History

History Leader: Danielle Knott

At Christ Church Junior School, we want children to enjoy finding out about the past and to begin to make links between different historical periods that they are taught. We aim that they will develop a secure chronological awareness and begin to understand how change and continuity are threads which run throughout the past. Through our history curriculum, children at CCJ will better understand their place in the world through exploring history that is relevant to them and the world around them. We aim to develop children’s skills in critical thinking, encouraging them to scrutinise sources of information, looking at their strengths and limitations as well as reflecting on issues of social injustice through history and what we can learn from these. Children at CCJ will develop a greater understanding of the history of Bristol and will benefit from a broad range of experiences which enrich their knowledge and understanding of the world around them, identifying how the past contributes to the current day.

How we teach history

At the start of every unit, children plot historical periods they have already learned about on a visual timeline so that the new unit can be placed in chronological context. At CCJ, we use wide range of resources to support the teaching of historical skills and knowledge, including images, artefacts, oral history, secondary sources, trips, immersive days and visitors.

Using cross-curricular skills

Opportunities for cross-curricular learning are identified by teachers. Where children are using their art and DT skills to make replicas of historical objects or art, for example, creating and decorating Greek pottery, teachers always ensure that children have an understanding of their historical significance. When using technology to research, teachers carefully curate the range of sources that children use to ensure that the information is age-appropriate and historically accurate. Reference books are a valuable source of information and are often used as well as websites.

Celebrating learning

At CCJ, we have regular opportunities for children to share and celebrate their learning. This could take the form of an end-of-unit museum with exhibits prepared by the children, a presentation to the class or an assembly. This is an opportunity for the children to communicate the knowledge they have gained during the unit by applying their written and oracy skills.

Assessment

At the end of the history unit, teachers review the children’s completed work. This is then used by the teacher to indicate which children are working below or above the expected standard for that unit.

Curriculum overview