Key Stage 1 Significant Individuals: Brunel

At Key Stage 1, pupils are asked to examine the lives of significant individuals who have also contributed to national achievements. A study of Isambard Kingdom Brunel provides a fascinating example of an individual whose technological and engineering advances have helped to shape the face of Britain. 

Children can identify a historical figure and explain why they are famous; begin to understand the impact on lives, past and present, of this person by investigating some of the main events in their life using pictures, photographs, written sources, artefacts and visits outside the classroom. They will gain an appreciation of the character strengths of such a significant individual from our nation's past by looking at the adversity and challenges faced by this individual. Children will be introduced to the concept of chronology through the events of their life; they will gain an insight into how lives in the past were different to their lives now, by referencing such comparatives as techildrenology and fashion; and they will use historical vocabulary related to time.

This unit is structured around 3 history enquiries:

1. Who was Isambard Kingdom Brunel and why is he famous?
2. What did Brunel achieve in his life, what structures did he design and build, why and how were these important at the time and why are they still talked about today?
3. What aspects of Brunel's character made him successful and a significant historical character for study?

Please note: While this unit contains resource suggestions, it is not a fully resourced scheme of work, and the resources it refers to may in some cases only be available to full members of the HA. The majority of the HA schemes of work were produced between 2014-2019 by members of the HA primary committee and its affiliates. These schemes of work are designed to support your planning and should be moulded and adapted to fit the context and needs of your own school. To view free sample schemes of work, please refer to our curriculum plan on Ancient Greece and our other open-access units on EYFS and Age of Revolutions. We regularly check the hyperlinks included in the schemes but unfortunately every now and again some links may go out of date. If you spot a broken link, please let us know on enquiries@history.org.uk.