As with all of our Curriculum, through drawing upon our extraordinary locale we want out children at St. Michael's to develop a love of History. We believe that through provoking pupils' curiosity to know more about the past they will understand how History gives a unique perspective to current events. Our children explore the fascinating world of the past and make links to their own lives in Minehead and others around the world today, brining History to life - supporting them in their ability to see the legacy of past events in things today.
Our area is rich in history: ranging from the earliest known fossilised forest discovered near Butlins, through to the Earl of Somerset's medieval Dunster Castle nearby; from the harbour trade trade of the 18th and the 19th centuries, through to the demolition of the pier during the second world war, our area is a wealth of resources.
Our teaching of History equips our children to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments and develop perspective and judgement. We want to develop their historical perspective, placing their growing knowledge into different contexts and understanding connections. Stories play an important role throughout and we place significant emphasis on teaching skills and knowledge within coherent and meaningful narratives.
At St. Michael’s the principal aim of History is to explore, think critically about the facts and opinions of people and events to gain a sound understanding of how historical events and significant figures have shaped the modern world and importance and impact Britain has played throughout these changes in time. From entry to school children progressively develop skills in:
Chronological Understanding
Interpretations of History
Historical Enquiry – Questioning
Communication & Organisation
| Class | Term | Topic |
| Yr.R | Term 3 | A Long Time Ago: The children will learn about dinosaurs and consider what does ‘a long time ago’ mean and how was it different from today. The children will secondly, learn about the royal family, kings, queens, and castles/palaces. |
| Term 6 | Lives of Significant Others - Lifeboat workers then and now: The children will visit the beach and Minehead’s lifeboat station. The children will learn more about the role of Minehead’s lifeboat station volunteers. The children will learn about the RNLI now and in the past with a particular focus on vehicles and uniform. The children will also sequence and reflect their past school experiences. | |
| Yr.1 | Term 2 | The Prehistoric Past: learning about the prehistoric past and how people have gathered information, including the works of Mary Anning, and ordering events to highlight difference in time. Through our study of dinosaurs we aim for children to understand the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used rigorously to make historical claims, and discern how and why contrasting arguments and interpretations of the past have been constructed. Through our study of Mary Anning we will find about when she lived and how she lived, having to earn money by finding and selling fossils to support herself and her family, and develop an understanding as to why she was not celebrated as widely as she is now during her own lifetime. |
Term 4 | The History of Homes: exploring how homes have changed over time, with an emphasis on exploring the differences between now and then. Children will look at different types of homes and describe similarities and differences. The children will find out about fashions and different period building styles of homes in British history, finding out about some of the features of homes built a long time ago, and thinking about how homes have changed over time. | |
| Term 6 | Our Local Area: the History of Minehead as a seaside town. They will link their learning to our local history, how it was the invention of the Steam Train that meant people could travel quickly and cheaply to the coast and made Seaside Holidays a popular destination. We will explore differences and similarities between now, 1950’s and Victorian Seaside Holidays, focusing on travel and entertainment using photographs, our local environment and speaking to Grandparents to make comparisons. | |
| Yr.2 | Term 2 | The Great Fire of London: learning how the community worked together to save so many lives. Learning about the trade industry during this time, comparing and exploring trade in the area local to Minehead during this era too. This topic will also form the basis for recognising the brilliant fire service we now have and the role they play in keeping us safe. |
| Term 4 | Significant Historical Figures: learning about the influential nurses Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole and their achievements and how they helped shape our lives today. Focus on how nursing has changed over time, why the NHS is so important and what careers are available in the medical profession. | |
| Term 6 | Castles: This topic leads on from the home topic covered in Year 1. During this topic, we will explore the different types of castles built in a chronological order, the features of castles and how castle life is similar and dissimilar to the way we live today. | |
| Yr.3 | Term 2 | Settlements & Communities: Basing our studies from the Stone Age to the Iron Age, looking in particular at the area around Minehead, we will cover areas such as late Neolithic hunter-gathers, early farmers, Bronze Age religion, technology and travel, Iron Age hill forts, farming, art and culture. We will focus more closely on Settlements and community, comparing how settlements have changed and developed over time locally, nationally and internationally. |
| Term 4 | The Bronze Age: We will be discussing the move from Stone Age to Bronze Age, how humans became more advanced and started to use metal. We will also investigate the Bronze Age locally and look at important Bronze Age findings around us. | |
| Term 6 | Ancient Egypt: its history and what we have learnt from them. | |
| Yr.4 | Term 2 | The Ancient Greeks: focusing our learning in History on Ancient Greece and thinking about how significant their legacy is today. We will find out who the Greeks were and when they lived. We will look at what the Ancient Greeks believed in and how ancient Greece was governed. We will also look at democracy and philosophy. We will discover what the Greeks did for us today, looking at the legacy they have left. |
| Term 4 | The Rise and Fall of The Romans: understanding the significant aspects of the expansion and dissolution of the Roman empire and the legacy they left behind. Learning Roman Numerals up to 100. Looking at where the Roman Empire came from and how the army helped to expand the Roman Empire. Focusing on how Britain became part of the Roman Empire and the role of Boudicca. Learning about what the Romans built and the legacy that they left behind. | |
| Term 6 | The Roman Influence on Somerset: learning earlier this year, we will begin by looking at the cause of the collapse of the Roman Empire and its withdrawal from Britain. We will then focus on a local history study by learning about the legacy of the Roman Empire in our locality. We will explore the remnants of the Roman presence in the city of Bath, such as the Roman Baths, the remains of the Roman Temple and the Roman city walls. |