Statement
At St Matthew’s, we are committed to providing a high-quality History education which is focused on a rich and relevant curriculum that inspires and enthuses our pupils to discover the past and explore the changes that have occurred over time. We support children in developing a sense of chronology from living memory to the earliest of human History through an enquiry based approach in which children are encouraged to investigate and interrogate a range of historical evidence and sources. Children will also learn about cause and consequence when looking at historical events and discuss how people’s actions have influenced events and shaped their world. Children will experience History through interactive and stimulating lessons and undertake field trips relevant to their topics to bring their History learning to life.
On this page, you will find relevant information about the History Curriculum at St Matthew’s.
View our History Policy on our Curriculum Policies page
Download: History – Overview 2024-2025 [PDF]
Download: History – Vision 2024-2025 [PDF]
Download: History – Milestones 2024-2025 [PDF]
Intent
While history is about real people who lived in the past, its fundamental concern is the understanding of human conditions, set in the context of time. Such understanding comes from the study of life in the past, of thoughts, beliefs, emotions and actions, as people related to each other and their environment and as they encountered and solved problems. The History curriculum at St Matthew’s equips children with the skills necessary for living and working in the contemporary world, drawing from learning from the past. As the children see the diversity of human experience, and understand more about themselves as individuals, what they learn can influence their own decisions about personal choices, attitudes and values.
Implementation
We support children in developing a sense of chronology from living memory to the earliest of human History through an enquiry based approach in which children are encouraged to investigate and interrogate a range of historical evidence and sources. Children will also learn about cause and consequence when looking at historical events and discuss how people’s actions have influenced events and shaped their world.
In Key Stage 1, pupils will be taught about the past, using common words and phrases relating to the passing of time. They will learn where the people and events they study fit within a chronological framework and identify similarities and differences between ways of life in different periods. They will be taught a wide vocabulary of everyday historical terms.
In Key Stage 2, pupils will continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study. They will note connections, contrasts and trends over time and develop the appropriate use of historical terms. They will regularly address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarities, differences and significance.
Impact
History at St Matthew’s:
- Promotes positive attitudes and enthusiasm for History
- Ensures the development of historical concepts, knowledge, skills and attitudes
- Introduces pupils to what is involved in understanding and interpreting the past
- Develops an understanding of the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day
- Teaches how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world and people of all backgrounds
- Imparts upon children a knowledge of cultural issues from the past and provides a safe environment to discuss how these issues have shaped our world today
- Develops knowledge and understanding of aspects of the history of the wider world
- Develops an understanding of historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance, and use them to make connections, draw contrasts, analyse trends, frame historically valid questions and create their own structured accounts, including written narratives and analyses
- Teaches the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used rigorously to make historical claims, and discern how and why contrasting arguments and interpretations of the past have been constructed
- Imparts historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts, understanding the connections between local, regional, national and international history; between cultural, economic, military, political, religious and social history; and between short and long term timescales
- Builds on the key History skills year on year so that children of all abilities make continued and consistent progress
Useful Resources
The following link is a great tool for home and at school to develop History skills:
- Choose an artefact and make it full screen
- Talk about its features; what does it look like, what patterns are there, any colours, what about textures?
- Where do you think it came from?
- What might it have been used for and why do you think that?
- Read some of the background information and discover the real reasons!
Even if your guess was completely wrong, that’s fine! It’s all about exploring History, making observations and drawing conclusions.
External Link: Teaching History Through 100 Artefacts