Primary History resources
The National Curriculum for history from Key Stages 1-3 requires pupils to know and understand the diverse stories of the British Isles from prehistory to present, as well as studying aspects of local, national and international history. History should equip pupils to ask questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. In Key Stages 1 and 2, pupils are required to study British history from the Stone Age through to 1066, as well as a local study, ancient Greece, another ancient civilisation, a wider world study and a chronological unit that extends pupils knowledge beyond 1066. The National Curriculum does not have to be followed by academies.
The Stone Age to the Iron Age
- Curriculum plan: Stone Age to Iron Age
- The potential of primary history
- How much has the weather mattered in British history?
- Why we need to teach about the history of trees and woodland...
- The Amesbury Archer
- Using ancient monuments to help teach about pre-Roman times in Britain
Ancient Civilisations
- The legacy of ancient Sumer
- The potential of primary history
- Linking history and science: how climate affected settlement
- Primary History summer resource 2023: Early civilisations
- Keeping children motivated in primary history while ensuring they can recall what they have been taught
- Ancient Sumer: the cradle of civilisation
Roman Britain
- Trade – lifeblood of the empire: how trade affected life in Roman Britain
- Teaching ‘these islands’ from prehistoric times to 1066
- Developing a big picture of the Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
- Teaching the Romans in Britain: a study focusing on Hadrian’s Wall
- Using apps in the history curriculum
- One of my favourite history places: Chichester's Roman walls
The Anglo-Saxons, Vikings & the Normans
- Primary History summer resource 2025: Women with power
- Curriculum plan: Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
- Developing disciplinary knowledge: how and why castles and forts developed
- Who was King Alfred? And was he really ‘Great’?
- One of my favourite history places: The Holy Island of Lindisfarne
- The Coronation
Local Study
- Scheme of work: Local history – the story of our High Street
- Local significant individuals
- Film: Discovering local and family history
- Local Community and History Month 2024: Students’ local history stories
- A Significant Local Event: Carlisle floods
- Trees
World Study
- Baghdad: what were its connections across the medieval world?
- Ancient Sumer: the cradle of civilisation
- Exploring the spices of the east: how curry got to our table
- The potty timeline: an effective way of using timelines
- Muslim soldiers in World War I
- World War I: widening relevance in the modern world
Individuals & Events
- Who was King Alfred? And was he really ‘Great’?
- Historical anniversaries calendar
- How much has the weather mattered in British history?
- A Significant Local Event: Carlisle floods
- Earth heroes: Etta Lemon, ‘The Mother of Birds’
- The year without a summer and other cautionary tales
Living Memory
- Little coins, big histories
- Exploring the history of our place with very young children
- Teaching ‘changes within living memory’: making the most of your school
- World War II: breathing life into a local history enquiry
- What do children think about the the royal family and the coronation of King Charles III?
- The Coronation of King Charles III
Beyond 1066
- Using children’s illustrators as a focus for learning about ‘Past and Present’ in EYFS
- Developing disciplinary knowledge: how and why castles and forts developed
- The year without a summer and other cautionary tales
- Trees
- Pull-out posters: Primary History 95
- Going to school: a post-1066 thematic study
Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning
- Connecting Classrooms through Global Learning
- The Olympics - politics, impact and legacy - its not just about the sport
- Teaching about the climate emergency
- Global Learning November 2016
- Teaching history and geography together in a meaningful way
- Using Folktales, Myths and Legends
Primary classroom posters
- Pull-out posters: Primary History 93
- Pull-out posters: Primary History 87
- Pull-out posters: Primary History 86
- Pull-out Posters: Primary History 81
- Pull-out Posters: Primary History 78
- Pull-out Posters: Primary History 76
Assessment
- Assessment and feedback in history
- It worked for me: investing in dialogue as a tool for assessment
- Assessment and Progression without levels
- Progression from EYFS to Key Stage 3
- Assessment in Primary History - Guidance
- Progression & Assessment without Levels - Guide
Lessons & Exemplars
- Resources for courses: ideas for your history curriculum
- Three first-class ladies – teaching significant individuals in Key Stage 1
- ‘So why did they go into hiding?’ Anne Frank in her historical and social context
- Leading Primary History
- Primary Teaching Methods
- About Nuffield Primary History