History Implementation
At St John XXIII history is taught through investigation and enquiry. Children develop an understanding of how history has had an impact on our lives today both locally, nationally and internationally. Whilst it is important for children to have facts, we wish to encourage independent and critical thinking which will foster an understanding of ‘why’ as well as ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘when’ and ‘where’.
Vocabulary is key in all classes across all topics. We want pupils to be good communicators – language will be modelled daily to encourage speaking and listening. Lessons are planned so that there is time for discussion and debate, fostering an environment of enquiry which enables children to revise and justify their opinions as well as encouraging children to ask as well as answer questions about history.
We believe that history should be an interactive subject which strives to ignite a child’s natural curiosity. History lessons will develop pupils God given talents by being creative and allowing their curiosity to flourish.
Each unit being planned includes opportunities for children to investigate, handle artefacts, pictorial evidence, watch historical footage, take part in role play activities, visit relevant sites and museums and where appropriate, experience oral history, engaging with historical characters and ways of life.
Our curriculum provides a rich variety of topics that cover The Stone Age to the first moon landing. All history topics start with an overarching 'Big Question' that the children contribute to answering throughout the unit to see how different events and actions can accumulate to build a deeper understanding of a historical period.
They explore this question using a variety of investigative skills, engaging and becoming more familiar with historical skills such as analysing and debating the reliability of sources, making comparisons between historical periods, devising historically valid questions, drawing conclusions from sources and making links between events.
Underpinning this is an emphasis on children understanding the world around them, their country and their values.