At South Lee Prep School, we firmly believe that cultivating a profound comprehension of history and its place in both British and global contexts is essential for the holistic development of our children. Our overarching objective is to instil in them a keen sense of chronology, an appreciation of the passage of time, and a profound understanding of past ways of life. Equally important is fostering an awareness of diverse societies and cultures, as well as the influence of beliefs and cultures on people's actions throughout history. We are dedicated to nurturing their ability to recognize cause-and-effect relationships, such as how historical events have shaped our lives and influenced our contemporary existence. Moreover, we aim to heighten their awareness of significant figures and events in British and world history while expanding their knowledge of local, national, and global historical phenomena. In addition to imparting historical knowledge, we are committed to equipping them with essential skills, including inquiry, investigation, analysis, interpretation, evaluation, and presentation.

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Year 1

Key Skills:

1. Sequencing events and objects chronologically.

2. Comparing changes in people's needs, objects, and lifestyles over time and utilizing common temporal vocabulary.

3. Formulating and answering questions about past events and historical figures.

4. Describing and making observations using visual aids such as photographs, diary entries, and historical artefacts to explore the past and make comparisons with the present.

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Topics:

1. Farming and Harvesting

2. My Local Environment

3. The Toy Box

4. Life in the Time of Great Grandparents

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Year 2

Key Skills:

1. Using simple evidence and artifacts to gather information about the past.

2. Drawing comparisons between past events/artifacts and the present.

3. Developing inquiry skills and responding to a variety of questions.

4. Recognizing how the past is represented.

5. Understanding the motivations behind historical actions and their consequences.

6. Employing common temporal language.

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Topics:

1. Ancient Egyptians

2. British Isles

3. Ancient Greeks

4. Journey to Australia

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Year 3

Key Skills:

1. Placing events in chronological order and understanding historical changes in countries.

2. Utilizing historical vocabulary to draw connections and contrasts between different historical events.

3. Formulating and answering historical questions.

4. Utilizing a variety of sources to investigate and answer historical inquiries.

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Topics:

1. Romans

2. Anglo Saxons

3. Vikings

4. Normans

5. Castles

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Year 4

Key Skills:

1. Sequencing events in world history chronologically.

2. Expanding historical vocabulary to establish connections between different global events.

3. Formulating their own historical questions.

4. Employing various sources, distinguishing between primary and secondary sources, and making judgments about their reliability.

5. Grasping the significance of historical inquiry and refining research skills.

6. Understanding the different perspectives through which historical events can be viewed.

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Topics:

1. World War II

2. History of Medicine

3. British History Heroes

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Year 5

Key Skills:

1. Comparing different sources to make informed judgments about the past and discern fact from opinion.

2. Developing an understanding of historical change and continuity.

3. Arranging a broader range of events chronologically.

4. Expanding historical vocabulary for exploring British history.

5. Employing diverse sources to investigate and answer historical questions.

6. Appreciating the importance of historical inquiry and honing research skills.

7. Recognizing how events can be interpreted from various historical perspectives, along with the evolution of values and beliefs over time.

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Topics:

1. Ancient China

2. The Victorian Era

3. Explorers

4. The Aztecs

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Year 6

Key Skills:

1. Using a variety of historical evidence, particularly written source material, to comprehend the past and effectively interpret and evaluate it.

2. Understanding the dynamics of historical change and continuity.

3. Sequencing an expanding range of events chronologically.

4. Employing an increasingly extensive historical vocabulary to establish connections and contrasts between diverse historical events.

5. Appreciating the importance of historical inquiry and further developing research skills.

6. Grasping the varied perspectives from which events can be assessed and recognizing shifts in values and beliefs throughout history.

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Topics:

1. Medieval Realms: Britain 1066-1485, including:

   • The Norman Conquest and Battle of Hastings

   • Reign of William the Conqueror

   • Henry II and the restoration of law and order

   • Ecclesiastical matters, including Thomas a Becket

   • The Third Crusade

   • Wars of the Roses

   • Richard III

   • The Battle of Bosworth

   • The Princes in the Tower

   • Henry VIII and the dissolution of the monasteries

   • King John and the Magna Carta

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Year 7

Key Skills:

1. Possessing a strong grasp of chronology.

2. Understanding the causes and consequences of historical events.

3. Describing differences in ways of life across different periods.

4. Interpreting various sources of evidence through comprehension, cross-referencing, source evaluation, deduction, and interpretation.

5. Constructing historical arguments, both orally and in writing, supported by evidence and an understanding of differing viewpoints and the distinction between fact and opinion.

6. Conducting historical inquiries using multiple sources.

7. Organizing, analyzing, and communicating historical knowledge using appropriate vocabulary.

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Topics:

1. The Making of the United Kingdom: 1485-1750, including:

   • Tudor and Elizabethan era

   • Stuarts: James I, Gunpowder Plot, Charles I

   • English Civil War, Plague, Great Fire of London, Charles II

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Year 8

Key Skills:

1. Demonstrating a solid understanding of chronology.

2. Grasping the causes and consequences of historical events.

3. Describing differences in ways of life over different time periods.

4. Interpreting various sources of evidence through comprehension, cross-referencing, source evaluation, deduction, and interpretation.

5. Constructing historical arguments, both orally and in writing, supported by evidence and an understanding of differing viewpoints and the distinction between fact and opinion.

6. Conducting historical inquiries using multiple sources.

7. Organizing, analyzing, and communicating historical knowledge using appropriate vocabulary.

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Topics:

1. Britain and the Empire: 1750-1914, including:

   • Seven Years' War and causes of the American Wars of Independence

   • Wars of Independence and the French Revolution

   • Napoleonic Wars, Trafalgar, and Waterloo