History and Geography
History
What is history and what do we teach your children?
History at Broseley is about taking advantage of the significance of our local area and also other parts of the world. It is about looking at the more recent past (in living memory) and also going further back, sometimes thousands and thousands of years. Most importantly though, it is not about seeing these as separate periods and events but how all these themes/topics sit together on a timeline, often with overlaps and common aspects.
Because of this, it is important for the children to learn about the past with 6 key concepts in mind: Cause and Consequence; Similarity and Difference; Perspective and Empathy; Significance; Continuity and Change; and Interpretation and Contestability. This means that, as they move through school from Reception to Year 6, they can build their understanding by creating links between the topics and themes they have learnt about.
Our long term plan for history ensures that children are exposed to and learn about history from most periods and most parts of the world and it also ensures that there is an even coverage of the historical concepts.
As well as learning about events and people from the past and linking these to historical concepts, we also ask the question; ‘What would a Historian do?’ as a way of getting children to think about history as something that is still being discovered and understood. Understanding how we learn about the past is just as important as learning about it so we aim to give children a chance to ask and answer their own questions. This is done through the exploring of artefacts, primary written sources (such as letters, diaries and newspapers), secondary sources (such as text books and websites) and visits to museums and important historical sites.
How do we teach your children?
At the start of a new theme/topic children complete a WDYTYK (What Do You Think You Know?) activity to see whether the children have any existing knowledge. They are encouraged to express what they ‘think’ and also what they think a historian would do to find out. This activity helps the teacher to plan specific lessons that may address a common misunderstanding or misconception.
For each History theme/topic that we teach, a knowledge organiser has been created that contains some of the key knowledge that we want the children to gain. These are posted to Class Dojo at the beginning of each theme/topic so that you can see what the children will be learning about.
History lessons at Broseley will usually begin by using these knowledge organisers to ‘quiz’ the children. After that, there will be a series of lessons based around the knowledge, concepts and enquiry skills linked to each theme/topic. Mid way through the series of lessons, children may take part in a mid-point quiz and at the end of the lessons they will complete an assessment. This assessment includes repeating the WDYTYK activity but with an alternative title WDYKN (What Do You Know Now?) and either, an end of unit quiz, slideshow, essay or presentation depending on the age and ability of the child. This assessment will then be used to create a whole class target based on the most common misunderstanding that can be re-taught or revised later.
Geography
What is geography and what do we teach your children?
Geography at Broseley is about taking advantage of our local area and the range of physical and human features we are lucky to have nearby, as well as exposing our children to the amazing places and people that there are in the rest of the world. We begin by looking at our immediate locality (the school) before exploring our local town, significant places in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world but most importantly, we look at how these places are linked together by the people and processes that happen in them. Comparison of places forms a huge part of our curriculum.
Our long term plan (see below) for geography ensures that children explore various processes and places at all scales, from local to global. It also makes room for specific Geographical Skills lessons that progress year on year allowing children to develop and hone their map skills.
As well as learning about people and processes around the world, we also ask the question; ‘What would a Geographer do?’ as a way of getting children to think about geography as something that is studied and changing all the time. Understanding how we learn about the world is just as important as learning about it, so we aim to give children a chance to ask and answer their own questions. This is done through the exploring and collecting of data, collecting and studying primary written sources, the study of secondary written sources, (such as text books and websites) and visits to important geographical sites.
Geography in EYFS
In the EYFS, geography is included in the ‘Understanding the World’ education program, which focusses on children making sense of their physical world and their community. Geography in the EYFS revolves mainly around first-hand experiences/visits and listening to a broad selection of texts (fiction, non-fiction, poetry and rhymes). It is also of great importance that children’s experiences outside of school are shared and discussed as part of this. Their use of Forest School is also essential in knowing how to look after the environment and live sustainable lives. In short, Geography in the EYFS is done through exploration, observation, experience, and discussion. Children are then able to express their knowledge and understanding verbally, through creativity, during structured play and through continuous provision.
Knowledge Orgnaniser Example - Rivers, Mountains and Coasts North and South America
Mind Map Example - North and South America
Geography Progression of Knowledge and skills