Mickleton Primary School

Curriculum Implementation Statement for Humanities

To ignite children’s curiosity about the past and develop children’s experience and understanding of Geography and History through a topic-based approach and hands on experience wherever possible.

The school follows the national curriculum for history and geography and therefore the follows the aims laid down in that document. A recent review of the curriculum has seen some changes being made to ensure a better coverage of the curriculum. There is now more of a focus on enquiry led learning, meaning ease of planning for teachers and increased understanding and relevance for children.

History Curriculum Intent Statement:

The aim of history teaching at Mickleton Primary School is to stimulate the children’s interest and understanding about the life of people who lived in the past. We teach children a sense of chronology, and through this they develop a sense of identity and a cultural understanding based on their historical heritage. Therefore they learn to value their own and other people’s cultures in modern multicultural Britain and, by considering how people lived in the past, they are better able to make their own life choices today. This also relates to our school Christian Values and Vision and we make links to this through our History teaching. We teach children to understand how events in the past have influenced our lives today; we also teach them to investigate these past events and, by so doing, to develop the skills of enquiry, analysis, interpretation and problem solving. The development of children’s historical knowledge, and understanding and skills is closely linked to their development of their ability to use language.

Our curriculum intent includes planned opportunities to:

• To foster in children an interest in the past and to develop an understanding that enables them to enjoy all that History has to offer;
• To enable children to know about significant events in British history, and to appreciate how things have changed over time;
• To develop a sense of chronology;
• To know and understand how the British system of democratic government has developed and in doing so to contribute to a child’s citizenship education;
• To understand how Britain is part of a wider European culture, and to study some aspects of European history;
• To have some knowledge and understanding of historical development in the wider world;
• To help children understand society and their place in it so that they develop a sense of their cultural heritage which also links to our school Christian Vision and Values;
• To develop in children the skills of enquiry, investigation, analysis, evaluation and presentation and local area.

Geography Curriculum Intent Statement:

The aim of Geography at Mickleton Primary School inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.

Our curriculum intent includes planned opportunities to:

• Become naturally curious about the world around them
• Communicate geographical information
• Develop contextual knowledge about the location of globally significant places
• Develop in children the skills of enquiry and investigation
• Communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.
• Carry out enquiry based research
• Promote enjoyment and enthusiasm for learning about the world around them from an early age
• Care about the importance of sustainability
• Develop understanding of how to protect the planet
• Help children to transform into thoughtful members of society who have respect for the community and the planet
• Give children the knowledge they need to develop an understanding of places and environments
• Foster a love of learning and raises enjoyment through learning and the local environment and wider world

Between History and Geography there are many links. Also, literacy and history link closely together, with many classes undertaking Big Writing based around a historical topic. Also, elements of maths and art are visible, as well as a significant PSHE link.

Work is differentiated by ability or support, often lessons are more practical so differentiation comes in the form of certain children leading discussion.

Humanities are taught in weekly blocks to ensure a depth of understanding and coverage. Plans are shared with parents before the half term to support them in supporting the children.

Book trawls are completed twice throughout the year, a learning walk has also been recently carried out. Furthermore, teachers upload work to Seesaw and complete low stakes end of unit assessments, which are monitored by the curriculum lead and senior leadership team.

There are many events that are organised to enrich the learning both inside and outside of the classroom.