History

At Beechwood, the History curriculum is rooted in the school’s underlying aims, ethos and values. It is carefully designed to equip our pupils with the knowledge, skills and vocabulary they need to understand and discuss the importance of the past to our society and the wider world, that will both prepare them for the next stage in their education and enable them to live successful lives in the future.

The Beechwood history curriculum aims to:

• ensure that all pupils develop a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past as a chronological narrative, looking at how different groups of people have shaped Britain and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world; 
• teach pupils to understand significant aspects of world history and the achievements of key early civilisations;
• equip children with the skills of historical enquiry including the ability to think critically, make valid judgements using historical vocabulary, and construct informed responses by selecting and organising information from a variety of sources;
• develop children’s curiosity and an interest in finding out more about the past. 

We are Historians at Beechwood Primary School

Nursery

Reception

During our Ourselves topic, children talked about how they have changed since they were a baby. They shared experiences they had in the past, for example sharing photographs of special occasions or holidays for us to talk about. During our Journeys topic, children will look at different ways of travelling and how this has changed over time.

In Reception the children learned about castles after reading the story of Zog. They were interested to learn who lived in castles in the past and they knew King Charles has a castle today. The children found out about different castles and created their own models with towers, a drawbridge and a moat in the sand area.

Year 1

As part of their History work, Year 1 wanted to find out how bikes have changed over time. A visitor came into school to show them a Penny Farthing and this is how they showed what they had learned.

Pupils wrote about Penny Farthings

Year 1 enjoyed visiting Skipton Castle during their Houses Around the World topic to help them find out more about life in the past. They especially enjoyed visiting the dungeon and finding out about the 'long-drop' (the toilets).

The children found out about where chocolate is from and the history of chocolate when they visited York during our Food of Many Nations Topic. 

Year 2

During Black History Month, Year 2 learned about Nelson Mandela and they explained to their parents why he was important.

Year 3

Year 3 have been very busy learning about the early history of Britain and the changes that occurred after the Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings invaded and settled. Expert history visitors helped the children explore reconstructed sources found by archaeologists that have taught us so much about the past.

Year 3 loved visiting Leeds City Museum to learn more about mummification and to investigate primary Ancient Egyptian sources. They saw Nesyamun, an Ancient Egyptian priest, who was mummified about 3000 years ago. His sarcophagus is decorated with hieroglyphics that give historians information about his life.

Year 4

Year 4 found out all about Ancient Greece in the Autumn Term and they enjoyed different visits to develop their understanding of key aspects of Ancient Greek society. They took part in a workshop in our amphitheatre to learn about the beginning of democracy, learned about the theatre and investigated reconstructed sources to find out about daily life.

Year 5

Year 5 children experienced what it would have been like to be a child at school in Victorian Britain this term when they visited Lotherton Hall. 
They researched different areas of interest and made posters to present to the rest of the class to show what they had learned.
 

Year 5 loved dressing up and sharing their knowledge while learning about how the Industrial Revolution evolved.

At Lotherton Hall, Year 5 experienced life as an evacuee as part of their World War Two topic. They learned Morse Code, practised First Aid and sang in an Air Raid Shelter.

Matthew came in to teach Year 5 about The Home Front. They learned about the roles of the ARP wardens and Fire Guards, what rationing was and why it was essential at that time.  Then they started to look at propaganda and how the government used it to influence the way people thought and behaved. 

Home Learning Grids

Autumn

Summer

Spring

Useful Links

Top Tips for becoming an excellent Historian 

1) Find out about the past around you. 
2) Talk to members of your family to learn stories from their past and see what you can discover about the history of your local area. You might learn some really interesting facts.
3) Good historians are curious and they like to ask questions about the past. They might wonder why something happened or what changes it led to. What historical questions do you have? How can you find answers to them?
4) Look for evidence and find out information. What area of history would you like to find out more about? Can you research it to find some answers? Remember there are different types of sources that you can use to help you. You could look at photographs or paintings, you might find artefacts to look at, you could visit a museum or use written information to help you. 
5) Think about how you will explain what you have found out to someone else. Perhaps you could make a poster or write some notes to help you.

Have fun being a historian. Enjoy becoming an expert and finding out more about the past.