Humanities
Within this page you will find information regarding the History and Geography Curriculum.
Humanities Long Term Plan for Early Years Foundation Stage
Humanities Long Term Plan for Key Stage One
Humanities Long Term Plan for Key Stage Two
Progression Model for Geography
History
INTENT
At St Mary’s, we aim for a high quality and ambitious history curriculum which should inspire in pupils, a curiosity and fascination about Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Our teaching is intended to equip pupils with: knowledge about the history of Britain and how it has it has been influenced by the wider world; know and understand about significant aspects of the history of the wider world like ancient civilisations and empires; changes in living memory and beyond living memory; learn about the lives of significant people of the past; understand the methods of historical enquiry and be able to ask and answer questions. We want children to enjoy and love learning about history by gaining this knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with the use of fieldwork and enhanced by educational visits which will widen their cultural opportunities.
IMPLEMENTATION
In ensuring high standards of teaching and learning in history, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. History is taught as part of a half-termly topic, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. At St Mary’s, we ensure that history has the same importance given to it as the core subjects, as we feel this is important in enabling all children to understand the origins of our contemporary world. History starts in Early Years, where children are taught the basic skills to develop them to become future historians, by exploring their contemporary self and the earlier lives of themselves and those around them. Key Stage 1 children extend these skills developed in Early Years by looking at a range of historical topics that capture their interest. History at Key Stage 2 is then delivered through a chronological approach where the children’s historical skills are applied in more depth and built upon.
IMPACT
The impact and measure of this is to ensure that children at St Mary’s (including those with SEND) are equipped with the historical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and for life as an adult in the wider world. Our historians should be equipped with a logical and linear understanding of the history topics studied, which will help equip them for later life. We want the children to have thoroughly enjoyed learning about history and have a good understanding of how the history of the world has shaped their lives today.
Our History Lessons
Examples of Year 4's Huminites work at home and at school-Martin Luther King Day, Burn's Night, Greek pot designs and our Rainforest topic:
History in Year Two: The Great Fire of London
Geography
INTENT
At St Mary’s, we aim for a high quality and ambitious geography curriculum that will inspire our pupil’s curiosity about the world, including about the part that they are in. Our teaching practice equips our pupils with knowledge about people and places; physical and human aspects of geography; various types of environment and the formation and use of different landscapes. Furthermore, we also help our pupils to develop their application and understanding of different geographical skills, including: using maps, collecting and analysing data; using maps, globes, atlases, aerial photographs and digital mapping to name and identify countries, continents and oceans; and communicating information in a variety of different ways.
IMPLEMENTATION
In ensuring high standards of teaching and learning in geography, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Geography is taught as part of a half-termly topic, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. At St Mary’s, we ensure that geography has the same importance given to it as the core subjects, as we feel this is important in enabling all children to develop a high quality knowledge and understanding about the world they live in. Geography starts in Early Years where children are taught the basic geographical skills, by exploring and investigating various people, places and methods of transport that they may be accustomed to.
IMPACT
The impact and measure of this is to ensure that children at St Mary’s (including those with SEND) are equipped with the geographical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and for life as an adult in the wider world. We want the children to have thoroughly enjoyed learning about geography and have a good understanding of the geographic surroundings in their local community and that in the wider world.
Our Geography Lessons