. These findings are shared with the class and create a rich learning environment for each History focus.

• Pupils are given the opportunity to use pupil voice to share their views on the teaching of History and the topics covered. 

• The History subject leader will complete a book look, pupil voice and learning walk etc in each year group to monitor coverage of the History Curriculum. 

History Impact

At Little Green Junior School, the impact of our History curriculum will lead pupils to be enthusiastic history learners, evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice and their work. Children will be confident and able to talk about what they have learnt in history using subject specific vocabulary.  They will become aware of how historical events have shaped the world they live in today and become increasingly critical and analytical in their thinking: enabling them to make informed and balanced judgements based on their knowledge of the past. Children will develop enquiry skills which will encourage them to pursue their own interests and research within a topic. Children will retain prior-learning and make connections between what they have previously learned and what they are currently learning. 

Pupils' work will be of a good standard and demonstrate that history is taught at an age appropriate standard across each year group with opportunities planned in, for pupils working at greater depth.