Humanities
History at PBPS: Vision and Intent
At Pratts Bottom Primary School we provide our pupils with the opportunity to broaden their historical knowledge and understanding by sharing their own experiences, before developing their comprehension of local, national and world history. By the end of Key Stage 2, through a rigorous and creative curriculum combined with enrichment opportunities, we aim for pupils to become independent learners by developing their inquisitive nature and broadening their cultural capital. Pupils consider questions of social justice, inequality and how these issues have affected children in the past.
Through termly expeditions pupils study history as a discrete subject, travelling forwards and backwards in time, developing an understanding of British history as a chronological narrative from ancient times to the present day, as well as developing an understanding of essential global events focusing everything from the earliest civilisations to the most powerful empires.
Key historical concepts are explored through each topic and provide lenses through which to consider different aspects of history. The concepts are revisited through different historical periods as pupils move through the school to deepen their understanding:
- Chronology
- Community and Culture
- Conflict and Disaster
- Exploration and Invention
- Hierarchy and Power
- Similarity and Difference
- Cause and Consequence
- Change and Continuity
- Significance and Interpretation
- Historical Enquiry
History Curriculum Overview: Implementation
History topics are usually taught through weekly lessons in term blocks, with two 'topic' areas covered each year. There are opportunities in each year group for independent research as well as self-organised group research projects. Every year group visits historical places of interests linked to their History topic to enhance the children's understanding. Resources from home are often used in home-learning projects linked to History. They build up the children’s knowledge of the topic and also serve as useful ways to build their vocabulary, which help greatly when the topic is linked to their English and other learning.
Geography at PBPS: Vision and Intent
At Pratts Bottom, children understand that geography is more than recognising places on a map. Our aim is to help children develop their understanding of the complexity of the world around them, appreciate diversity and cultures that exist across the continents. As children acquire their knowledge, they are able to understand that they can apply this to bridge divides and connect people together.
Discrete geography lessons stimulate our children’s curiosity and fascination about the world around them; developing an interest in and a sense of wonder about people, places and environments and how they are interconnected. Geography also helps children understand change, by exploring their own place in the world. They explore key values and their responsibilities to other people, to the environment and to the sustainability of the planet.
Through learning geography, pupils undertake a ‘world tour’, visiting every continent, gaining knowledge and developing transferable skills. Pupils will understand the world around them, including places and environments that are near and far, as well as appreciating the process and events that create and affect them.
Outdoor learning and fieldwork offer regular opportunities for children to connect with a place, community and environment. They develop observational, questioning and investigative skills through first-hand experiences and high-quality teaching, which helps pupils to build on their skills, knowledge and interest in the world around them.
Geographical enquiry and ‘big questions’ are central to the curriculum and encourages questioning, investigating, collecting and analysing data and drawing conclusions, whilst encouraging critical thinking about issues affecting the world and people’s lives, now and in the future.