Historical enquiry

History

Primary

A CPD trainer demonstrates a practical exercise for science APP

CPD trainer Deborah Herridge introduces an exciting practical mummification exercise for use in Key Stage 1 and 2 science and history lessons, helping teachers use the primary science APP criteria. Talking to a group of primary science teachers, Deborah shows how a tomato can be mummified using similar techniques to the method employed by ancient Egyptians, relating science to a history topic. The changes to the fruit can then be recorded over a few weeks, enabling teachers to cover the Assessing Pupil's Progress criteria for 'observing and measuring' over time.

APP for Primary Science - Mummification with Deborah Herridge

KS2 history games: a classroom museum, dig box and lost suitcase

These Key Stage 2 history lesson-planning ideas get pupils involved in the subject, helping this primary class raise questions and back up theories with hard evidence. Using historical artefacts in their history lessons, Cathy McIlroy and Tom Boudell at St Gregory's School, Sandwell, get their KS2 pupils to examine the contents of a lost suitcase to discover what the enclosed photo albums, invitations and old school uniform can tell them about the owner and their lifestyle. Then as an introduction to archaeology, they show their pupils a 'dig box'. The further the children dig into the box the older the objects they find. Finally the pupils create a classroom museum after studying artefacts from the Staffordshire Hoard. Pupils take the opportunity to re-create the artefacts and display them as a working classroom museum, complete with security guard and receptionist.

Artefacts

A school archaelogical dig uncovers historic artefacts in Leeds

Find out how an archaeological dig at Carr Manor primary school helps pupils develop historical skills as well as offering cross-curricular opportunities. Legend has it that skirmishes took place on the field at Carr Manor, in Leeds, during the Civil War. Aided by a university lecturer and a local archaeologist, pupils from Year 3 and 5 dig up the field, looking for evidence of the school's exciting past. Using tools like trowels and metal detectors, the children find all sorts of things under the ground including tent pegs and pieces of old toys. The dig not only allows them to develop their historical skills and understanding but also offers plenty of opportunities for cross-curricular work back in class. The most important lesson of all is that history is everywhere, to be found by any school or pupil. The project culminates with the development of a school museum, where both the findings and follow-up work are put on display for parents and pupils.

Digging for History

A practical and fun lesson for KS2 history

A Key Stage 2 teacher uses theatre boxes at the end of a history topic as a fun way for pupils to present and share their different research in this lesson idea. Tracey Anderson's Year 6 class have been learning about rationing in World War II. In the lead up to this lesson they've researched different forms of rationing, found pictures to help illustrate their theatre boxes, and have made characters out of dowling rods. During the lesson, they use these materials to turn their theatre boxes into realistic grocer's shops, pharmacies, petrol stations etc. Working in small groups, the children put their theatre boxes together, sticking on backdrops, and creating 3D features such as shop counters, clocks, and signs. Then write short scenes to act out.An important part of the research process is for each group to find out a secret fact to present to the rest of the class during their performance. Tracey believes that theatre boxes are a great way of bringing history to life for pupils, and a fun way for her to assess how much they've understood about a topic.

History - Theatre Boxes

Drawing on a project-based approach to teach about Tudor values

Jen Ager, a Year 5 teacher at High Hesket Primary School in Cumbria, immerses her class in a week-long project looking at Tudor values. Exploring the period, the class handle Tudor artefacts, listen to accounts from Tudor sailors, and fire their imaginations by going out into the Cumbrian countryside to empathise with exposed explorers. The class cook and eat sailors' food hard tack, and learn about the nutritional value of weevils. Jen provides plenty of original sources for the class to analyse in this fully cross-curricular lesson, and even invites an expert from London's National Maritime Museum to visit her classroom, via a webcam.

KS2 History - Exploring Tudor Values

Pupils study the history of Brunel's SS Great Britain

A visit to Brunel's SS Great Britain, a Victorian steam ship, and its adjoining museum lets local pupils touch, feel and smell over 150 years of history. Local teacher Jacqueline Ferguson has partnered up with the education team at the SS Great Britain to create a unit of work called Creative Curator. The unit is designed to develop the pupils' investigative skills by focusing on artefacts that were used by actual passengers and crew on the ship. Jacqueline's Year 6 class first work in groups to test their knowledge of local Victorian hero Brunel, and then set about matching artefacts to passengers and crew before they present their combined knowledge through role-plays and art. The pupils also get a chance to quiz the ship's curator as they continue their investigation of artefacts and their labels.

KS2 History - Investigating Artefacts

A look at the work between the history community and Hollywood

A lively and engaging look at how Hollywood filmmakers work alongside the history community when setting their movies in the past. Two groups of pupils go on a quest to find out how history comes to life on the big screen. Key contributors include historical consultant Robin Lane-Fox, experimental archaeologist Bob Savage and Oscar winning costume designer Jenny Beavan. The students find that filmmakers use many of the same techniques and resources as traditional historians. They also discover that historians often learn from filmmakers through the manufacture and testing of film props and costumes. This programme is a pupil resource and can be used by teachers in a range of lessons on historical sources and interpreting the past.

KS2 History - Sources - History and Hollywood

Pupils make creative labels as part of an SS Great Britain study

Following a visit to Brunel&#39;s SS Great Britain a Year 6 class continue their investigation of artefacts and people who were connected to them by writing some creative labels.Local teacher Jacqueline Ferguson has partnered up with the education team at the SS Great Britain to create a unit of work called Creative Curator. The unit is designed to strengthen the link between learning at the museum and work done back in the classroom. The pupils focus on one of the artefacts they photographed in the museum and write creative labels in the form of riddles and poems.An afternoon lesson studying just one artefact pulls together prior knowledge of the Victorian life with the investigation at the SS Great Britain, helping to deepen their understanding of the period and produce some imaginative literacy.

KS2 History - Writing about Artefacts

A primary school make a film to bring their local history to life

Seven Mills Primary School in east London is on a mission to bring the history of London's financial district to life and has undertaken a challenge to put together a film telling the story of the people of the Isle of Dogs. Most people are unaware that nestled in amongst the impressive buildings of the city, lies a community that has been there for generations, depending on the docks and the river for their livelihoods. In 1986 the Island History Trust was set up, and now this hidden gem of an archive has 5,000 photographs documenting the changing face of the docklands and its people. Teacher Mike Grocott has been at Seven Mills for 25 years. A keen amateur filmmaker, he has captured many of the key events in the school's history. This time he is teaming up with colleagues Anthony and Ashley, and six pupils in their final year at the school. They have two weeks to put together a film for a special screening for the whole community.

Local History

Year 5 pupils make the most of nearby Pendennis Castle

Pendennis Castle is a stone artillery fortress, founded by Henry VIII in 1540, sitting high on a headland overlooking Falmouth and just a short walk away from King Charles Primary School. Year 5 pupils from the school are making the most of the local landmark to kickstart a project about the Tudors. In this programme, they visit the castle to take part in a series of activities devised by English Heritage. The visit includes a workshop with a costumed interpreter who steps back in time and into the shoes of a Tudor lady. We follow the pupils as they get their hands on an assortment of artefacts that Tudor children would have used.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

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