History
‘We are not makers of history. We are made by history.’
Martin Luther King Junior
History allows pupils to fire their curiosity and imagination by exploring different time periods in order to understand how life came about today. History also allows students continue to be intrigued by the dilemmas, choices and beliefs of people in the past. History gives us courage to face new challenges by learning from the past. History allows us to appreciate the advantages we enjoy in our modern times.
At BHA, we offer a comprehensive programme of history at a local, national and international level.
Through our curriculum, pupils:
- Undertake investigations and develop enquiry skills;
- Think like an historian by exploring a range of sources;
- Acquire a thorough understanding of historical methods through a stimulating approach to the subject.
We teach and assess our curriculum through the key historical skills which will be developed over the pupils’ time at BHA. The thematic topics help to develop a sense of chronology and also prepares the pupils to study a thematic topic at GCSE level.
Curriculum Overview
Year 6
| Topic | Skills | |
| 1 | What is history? | Chronology and using evidence. |
| 2 | Life, achievement and legacy of Ancient Greeks | Where and when the civilisation appeared, study of society and legacy. Key skill: similarity and difference. |
| 3 | History: A chronology from the Egyptians to World War Two. | Recall content of different time periods taught at KS1 and KS2 history. Recap on all key skills: chronology, cause and consequence, change and continuity, similarity and differences, significance, using evidence and interpretation. |
Year 7
| Topic | Skills | |
| 1 | A study of the changes made by the Normans after their invasion of England in 1066. | What was the impact of the Norman invasion on England? Key skill: Change and continuity. |
| 2 | Why did medieval Monarchs struggle to rule England? | Examination of the problems faced by Medieval Monarchs and the criteria of what makes a good leader. Key skills: cause and consequence and interpretation. |
| 3 | How hard was life for medieval peasants? | Medieval society which examines life of peasants in the Middle Ages Key skill: Similarity and Difference (where life in the Middle Ages will be compared to life in the modern world). |
| 4 | Why was the Reformation a significant event? | The study of Tudor monarchs and the religious changes each one made to England. Key skill: significance. |
Year 8
| Topic | Skills | |
| 1 | Crime and punishment through the ages. | Comparison of punishment of rich and poor, links to Year 6 work on societal changes, using evidence and source evaluation. Key skills: chronology, change and continuity, similarity and difference and using evidence. |
| 2 | What was the impact early settlers and later Americans on the Native Americans? | Study of a non- European culture and why cultures clash. Key skills: change and continuity and similarity and difference. |
| 3 | How progressive was the USA in the 1920s? | Continuing American history and helping explain how the modern western world began. The decade of contrasts focuses on diversity (political, economical, social, religious and cultural). Key skills: change and continuity, significance and diversity. |
We teach and assess our curriculum through our curriculum related expectations:
| Year 6 | Year 7 | Year 8 | |
| Cause and Consequence | I have begun to recognise consequences of main events and changes. | I can describe the characteristics of past societies and time periods. I can use them to recognise some causes and consequences of main events and changes. | I can recognise, describe and suggest some of the links between causes and the links between consequences. |
| Change and Continuity | I can recognise that the past can be divided into periods where some things change and some things stay the same. | I can describe the characteristics of past societies and periods. I can use them to identify changes and things that stay the same within and across different time periods. | I can recognise and describe changes and themes within and across different time periods. |
| Chronology | I can recognise that some events happened and people existed at different times. | I can describe some main events, people and time periods in the correct time order. | I can recognise and describe events, people and some features of past societies in the correct time order. |
| Interpretation | I can identify some of the different ways that the past has been interpreted. | I can identify and describe the different ways in which the past has been interpreted. | I can suggest reasons why the past has been interpreted differently. |
| Similarity and Difference. | I can recognise that the past can be divided into periods which have similarities and differences across and within them. | I can describe the characteristics of past societies and time periods. I can use them to identify similarities and differences across and within different time periods. | I can recognise and describe similarities and differences across and within different time periods. |
| Significance | I know why some events and individuals are very important. | I can understand why some events or individuals are more important than others. | I have begun to recognise why some events or individuals might be judged as more historically significant than others. |
| Using Evidence | I can describe what a historical source is telling me about the past. | I can interpret what a historical source is telling me about the past. | I have begun to recognise bias in a historical source. |
| Vocabulary | I can use some historical words in a sentence. | I can show what some of the key historical vocabulary means. | I know what key historical vocabulary means. |
Additional Learning Opportunities:
- History Club is open to all students on a Tuesday lunchtime. A variety of topics will be studied which will differ from those studied in class. It will involve bringing history to life through experiencing the job of a historian through project work or through drama and role-play and researching and making their own exhibitions.
Useful Links:
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z7svr82 - BBC Bitesize History
- https://historylearning.com/ - History Learning
- https://www.historyonthenet.com/ - History on the net (Research site)
- https://www.ducksters.com/ - Ducksters (Fun history site)
Last Updated: June 2023