What does History look like at Chisenhale?
Intent
At Chisenhale, our history curriculum aims to give every child the opportunity to feel like an expert within the subject. Although our history units are not taught chronologically, the teaching of chronology is woven throughout to ensure children develop a secure understanding of the concept.
Our History curriculum has been designed to cover all of the skills, knowledge and understanding as set out in the National Curriculum. The National Curriculum states that ‘a high-quality history education will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It should inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past.’
Using the National Curriculum as a guide, we have sequenced our history curriculum in a way that allows for children to make links between current and previous learning while also ensuring children develop a sense of identity and a cultural understanding based on their historical heritage. Studying history in this way inspires children’s curiosity, encourages them to ask critical questions and enables them to have a better understanding of the past society in which they live and that of the wider world. It is important for children to develop a sense of identity through learning about the past and we want them to know how history has shaped their own lives.
Implementation
Within our classrooms, we take an enquiry-based approach to teaching History whereby each topic is framed upon a key question that guides the teaching. We focus on working as a historian to explore these rich and ambitious lines of enquiry questions. Our medium term plans for each history unit ensure there is clear skills, knowledge and vocabulary progression throughout school.
All lessons are planned and taught with the clear intention to develop and explore:
a) Chronological knowledge
b) Historical knowledge specific and important to the period covered
c) Historical enquiry skills that are a clear progression from prior learning
Assessments are carried out at the end of each topic which address children’s understanding of the enquiry question through cross-curricular writing opportunities. Children also undertake quizzes which assess their prior learning and retention and focus upon factual and chronological knowledge. Books are monitored throughout the year and pupil voices are conducted to ensure the content/skills are covered as planned and that children are retaining their knowledge and understanding as historians.
In the wider, broad and balanced curriculum, pupils are exposed to a range of stories and poems from different historical periods and a range of ethnicities, including BAME, with the intention of deepening their knowledge of History further. At Chisenhale, historical learning is made significantly more memorable due to our Big Bangs, Grand Finales, Now Press Play experience, carefully planned trips, educational visitors and workshops. We want the children to develop a sense of identity and a cultural understanding based on their local history along with an understanding of aspects of British history and of the wider world.
Impact
The impact of the Chisenhale History curriculum will ensure children will:
• be increasingly aware of how historical events and people have shaped the world that they live in today.
• become increasingly analytical with their thinking, making informed and balanced judgements based on their knowledge of the past.
• have an increased appreciation for the diversity of the world that we live in.
• have a secure understanding of the key components of the History curriculum.
• retain prior learning and make connections between prior learning and current learning.
• be enthused by their History topics, through our cross-curricular approach and enrichment activities which immerses them in the period; creating intrigue and enjoyment.
Our assessments and monitoring allow us to see the impact of our teaching, guide future planning and ensure that our standards of teaching are high.