History

At Altmore we aim to provide a history curriculum that allows pupils to become passionate and curious about history, as well as furthering pupils’ historical skills and knowledge. We believe it is imperative that our children are exposed to a range of different historical people from the past who have contributed to society and therefore influence the lives we live today such as Samuel Pepys or Neil Armstrong.

Throughout our students’ time at Altmore they begin to understand and appreciate Britain’s past and gain an understanding of how it has influenced our lives today. We also aim to encourage children to ask questions, think critically, weigh evidence and develop perspective and judgement.

In EYFS

In EYFS history is closely linked to understanding the world. Children learn the importance of joining in with family customs and routines. They are encouraged to remember and talk about significant events in their own experience. By the end of Reception children talk about the lives of the people around them and their roles in society.

They will know some similarities and differences between things in the past and now, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class. They will have an understanding of the past through settings, characters and events encountered in books read in class and storytelling.

In KS1

Children develop an awareness of the past, using common words and phrases relating to the passing of time. They begin to 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.

In Year 1 and Year 2 children are encouraged to ask relevant historical questions before looking at different sources of information in order to retrieve their evidence to support their answers. A range of non-fiction texts about historical eras, events or people are used in KS1 classes to support the progression of our children’s historical development.

Useful Links

Historical Association
History programmes of study
BBC Bitesize – History
Oak National Academy

Useful texts

The Great Fire of London by Liz Gogerly
Where the Poppies Now Grow by Hilary Robinson and Martin Impey
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
The Gunpowder Plot by Liz Gogerly

Enrichment

Throughout the academic year our children participate in a number of learning opportunities which enhance their awareness of the past and how these events have impacted current society and mind-set, such as Black History Week, Remembrance Day, London History Day, VE Day, Holocaust Memorial Day as well as other significant days of the year.

Also throughout our children’s time at Altmore we provide the opportunity for them to experience educational visits linking to History. For example in Year 2 children visit the Golden Hinde; a galleon captained by Francis Drake in his circumnavigation of the world between 1577 and 1580.