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A classic case for history?
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum.
History is now an extremely popular subject with children, parents and teachers says a new research study - especially when children find out about the Ancient Greeks and Romans.
A classic case for history?
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Using school logbooks - Bishop Graham Memorial Ragged School, Chester
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum.
Logbooks can be described as the diary of the headmaster. The contents can vary in interest depending on how diligent the headmaster was at recording events. Some merely record the delivery of coals, the attendance at the school or the visitors to...
Using school logbooks - Bishop Graham Memorial Ragged School, Chester
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History and the Literacy Hour
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum.
Amid fears of history being lost from the Key Stage One curriculum, following suspension of the statutory orders, research which considered the use of historical story as part of the Literacy hour, was carried out by Paula Silvera, a final year BEd...
History and the Literacy Hour
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Early Years: Learning about the Past through 'People Who Help Us'
Article
'People who help us’ is a popular learning theme in the Foundation Stage. It helps children develop their knowledge of the world around them and understand how they are part of a local and wider community. Aspects of this theme can also provide opportunities for children to develop their understanding...
Early Years: Learning about the Past through 'People Who Help Us'
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Local People and Places in the Early Years
Article
Learning in the Early Years through Local People and Places: developing historical concepts in the Early Years Foundation Stage
Using the local environment as a starting point for historical learning in EYFS not only helps young children engage and make learning meaningful and relevant, but also helps them develop a strong sense of identity. Working...
Local People and Places in the Early Years
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Chronology: Developing a coherent knowledge
Article
Chronology: Developing a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain's past and of the wider world
First, this article considers the reasons why it is essential for children to develop a chronological framework. Next it considers ways in which this framework is necessary for the development of the time concepts set...
Chronology: Developing a coherent knowledge
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Creativity in teaching and learning at the Geffrye Museum
Article
Learning and education has always been an essential and central part of the Geffrye museum's purpose. Twice winners of the highly prestigious Sandford Award for Heritage Education, most recently in 2012, our professional learning team works with a broad range of audiences to develop and deliver a wide variety of...
Creativity in teaching and learning at the Geffrye Museum
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One of my favourite history places: Hadrian's Wall
Article
Choosing Hadrian’s Wall as one of my favourite places is a bit of a cheat really as it is a 73-mile-long (80 Roman miles) wall punctuated with a whole range of 20 individual sites each worth a visit; from mile castles and forts to desolate sections with fabulous views or...
One of my favourite history places: Hadrian's Wall
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Having fun through time
Article
This article is about planning and teaching about ‘having fun across time’ for use in the later years of Key Stage 2 – investigating questions such as ‘Were people having fun in the same ways in the Middle Ages as in the Roman or Victorian periods?’ ‘What did our parents...
Having fun through time
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Learning Outside the Classroom
Article
In recent times, it is easy to recognize that there has been a general move towards promoting outside activities across all manner of organizations and groups. For instance, organisations such as The National Trust and Ordnance Survey are keen to promote outdoor experiences in their literature. An online presence advocates...
Learning Outside the Classroom
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Learning about the past through toys and games
Article
A learning theme centred on toys and games is perfect for younger children as the Early Years curriculum is, of course, all about learning through play. Planned carefully, it can also provide many opportunities for children to develop their understanding of the past.
Adult-directed learning opportunities
Provide the children with...
Learning about the past through toys and games
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Time for a story
Using stories in the Early Years and Foundation Stage
Stories are an important part of a young child’s way of making sense of their world. Hilary Cooper’s excellent article ‘Why Stories?’ explores some of the reasons why stories are important to young children and their growing ‘understanding of the world’. This article is going to explore some recommended stories...
Time for a story
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Ideas for Assemblies: The Olympics
Article
A series of whole-school or class assemblies planned for the weeks leading up to the Olympic Games in 2016 provides an excellent opportunity to introduce or reinforce pupils’ understanding of significance. Over the weeks the pupils will be introduced to inspirational stories taken from previous games and through this be...
Ideas for Assemblies: The Olympics
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Doing history in the early years and foundation stage
Article
Please note: This article pre-dates the current National Curriculum and some content and references may be outdated.
Introducing the youngest children to the concept of history can be a challenging prospect for some foundation stage practitioners, particularly if they feel their experience of the subject has been limited or their own memories of...
Doing history in the early years and foundation stage
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One of my favourite history places: Bournville
Article
One of my favourite places is Bournville Village in the south of Birmingham – every time I go there it feels as if I am entering a different world, away from the noise and bustle of the city. Less than five minutes' walk away from the tourist attraction of Cadbury World is the village...
One of my favourite history places: Bournville
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Ideas for Assemblies: Battle of the Somme
Article
Commemorating the Battle of the Somme through an assembly is not an easy task and one which needs careful thought and preparation. This battle officially started on 1 July 1916, after a week-long artillery bombardment, though both British and French commanders had prepared for the offensive for several months. To highlight...
Ideas for Assemblies: Battle of the Somme
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M&S brings over 130 years of archives into your classroom
Article
There is something really magical about making your own discoveries. Investigating something sparked by your own curiosity and using your own skills of observation and deduction to find out more is exciting. Human beings have always wanted to find out about our history and our place in the world –...
M&S brings over 130 years of archives into your classroom
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Triumphs Show: A head, a hook and international theft: getting year 9 to debate the intricacies of the impact of empire
Teaching History feature
The draft of the revised Key Stage 3 programme of study for history brings a new prominence to the study of the British Empire. Here one department describes their triumph in enabling students to engage with a topic which could seem very distant from their own lives.
Triumphs Show: A head, a hook and international theft: getting year 9 to debate the intricacies of the impact of empire
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So was everyone an ancient Egyptian?
Developing an understanding of the world in ancient times
I will be honest – no child has actually asked me if the world was ever full of Ancient Egyptians! Having said that, by focusing on one part of the world, children are left with either this impression or the idea that nothing was happening elsewhere in the world. Clearly,...
So was everyone an ancient Egyptian?
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Children's thinking and history
Article
Hilary Cooper outlines the main features of children's historical thinking in History. These ideas are reflected in the government's provisional plans for the 2014 NC for History...
Children's thinking and history
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Writing books for young children about the First World War
Article
It is hardly surprising that there are very few books for young children which tackle such a difficult subject as the First World War. In considering our approach, we knew we had to balance two distinct considerations – being absolutely true to the facts, yet, being sensitive to the effect of...
Writing books for young children about the First World War
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History and identity
Article
A sense of identity is at the heart of the proposed new NC for History. Sir Keith explores what this means for immigrant children of mixed heritage who grew up in Britain. Significantly, the last sentence of his paper dovetails with the government's views...
History and identity
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Home Front Legacy 1914-18
Article
Home Front Legacy 1914-18 is your opportunity to research, discover and record the remains of the First World War Home Front in the United Kingdom. This partnership project, co-ordinated by the Council for British Archaeology with support and funding from Historic England, is open to everyone. You don’t need any...
Home Front Legacy 1914-18
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History outside the classroom at Key Stage 1
Article
When thinking about what history means to five- to seven-year-old children, the chances are it is quite a muddle of ideas – from princesses and castles through to dinosaurs and Second World War fighter planes – without a great deal of coherence as to how it all fits together. Learning...
History outside the classroom at Key Stage 1
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Using Spaces Near You
Article
Please note: This article pre-dates the current National Curriculum; some content may be outdated and links may be broken.
Urban spaces such as parks and gardens offer a range of opportunities for children's learning. In these green patches children can investigate, observe, wonder, record and create.
Using Spaces Near You