At Greenshoots, we use the Primary Knowledge Curriculum (PKC) to teach history in a way that helps children build a strong understanding of important events, people, and cultures from the past. Our in-depth curriculum gives children a clear sense of how the past has shaped the world we live in today, which gives children a secure core knowledge of both British and world history.
Teachers have worked hard to develop a progression document with clearly identified developing concepts, knowledge and vocabulary. In each lesson, teachers check children’s understanding by using this document, questioning and by observing their participation. Based on what they see, teachers adjust future lessons to make sure all children are keeping up and progressing. Teachers follow a detailed plan that shows how children will develop their prior knowledge, vocabulary, and historical skills from year to year. This plan helps teachers monitor learning at the start, during, and after a topic, and they record this progress for the subject leader.
Children also take an active part in assessing their own learning. At the beginning of each topic, they reflect on what they already know by creating links from other topics and subjects and, by the end, review what they have learned through activities like mind mapping, retrieval and writing.
Regular lesson observations, book reviews, and conversations with pupils show that history at Greenshoots is well-taught, broad, and balanced. Both students and staff enjoy the lessons, making history a subject that sparks curiosity and encourages a love of learning. By the time children leave primary school, they have not only gained historical knowledge and skills but also developed critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the world around them.
History is taught through topic work. Topics can be taught over three weeks or one term dependant on the topic. Topics are taught on a two year rolling cycle so every child visits each topic once. This also allows teachers to work together across year groups to support planning, resources and trips. Teaching history within topic means learning is delivered within a relevant context and builds on prior learning helping children make links and make progress.
Children are assessed within the lesson through questioning and observation with teachers making notes and changes to next lessons as they evaluate learning. Teachers have worked hard to develop a progression document with clearly identified development in concepts and vocabulary as well as historical skills. Teachers use this document to assess pupils learning before during and after a topic recording the outcomes for the subject leader. Pupils assess what they know at the start of a topic and what they have learned by the end using strategies such as mind mapping. Lesson observations, book monitoring and conversations with pupils show History to be well taught, broad and balanced at Tunstead and pupils and staff enjoy lessons.
