Welcome to our History page. Here you can find out about how we teach History at Bowburn Primary and see some of the exciting lessons we have in school.
Statement of Intent
During history lessons, children will follow a high-quality curriculum, which develops their curiosity about the subject. We want to teach our children about Britain’s past and the wider world and how it has influenced us today. In Key Stage 1, children will learn about history using their living memory, then move gradually towards ‘source investigation’ with the main focus being our local area; looking at the history of our village and our street. They will then extend the chronological range beyond living memory to the study of George |Stephenson, in year 1, then significant people and inventions in year 2, comparing them with today, preparing pupils to think about longer blocks of time. In Key Stage 2, all children study the chronology of history and gain a better understanding that humans and their ancestors have been living on our planet for over one million years. There is a consistent thread through each year group, with pupils studying the homes and housing, beliefs, achievements, power, chronology and the impact on British life today, enabling us to make adjustments to their long term memory, by threading these studies together with common themes. Further periods and other civilisations will be studied throughout the year to enhance this understanding. Our aim is to ensure that children enjoy and love learning about History, while gaining this knowledge and skills in chronological order, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with the use of fieldwork and educational visits. The focus of each history unit has been carefully thought through to prevent numerous lessons of shallow learning and encourage deep thinking and historical enquiry, that exposes pupils to the best of what has been said and done, while deepening their understanding of their society and local community, through learning about what has ‘gone before’ and how it shaped the way we live in Bowburn, today.
Our history subject lead is Mrs Forster.
Useful Documents
History Skills and Knowledge Progression
History at Bowburn
Nursery
In nursery we enjoyed a visit from the mayor. We were able to ask questions and find out what it means to be the mayor of Durham.
Reception
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- In Reception we learnt about the importance of Remembrance Day. We talked about soldiers and the symbolism of the poppies.
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- We loved learning about Guy Fawkes and the gunpowder plot. We shared stories of how we have celebrated Bonfire Night.
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- In nursery we enjoyed a visit from the mayor. We were able to ask questions and find out what it means to be the mayor of Durham.
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- Learning about ‘Where We Live’ was very interesting. We talked about how things were in the past and compared them to now.
Year 1
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- In Year 1 we have been studying homes and looking at how things have changed over time.
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- We have researched Victorian homes and compared items from ‘Then’ and ‘Now’
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- We have learnt how to be historians and have enjoyed recording our findings in different ways.
Year 2
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- In Year 2 we have been learning about why some places are special. We have explored notable places in and around Durham, made comparisons and learnt how these places can tell us about the past. We have sequenced buildings in chronological order and looked at continuity and change.
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- We visited the Community Centre and took a trip down memory lane to see how long this special building has been a central part of our community. We looked at old photographs and compared them to today. We were interested to see that the Community Centre was built a long time before we were born.
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- We also visited Durham Cathedral to look at an historic building and to learn about how Durham Cathedral came to be built. We attended work shops and role played the story of St Cuthbert and how his bones were moved due to the Viking raids. We also heard stories about the type of person St Cuthbert was and why we still remember him today.
Year 3
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- In Year 3 we are studying the Stone Age. We have used a variety of different ways to record our findings and learnt how to be historians.
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- We looked at different types of settlement and how our lives have been impacted by developments in housing and culture.
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- We have explored how developments in the Stone Age have impacted our lives today.
Year 4
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- In Year 4 we have been delving into the past to see who the Ancient Greeks were and how they have impacted our lives today. We have looked at key themes such as empire, belief systems and achievements and have enjoyed tracing through history to see how our lives are still being influenced today.
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- We learnt about Alexander the Great and how he determinedly expanded his empire and we considered what we would need to do to leave such a legacy behind. We were surprised to learn that after Alexander the Great’s death, his empire was separated up and this gave rise to the City States.
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- We loved learning all about the different ways of life in each city state.
Year 5
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- In Year 5 we have studied ‘The Monarchy’. We have looked in detail at Queen Elizabeth II and traced her family history.
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- We have compared how different monarchs ruled and the legacy they left behind.
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- We did an indepth study of Queen Elizabeth and her legacy.
Year 6
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- In Year 6 we have been studying WWII. We have developed a deep understanding of the topic. We particularly enjoyed exploring propaganda and it was used during the war to manipulate people.
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- We enriched our education by visiting Eden Camp.
