History
Our history curriculum intent
‘The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.’
— Theodore Roosevelt —
At Pennoweth, we believe that developing children’s enquiring and inquisitive minds to help them gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world is paramount. Our coherent and engaging curriculum is structured to ensure that current learning is linked to previous knowledge, skills and vocabulary acquisition and offers children a deep insight into the past. Children are encouraged and provoked to ask perceptive questions, think critically, examine evidence, consider arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. Our curriculum provides an insight into the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between various groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges they face themselves. In short, we aim to develop children’s curiosity to become keen historians.
History at Pennoweth is taught in blocks across a two-year cycle from years 2-6 in order for the children to achieve depth in their learning. Key knowledge, skills and associated vocabulary have been identified and these have been mapped across the school to ensure progression. At the start of each unit, teachers establish the starting point for each child and ensure that all lessons taught are relevant and developmental, and consideration is given to how greater depth will be reached within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion.
Cross curricular outcomes in History are specifically planned for, with strong links between the subject and English lessons identified, planned for and utilised. During the unit, the chosen class text also links to the aspects being taught. Links are made to history significant to Pennoweth, its community and Cornwall where relevant and the local area is used wherever appropriate to support teaching and learning.
DNA
The culture of our DNA at Pennoweth also aids and supports the teaching of history. History is a multifaceted subject that increases cultural awareness and moral understanding of the world we live in, which makes children feel safe. Throughout our history projects, we compare and contrast the past and present across different time periods, examining how things have changed and helping children to understand the process of change and the diversity of societies. This develops pupil knowledge of the people and events that have shaped the past and gives children a better understanding of the present, which makes them feel loved. Pupils are responsible for their own learning in history by using a wide range of resources to explore historical concepts through their senses, as well as developing their language and communication. For example, artefacts, visual images, reference books, online articles, stories and people themselves. In addition to this, we recognise the important role that history plays in preparing our children with skills that they can use for life, raising their aspirations and understanding how to be good and responsible citizens, allowing them access to a much wider world. Pupils are engaged and motivated in their learning due to immersive and stimulating cross-curricular projects. Through our history curriculum, we strive to inspire pupils’ curiosity about the past, providing opportunities to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments and develop perspective and judgement. We believe that teaching history in this way is important in broadening children’s horizons, challenging preconceived ideas and developing life skills in order to ensure that they are prepared for the future. Our curriculum ensures that Pennoweth children are ready to be inquisitive, analytical and enthusiastic historians who are curious to explore the past in Britain and the wider world. Through finding out how and why the world, our country, culture and local community have developed over time, they understand how the past influences life today.
What history skills and knowledge will my child learn at Pennoweth?
Comment from a child in Gwithian Class – Year 1/2:
“I really enjoyed designing a dinosaur landscape, sewing sockosaurus sock puppets and making clay dinosaur teeth.”
Comment from a child in Marazion Class – Year 2:
“We wrote a newspaper report on Mary Anning, wrote a dinosaur shape poem and a story about Mary Anning.”
Comments from the children in Newlyn Class – Year 3:
“I like learning about what it was like in the past.”
“I love how our class book ‘I Was There…1066’ links in with everything that we are learning – it feels like we are there with Edwin!”
“I’ve enjoyed everything about our 1066 history project, like: learning all of the interesting facts, reading the 1066 book, finding out about The Battle of the Hastings and The Bayeux Tapestry that shows this, learning about The Domesday Book, Norman castles and everything else.”
Comment from a child in Porthleven Class – Year 3/4:
“I enjoyed drawing the pictures of the Norman castles, writing what was inside and seeing all the pictures of the castles. I also liked writing about The Bayeux Tapestry and what life was like for Norman children. I enjoyed the class book too.”
Comments from the children in Mevagissey Class – Year 4:
“We enjoyed reading the class text ‘I Was There…1066’ as it linked well to the project and supported our learning.”
“I’ve enjoyed reading our 1066 class book, learning about Norman castles, The Bayeux Tapestry, The Domesday Book and all of the interesting facts about how people lived and putting them on a timeline.”
Comments from the children in Pendeen Class – Year 5:
“I really enjoyed learning about Henry VIII and his wives because I never knew that Henry had 6 wives just for a male heir! I enjoyed learning about what happened to the different wives. Also, I most enjoyed learning about crimes and punishments especially burning at the stake! What I found useful was that I never knew that Henry built places like Hampton Court. I loved the history because I love gruesome stuff!”
“I really enjoyed learning about Henry’s 6 wives and how he reformed England. I think that reading ‘Treason’ (our class novel) helped explain the Tudor times and how different it is from now (really pointing out the gruesome parts). Punishments in Tudor times were really shocking. I think, if I was in the Tudor times, I would run away!”
“I’ve enjoyed the history project because it was fun learning about Henry VIII and his 6 wives. Furthermore, I enjoyed the crime and punishment learning especially scolds bridle. Also, my favourite wife was Anne Boleyn, Henry’s second wife, because when she was about to be beheaded, she was really brave and bold.”
Comments from the children in Lizard Class – Year 5/6:
“I like learning about all the exciting things that happened at different times. It’s amazing because anything can happen – funny things, exciting things, mysterious things; it builds up suspense, it’s so amazing and it’s all back in time. Also, you don’t know what’s going to happen, it makes you want to read on and find out more.”
“Learning about the Tudors has been intriguing. I wish the topic hadn’t ended!”
“I liked finding out that after all the fuss to get a son, Henry’s daughter turned out to be the best monarch of all!”
“Our history lessons are really interesting – I never know how gruesome the Tudors could be!”
Comments from the children in Godrevy Class – Year 6:
“I knew nothing about Henry VIII before we started this topic, I just thought that he was a famous man, but now I know so much about him and his wives. He was not a nice man.”