Personal & local history

History

Primary

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

We take a critical look at an unusual way of teaching history

In this programme, history expert Bernie Ashmore reviews the lesson of history teacher Graham Hicks, who uses the story of a fictional character to engage pupils. Hicks from Eastfield School in Middlesex has created the on-going tale of 'Wolfgang', a fictional German WWII soldier whose adventures are based upon real sources and real historical events. This inspiring approach to teaching combines literacy and history to help pupils grapple with the complexities of the past and improve their writing. Ashmore, who has previously observed Hicks' teaching , reviews footage of a lesson and gets to grips with some probing questions: <ul> <li>How effective is this approach?</li> <li>What about bias in taking the German point of view?</li> <li>What are the risks of mixing fact and fiction?</li> <li>Are pupils aware of which sources are authentic and which reconstructed?</li> <li>And how much does this method depend on a teachers' subject knowledge?</li> </ul>

KS1/2 History - Interpreting Wolfgang's Story

Introducing the difficult topic of chronology

According to the QCA, many children at Key Stage 2 lack an understanding of chronology; a difficulty that often hinders the teaching of history. In this programme, we meet Kate Gooding from Christ Church School in east London. She combines the techniques of active timeline and role play with a visit to the school's local church in an attempt to ground the children's understanding of the past. Organised with the help of Gail Richards, a history specialist from a local school theatre company, this lesson demonstrates some exciting ways to introduce the difficult topic of chronology.

KS1/2 History - Time and Place

How to make the most out of history

The demands on primary teachers to deliver core subjects often leads us to wonder about the most effective ways of incorporating lessons. In this programme, we gather together a group of practitioners and experts to examine how history can be used to help integrate core subjects and skills-based learning. Kate Gooding, a teacher from Christ Church School in east London, is joined by Year 6 teacher Rebecca Marshall and primary AST and humanities co-ordinator Elizabeth Watson. Also in the group are Grant Bage and Hilary Claire from the Historical Association Primary Committee. Together, they watch excerpts from one of Kate's recent history lessons, which combined a local site visit with role play to introduce the notion of chronology. The team then open up to a broader debate on how to make the most of history.

KS1/2 History - What's in it for You?

How fictional characters can be used to engage pupils in history

In this programme, we see how one Year 6 teacher in Middlesex has developed a fictional character to engage pupils in the learning of history. Graham Hicks from Eastfield School has created the on-going tale of 'Wolfgang', a fictional German WWII soldier whose adventures are based upon real sources and real historical events. Hicks' inspiring approach to teaching combines literacy and history to help pupils grapple with the complexities of the past and improve their writing. The story picks up when Wolfgang's regiment enter the Ukraine. Pupils hear about the soldiers' experiences, sample food, read Wolfgang's letters from home, and watch archive film and photographs. The pupils then ask questions and are set a writing task. Hicks explains his approach and provides advice on this kind of teaching whilst history consultant Bernie Ashmore observes the lesson.

KS1/2 History - Wolfgang's Story

Pupils learn how to become historical house detectives

In this programme a group of 10-year-olds at Lady Joanna Thornhill School in Wye, Kent, learn to be historical house detectives. The children work with a local historian, looking for clues in a house which will help them construct a story about the past. They start their investigation by looking at differences between old and new houses. Next, the pupils take photographs of houses in the town. They try to work out where most of the older houses are and how the town has grown. The children study maps of the local area, placing them in a chronological sequence. They construct a timeline from old to new and place on there the buildings they have spotted - from Tudor to Victorian, from Georgian to modern. After this preliminary work, the pupils study a wooden framed Tudor house, collecting as many clues as possible from its interior and exterior. They use this information as a springboard for individual projects.

KS2 History - Hidden House History

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

Lesson review of local history in tobacco industry

The Year 6 Teacher at a Bristol primary school uses an imaginative, if challenging, approach to a local history project when she invites five women to talk to her class. In this review programme the teacher and a history specialist look back at a video tape of the lesson she taught. They explore the approach, the structure of the lesson and the contribution of oral sources, photographs and ICT in the learning experience. Did bringing in the old Wills Tobacco employees provide an interesting and useful resource to base this history lesson on?

KS2 History - Local History: Lesson Review

Ex-tobacco industry workers are interviewed by pupils

In this programme a Year 6 teacher at a Bristol primary school uses an imaginative, if challenging, approach to a local history project when she invites five women to talk to her class. The five used to work in the local tobacco industry that employed a large number of people in the Bristol area. The children use video cameras and digital stills cameras in their interviews. Photographs from the history of the industry and the factories become the starting point for this adventure into the recent past.

KS2 History - Local History: Testaments of Experience

A two minute virtual tour around the legendary SS Great Britain

A chance to imagine you&#39;re reallyaboard Brunel&#39;s legendary SS Great Britain.This virtual tour around the ship is a great pupil resource.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Subjects

> Primary History

> Personal & local history