Why do we learn history?
Studying the past provides pupils with the opportunity to understand the world today. History equips pupils with important skills, including the ability to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence and develop judgement. Through their studies, pupils at AJK are exposed to a wide range of societies across extended periods of time. These studies help pupils to appreciate the diversity and complexity of human life, while also emphasising continuities and similarities throughout time.
Our approach
History units of work are structured around an enquiry question. These questions are designed to focus on one of the following disciplinary concepts:
-
Continuity and change (in and between periods)
-
Cause and consequence
-
Similarity and difference (within a period)
-
Significance
-
Chronology
All units are structured to encourage historical modes of thought. In KS1, pupils begin by studying time periods within living history in Year 1. In Year 2, they begin to explore events beyond living history, focusing on important national events (such as the Great Fire of London) and the lives of significant individuals. In KS2, pupils study units chronologically, beginning with Prehistoric Britain. The one exception is their study of Ancient Egypt in Year 6, which deals with issues of historical interpretation. Throughout their time in KS2, pupils are exposed to a range of British and global history.
In KS1, pupils study history every other term, on rotation with geography. In KS2, they study history for an hour every week. Each KS2 unit includes 6 knowledge-building lessons, which conclude with pupils planning and writing a short essay to answer the enquiry question. They then have two ‘meanwhile, elsewhere’ lessons, in which they explore events in other parts of the world at a similar time period to their current unit. Where possible, each unit includes an enrichment opportunity – whether a workshop in school, or an external trip.
Year 1
| Autumn |
|---|
|
Toys: Now and Then |
| Spring |
|---|
|
Travel and Transport |
| Summer |
|---|
|
Enfield |
Year 2
| Autumn |
|---|
|
Explorers and Exploration |
| Spring |
|---|
|
The Great Fire of London |
| Summer |
|---|
|
They Made a Difference |
Year 3
| Autumn |
|---|
|
Prehistoric Britain |
| Spring |
|---|
|
Early Civilisations |
| Summer |
|---|
|
The Legacy of Ancient Greece |
Year 4
| Autumn |
|---|
|
The Roman Empire |
| Spring |
|---|
|
Roman Britain |
| Summer |
|---|
|
The Benin Kingdom |
Year 5
| Autumn |
|---|
|
Anglo-Saxon and Viking Invasions |
| Spring |
|---|
|
The Islamic Golden Age |
| Summer |
|---|
|
The Victorians and the Industrial Revolution |
Year 6
| Autumn |
|---|
|
Ancient Egypt |
| Spring |
|---|
|
The World Wars |
| Summer |
|---|
|
A History of Protest |
Year 7
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
World views in c1000: Islamic civilisations and the Western Christian world |
Contested power, contested land: The Normans |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
Contested power, contested land: the First Crusade & challenges to the English monarchy |
Empires: 13th century expansion and collapse |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Stability / instability in the 14th & 15th centuries |
Religious revolution & resistance in the 16th century |
Year 8
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
The Norman Conquest |
The Islamic Empire |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
Medieval England |
Medieval England |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Renaissance and Reformation |
Renaissance and Reformation |
Year 9
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
The French Revolution |
The Industrial Revolution |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
The British Empire |
The British Empire |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
World War One |
The rise of Hitler in Germany |
Year 10
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Medicine Through Time |
Medicine Through Time |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
Weimar and Nazi Germany |
Weimar and Nazi Germany |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Superpower Relations and the Cold War |
Superpower Relations and the Cold War |
Year 11
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Anglo-Saxon and Norman England |
Anglo-Saxon and Norman England |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
Revision |
Revision |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Revision |
Revision |
Year 12
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
India, 1914-48: Topic 1 – WW1 and its impact on British India, 1914- 20 America, 1918-96: Theme 1 – The changing political environment , 1917-80 |
India, 1914-48: Topic 2 – Changing political relationshi ps, 1920-30 America, 1918-96: Theme 2 – The quest for civil rights, 1917-80 |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
India, 1914-48: Topic 3 – Consultation and confrontation, 1930-42 America, 1918-96: Theme 3 – Society and culture in change, 1917-80 |
India, 1914-48: Topic 3 – Consultation and confrontation, 1930-42 America, 1918-96: Theme 3 – Society and culture in change, 1917-80 |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
India, 1914-48: Topic 4 – The road to independence, 1942-48 America, 1918-96: Theme 4 – The changing quality of life, 1917-80 |
Coursework: Initial ideas America, 1918-96: Historical interpretatio ns – What impact did the Reagan presidency (’81-’89) have on the USA in the years 1981- 86? |
Year 13
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Lancastrians and Yorkists: Topic 1 – Richard II and Henry IV Coursework: Finalising questions and initial reading |
Lancastrians and Yorkists: Topics 2 and 3 – Henry V and VI Coursework: Essay planning |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
Lancastrians and Yorkists: Topics 4 and 5 – Edward IV, Richard III and Henry VII Coursework: Essay writing |
Revision |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Revision |
Revision |