History
History at Bournville Village Primary School
The National Curriculum for history aims to ensure that all pupils:
- know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day: how people's lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world
- know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations; the expansion and dissolution of empires; characteristic features of past non-European societies; achievements and follies of mankind
- gain and deploy a historically grounded understanding of abstract terms such as 'empire', 'civilisation', 'parliament' and 'peasantry'
- understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance, and use them to make connections, draw contrasts, analyse trends, frame historically-valid questions and create their own structured accounts, including written narratives and analyses
- understand the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used rigorously to make historical claims, and discern how and why contrasting arguments and interpretations of the past have been constructed
- gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts, understanding the connections between local, regional, national and international history; between cultural, economic, military, political, religious and social history; and between short- and long-term timescales.
Rationale: It is our aim at BVPS for pupils to attain the above to the highest possible standard. Pupils at BVPS will make a firm link between British history and the development of British values. With explicit thematic strands, and opportunities for recall and revisiting over time, pupils will develop secure conceptual schemata focusing on four key aspects of history: power, newcomers, technology and communication. It is our aim to provide a curriculum which fosters an enthusiasm for the study of the past alongside key historical knowledge and the skills of historical enquiry, so that pupils leave our school both eager and able to excel in the subject.
BVPS History Overview
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Newcomers |
Communication |
Technology |
Power [British Values] |
The Four Strands:
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Autumn |
Spring |
Summer |
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Reception |
Our History: Family and Local History |
Sailing the Seas: Explorers/Pirates |
Rich and Poor: Royalty in Fairy Tales |
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Year 1 |
Exploring the World and Beyond Newcomers Explorers/discovery |
Changing Transport Technology Older/Newer |
Local Heroes |
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Year 2 |
Clever Construction Technology Older/Newer More useful/effective
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Communication: How Have Ideas Been Shared? Communication Script Technology Older/Newer More useful/effective |
Ruling Queens: Elizabeth I & Victoria Power Queens/monarchy |
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Year 3 |
Changes in Britain from Stone Age to Iron Age Newcomers Migration – the search for new/better places to live Power Chiefs and leaders Communication Technology
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Roman Britain: Change Arrives Newcomers Raiding, invasion and conquest Power Emperors – rulers of empires; governors – rulers of parts of empires Technology The arrival of Roman technology |
Building an Ideal Community: Local History Newcomers Migration to cities – the search for a better quality of life Technology Industrialisation and the growth of factories |
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Year 4 |
New Arrivals: The Anglo-Saxons Newcomers Migration – the search for new/better places to live Power Anglo-Saxon Kings – the struggle for mastery of Britain Communication The use of writing to preserve and spread religious teaching; history writing (Bede) Technology The “Dark Age” – Roman technology and knowledge largely lost |
Anglo-Saxons & Vikings: The Struggle for Britain Newcomers Raiding, invasion and conquest Power Anglo-Saxon Kings – the struggle for mastery of Britain Technology Viking shipbuilding and its impact on British history
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The Achievements of Ancient Egypt Power Pharaohs – powerful sole-rulers with a god-like status; powerful Communication Hieroglyphics Technology Pyramid building and mummification practices; shadufs and irrigation |
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Year 5 |
The Tudor Transformation Newcomers Exploration of the New World Power Civil War Henry VIII’s struggle against the Roman Catholic Church |
People & Power in British History Power The limits of royal power; parliament and representative government; civil war
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Old World, New World Newcomers Exploration of the New World Communication Mayan glyphs Power God-like rulers Technology Technological comparisons between the Maya and Anglo-Saxons |
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Year 6 |
The Legacy of Ancient Greece Power [British Values] Comparisons of different government types; monarchy vs representation Communication An alternative alphabet Technology Ancient technology and mathematical/scientific thinking |
Britain Under Threat: The Second World War Newcomers Invasion and conquest; bombing raids Power [British Values] The clash of liberal democracy and dictatorship Technology Mechanisation; the importance of technology in war |
Equality Now! Power [British Values] Representation in parliament/government Communication Protest |
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History in action
