How we teach History
At Chesterton, we teach history through an enquiry based approach. Historical enquiry allows our children to question, interpret, explain and communicate their reasoning as a historian. Each history unit is launched with a ‘big enquiry question’ – a question where the answer is unknown at the beginning of the unit, but one that the children will be able to answer by the end. Lessons are then based around a sub – enquiry question relating to their unit and big question. By the end of the unit, through the use of enquiry questions and discussions, children will be able to answer their main enquiry question. Within lessons, children will use and interrogate a range of primary and secondary sources to deepen their knowledge on their chosen theme. As children move throughout the school, their knowledge grows across different time periods and they build upon and develop their learning from previous years.
To support the children with their enquiries, we make links to modern day scenarios that are relevant to our children, by using the UNCRC articles and Sustainable Development Goals. Within the classroom, history lessons are enriched with a range of different resources and artefacts. Lessons are further enriched outside of the classroom with a range of outdoor learning opportunities for all year groups such as trips to the British Museum, Roman Amphitheatre and the Imperial War Museum.
You can read our Chesterton curriculum progression for history here.
Useful links
