History at Queen’s Crescent School
At Queen’s Crescent the teaching of history aims to excite children into finding out about the past. We study British history and the history of the wider world though a variety of means. To help us we use the Chris Quigley’s Essentials curriculum, which gives us the following objectives:
To investigate and interpret the past
To build an overview of world history
To understand chronology
To communicate historically.
The children in FS2 follow their own specific curriculum, and ‘history’ is taught in their ‘Understanding the world’ specific area, under:
‘People and communities: children talk about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members. They know that other children don’t always enjoy the same things, and are sensitive to this. They know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions’
The children in FS2 learn about their own personal history that has spanned the last 4/5 years and are encouraged to describe things that have happened to them. One of the most exciting ways of engaging all of the children in the unit is through the ‘special person’ where each week a different child is chosen to bring in special objects and photographs of themselves and their families. The class then share these special items and the child can talk about significant events such as their birth, weddings, siblings, special toys and stories they have loved.
Key stage 1
The children in year 1 and 2 follow the National Curriculum.
Which states:
‘Pupils should develop an awareness of the past, using common words and phrases relating to the passing of time. They should know where the people and events they study fit within a chronological framework and identify similarities and differences between ways of life in different periods’
At Queen’s Crescent the learning is topic based which is enhanced through trips and visitors. The children in both classes will select a significant historical figure to study, learn about the history of Chippenham and surrounding areas and make comparisons between their lives and lives of people who lived in the past.
The children in year 2 have recently enjoyed a trip to the STEAM museum in Swindon, which has helped them to learn more about Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
In year 1, the children compared toys from the past with modern toys, enhanced by the story of the Velveteen Rabbit.
We have developed close links with the local museum and heritage centre, using the staff’s expertise and resources to ‘bring the learning to life’. On many occasions throughout the year will you see Mr Skelton, from the museum, dressed as a character from the past!
Key stage 2
The children across key stage 2 follow the national Curriculum:
Pupils should continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study. They should note connections, contrasts and trends over time and develop the appropriate use of historical terms. They should regularly address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance. They should construct informed responses that involve thoughtful selection and organisation of relevant historical information. They should understand how our knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources.
The children in year 3 study The Stone Age enhanced by the book How to wash a Woolly Mammoth. And step back in the time of the Vikings through How to tran your dragon.
In year 4, the children study the Tudors and Roman in a Dr Who style journey through time. In the summer term, they will carry out a local history study on King Alfred, a significant historical figure, whose life was based in Chippenham.
In year 5 and 6 the children studied WW1, learning about life in the trenches and the impact that the war has on life today. Year will then go onto look at a DA Vinci as a significant person in history.
Year 6, on the other hand, will look at the history of China.
Our main aim across the school is to enable the children to learn about the past, use a variety of resources including technology to help with their research. Bringing history alive through trips, artefacts and visitors and encouraging children to consider the impact that the past has on their lives today.
