History

At Scarcliffe Primary School, we have 3 main intents that we hope to deliver through our history curriculum:

• To develop a working and growing chronological understanding of key events throughout history.
• To develop a deep knowledge and understanding of key people and time periods they have studies throughout history, understanding how history has influenced our lives today.
• To think as young historians - weighing up the accuracy of a wide range of sources.

In order to achieve this, we have developed out intent using the following three headings:

• Chronological understanding - this covers developing historical vocabulary and understanding of ordering events, timelines and time periods.
• Knowledge and interpretation - this covers learning about people and events from British and wider history.
• Historical enquiry - this includes using questioning, exploring various sources and using information finding skills to develop ideas about history.

Our History intent document can be found below:

SPS History Curriculum Intent V7 (PDF)

At Scarcliffe, the history intent document, developed from the National Curriculum, informs long term planning in each class. The themes taught in each class have been well thought out to cover all objectives in the National Curriculum as well as the following historical core concepts:

• Hierarchy and power
• Empire
• Invasion
• Civilisation and culture
• Exploration
• Disaster 

In every unit, children are given a knowledge organiser detailing the core knowledge and vocabulary to be learned in that unit, and a learning journey which documents the learning challenges taught over time.

Every unit starts with a pre learning task and ends with a post learning task which helps children and staff to understand what they already know and what they need to learn.

Planning takes into account the needs for all children so that they can develop historical enquiry skills, knowledge acquisition and an understanding of chronology.

The format of a history lesson

• All lessons start with a, 'Can I still?' activity to recap prior learning. 
• Children are then asked, 'What is history?'
• Staff then refer back to the previous lesson, linking to the current lesson.
• Staff provide a clear learning challenge which is linked to the intent and learning journey and this is discussed so that children understand what they will be learning and why.
• Staff refer back to the knowledge organisers regularly.
• Pupils are given lots of opportunities to talk about their learning and explain their ideas in lessons.
• Children have an opportunity to cement their learning through various mediums e.g. writing, drawing diagrams, using computing, presenting information orally and more.

In Scarcliffe Primary School, history and geography are taught through a topic approach on a 2-year cycle. Please see below for our history curriculum overview.

SPS History Curriculum Overview (PDF)

Here are some examples of knowledge organisers you might expect to see in a topic book at Scarcliffe Primary School.

SPS Examples of Topic Knowledge Organiser (PDF)

At Scarcliffe Primary School, we have developed a vocabulary progression document outlining key vocabulary taught from Class 1 to Class 4. This includes vocabulary specified in the National Curriculum as well as vocabulary linking to each topic.

SPS Vocab Progression in History (PDF)

We understand the importance of teaching high quality history lessons to all children and leaders monitor the impact of teaching in a variety of ways. 

Most importantly, the subject leader spends time in classes - seeing what the children are learning, talking to pupils about their understanding and views about computing and talking to staff about teaching and learning.  The subject leader likes to carry out book looks alongside pupils to gather information about their learning. 

A range of further methods are used to gather information about the impact of teaching in history.  This is collated and shared with staff. 

Here are some great websites to support learning in history:

• The National Archives.
• BBC Bitesize
• English Heritage

Homework for history is encouraged and celebrated in each class, but it is optional. A topic menu is sent home at the start of each term to provide ideas for children to complete at home.