The History Curriculum Intention 

At St Joseph's our topic based approach allows for our children to engage in history across a range of subjects and allows for exposure to literature related to areas of study, as opposed to isolated weekly lessons.

We aim for children to become curious about the past as well as gaining a thorough understanding of different historical eras. We do this through taking history beyond the classroom and try to incorporate a broad range of experiences for our children. We have worked with local theatre groups, local museums and historical societies; we have worked with the Kindertransport Society and the the children were able to interview refugees from Nazi Germany and take part in a re-enactment that was featured on the local news; we are in contact with local old people's homes so that the children are able to gather first-hand accounts of local history and life in wartime Britain. 

Within history lessons, we aim for the children to develop an understanding of chronological order, not just in terms of dates but developing an understanding of similarities and differences  between different eras. We like the children to examine and compare different historical sources and to analyse the cause and effects surrounding historical events.

We aim to consolidate and reinforce learning through comparative lessons in which the children compare the similarities and differences between the historical eras they have studied.