HISTORY

"He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past." George Orwell
"People without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without root."

Why do we teach History?

• To provide a framework of knowledge so that all of our children will become educated citizens (cultural capital).
• To develop our sense of identity: We learn who we are and how we came to be; History develops the children's understanding about themselves as individuals and members of society and helps them to see the diversity of human experiences.
• To motivate and inspire: History inspires us through bravery and courage of our forefathers. History teaches us that a single individual with great convictions or a committed group can change the world. It is from numerous acts of courage that human history is shaped. Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the life of others, or strikes out against injustice, he or she sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.
• To learn from it: History has the largest reference of mistakes. As we learn from the successes of our ancestors, we can also learn from their mistakes to prevent us from making them again.
• To develop critical thinking: History helps us to look beyond the headlines, to ask questions properly, and to express our own opinions. History trains our minds and teaches us to think and process information.
• To help children to sense of the world and to develop the concept of historical time and chronology.

What do we teach? 

To develop children's knowledge and understanding of Britain's past and that of the wider world, we deliver our History curriculum through topics.  With the topics we have chosen, we aim to inspire children's curiosity to know more about life beyond their living memory and equip them to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments and develop perspective and judgement. We also make make meaningful links to other subjects. 

Content of learning in History:

• Y1: Toys; Kings & Queens
• Y2: Great Fire of London
• Y3: Stone Age; Ancient Egypt
• Y4: Romans
• Y5: Benin; Vikings & Anglo-Saxons; Anglo-Saxons & Scots; Ancient Greece
• Y6:World War I & World War II

We have designed a knowledge organiser for each unit of study, which gives the children and teachers the 'bigger picture' of the topic they are learning about. 

Our expectations (Impact)

We want our children to leave St Michael's with an understanding of how their lives are effected by the events of the past; a knowledge of the sequence of key events; an understanding of historical concepts; an ability to question sources and accounts and an enjoyment of history. 

Our bespoke knowledge organisers sets out what we want the children to know by heart by the end of the topic.  We expect the majority of children to be able to recall many, if not all, of the key facts.   At the end of each unit we use a 'pop quiz' to assess the children's knowledge and understanding in relation to the content of learning.