History

History

History Curriculum Page 2024-2025

We love learning about the past in St. Christopher's and the History curriculum really enables us to explore what life was like in Britain and beyond in recent and older History. We use 'Key Stage History' to support in our planning and delivery of many of our History units. Currently, Years 3, 4 and 5 are using Opening Worlds Curriculum Planning, with Year 2 teaching The Stone Age in preparation for Year 3.

https://openingworlds.uk/

https://www.keystagehistory.co.uk/

"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. History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time." National Curriculum 2014

In St. Christopher's, reading and writing skills are also embedded through the teaching of History. This can be done by: reading texts in Whole Class Read based on their historical topic; reading Opening Worlds booklets; interpreting primary and secondary sources, writing letters/diary extracts as if we are a person from the past, answering questions based on past events.

History Work in Year Groups

Year One

In Year One the children study the topic of 'Toys' where they explore old and new toys and how the impact of certain toys and games have affected our lives today. The children play with old and new toys, sort them, investigate the similarities and differences between them and decide why some toys have lasted the test of time better than others. The children will also learn about The First Flight, making links to the local area and journeys.

Year Two

Our History Curriculum provides opportunities for the children to study events in British History that have been of significant impact. Year 2 study Famous People from the Past-Kitty Wilkinson and Florence Nightingale. They learn about significant events from the past, the Great Fire of London. In preparation for the transition into Key Stage Two, children will start a topic from Opening Worlds: The Stone Age.

Year Three

The children will begin to learn from the Opening Worlds Curriculum. Opening Worlds is a knowledge-rich humanities programme for teaching history, geography and religion in Years 3 to 6. Through this approach, children's literacy skills are enhanced through historical topics. The topics are:

Ancient Egypt

Cradles of Civilisation

The Indus Valley

Persia and Greece

Ancient Greece

Alexander the Great

Year 4

This year's Year 4 will continue their learning from Year 3.

Their topics include: Roman Republic, The Roman Empire (Autumn), Roman Britain and Christianity in 3 Empires (Spring) and Arabia and Early Islam, Corboda-The City of Light.

Year 5

Year 5 will begin their Opening Worlds curriculum this year and embed their previous learning from Years 3 and 4. They will be learning about: The round city, Baghdad, Anglo-Saxon Britain, Vikings 1: Lady of the Mercias, Morse Culture, Vikings 2: Changing rulers, changing worlds and local History.

Year 6

Year 6 will enhance their understanding of world and local history through these topics:

World War 2 The Blitz in Liverpool

Speke Hall

The Maya