HISTORY

"We are not makers of history.  We are made by history."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

History fires children's curiosity about the past in Britain and the wider world.  Children consider how the past influences the present, what past societies were like and what beliefs and cultures influenced people's actions.  As they do this, children develop a chronological framework for their knowledge of significant events and people.  In history, children find evidence, weigh it up and reach their own conclusions.  To do this they are encouraged to research, sift through evidence, and engage in active discussion - skills that will prepare them for adult life.  At Lawn Primary School, we aim to bring history to life by immersing children in realistic experiences both in school and on exciting educational visits linked to our topic areas.  Children have a real understanding of their place in history and concepts of when events happened in relation to each other are reinforced.  Our History Curriculum is designed to ignite children's curiosity about the past through a topic-based approach and hands on experience wherever possible.

We are determined that alongside historical knowledge there will be a high-focus on the development of specific historical skills.  The teaching of history is intended to equip children to ask pertinent questions about the past, analyse evidence, think critically, appreciate different perspectives and develop informed judgements.  We believe our children should be taught to understand how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world.  In addition, our curriculum provides opportunities for children to explore their own identity, for example, through local history topics.

History at Lawn Primary School covers the knowledge and skills outlined in the National Curriculum through broad, challenging and inspiring topics.  A topic-based approach is used to deliver the content within a meaningful context and wherever possible cross-curricular links are exploited, particularly links with geography, British Values, Learning Values and SMSC.

History is taught within each phase.  Medium term plans ensure coverage of both the required knowledge and the subject specific skills.  Individual sessions are planned to inspire, engage and challenge children in response to their needs.  Children are given a wide variety of experiences both in the classroom and out - we actively encourage school visits and visitors into school to enable the children to gain first hand experiences to support their learning. 

One element in the development of the children's communication skills is for opportunities for children to apply their writing skills within a context and linked to the theme being studied.  Children are encouraged to think like historians and develop their skills including historical enquiry.  There is a strong emphasis on developing children's other skills such as understanding of chronology, interpretations of evidence, changes within a time and across time periods and cause and consequences.

Our history curriculum is intended to help children to understand the complexity of people's lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups.