History

History curriculum intent

Enquiry based learning at Ringwood Junior School allows children to be inquisitive and keen to find out about the past and how this influences the present.  They will consider and ask questions about consequence, change, cause, similarities and differences.  Pupils have opportunities to explore a wide range of primary and secondary sources and use these to think critically about what they discover and consider different perspectives.  Children will develop an understanding of Britain’s past and the rise and fall of ancient civilisations in wider world history. As Historians, they will develop enquiring minds and the ability to empathise.

 

Implementation

The History curriculum has been designed to allow pupils to develop a strong sense of chronology beginning with prehistory, exploring ancient civilisations and thematic investigations through time. 

History lessons are normally taught in weekly lessons covering a unit over a period of 6-7 weeks. Opportunities for cross curricular are encouraged and many art outcomes in particular are linked to history units.  In English high quality texts about historical events or significant individuals provide further opportunities for children to develop their understanding of the past.

Assessment activities have been created for Teachers to assess at the end of each project allowing pupils to show their understanding of previous learning. Standards are monitored through learning walks by SLMT and governors, pupil conferencing, and book scrutiny.

 

Children at Ringwood Junior School have the opportunity to participate in many activities to help them to develop as historians, encouraging them to ask enquiring questions about the past.  Creating timelines helps the children to develop a deeper understanding of chronology and history learning within the school begins with prehistory in Year 3 with a study of the Stone Age and the Iron Age.  In Year 3 children have the chance to spend a day with Matt Russell exploring artefacts and finding out about life in the Iron Age.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Across the school children have access to history artefact boxes for each of the projects.  Children in Year 4 explore the artefact boxes to help them understand about life during the Roman, Anglo Saxon and Viking periods in history.  Whilst handling and exploring the artefacts children are encouraged to think about their provenance and to pose questions how they may have been used in the past or whom they may have been owned by. 

 

In Year 5 children complete an enquiry based project to find out about the shifting balance of power between the monarchy and parliament from the Magna Carta to present day.  All the children thoroughly enjoy this project which culminates with a fascinating visit to Hampton Court.

Having learnt all about the geographical features of South America the children in year 5 then investigate the characteristics of the Mayan Empire.  They also consider how, if the Mayan Empire was so great, did it collapse and fall so rapidly?

Children in Year 6 ask questions and build theories about the Ancient Greek way of life.  They understand how paintings of pottery which depicted scenes from everyday life can help us to understand the past.  They will learn that life in Ancient Greece was not the same for all members of society. 

Whilst completing a local study, Year 6 children will investigate Ringwood’s role in WW1.  They will develop an understanding of how the war began and consider the impact it had on our town and locality.  They will explore how children at our school collected acorns for gun powder, women volunteered as nurses at Somerley House which became a hospital and local men volunteered to fight together.  Through their study they will gain an understanding of the devastating impact of the war in Ringwood.