History

A blast from the Historical past!

Another wonderful year in History has flown past, with so many enriching and exciting learning opportunities for our children to engage in. Highlights have been many, and pupils have continued to enjoy the investigative nature of a subject that specialises in analysis and evaluation.

Over the last three terms, year 3 have thrown themselves wholeheartedly into their chosen curriculum, with the highlights being Dinosaurs, Fossils and Early Man. Many of 3H were so inspired by the topic that they brought in their own fossils. Study then turned to the Celts and the Romans, and they are currently investigating the Vikings! Activities have been interactive and varied and year 3 now have a rather knowledgeable understanding of these civilisations and the way they lived.

Meanwhile, and in order to keep within chronological context, Year 4 have been fascinated by their study of Medieval England. The Norman Conquest and 1066 still proving as memorable and as exciting as ever, the children have enjoyed every aspect of the period. As budding historians and investigators the children have analysed and considered every detail of who would and should succeed Edward the Confessor and take the English throne. They have marvelled at the details of the Battle of Hastings and created their own Bayeux Tapestries. Domesday Book surveys have been conducted and they have even created their own cures for the Black

Tudor England has captivated year 5 this year and the children have enjoyed many interactive learning opportunities. From the Battle of Bosworth to the Dissolution of the Monasteries, year 5 have demonstrated their absolute fascination in the period and its most influential people. The high point of the year being Historical Hot Seating, a re-enactment of the Royal Court of Henry VIII, and Tudor Crime and Punishment which saw all of year 5 guilty of a selection of horrible crimes, cruelly convicted and in ‘the Stocks’ awaiting their punishment!! Wet sponges in the face, the children loved it!!

The chronological nature of History here at Sherborne Prep is incredibly important as it not only secures prior knowledge, but also provides our students with a rich contextual understanding. Therefore, this year has seen year 6 continue chronologically into the Stuart period. As children progress up the school the study of History becomes more rigorous in terms of securing technique and teaching skills of analysis. Understanding interpretation, recognising bias and propaganda, deciphering a source of evidence and acknowledging the importance of provenance all begins here in year 6 and the Stuarts are the perfect monarchs to practice these skills upon. Children have ‘loved’ learning about James I, Charles I and the Duke of Buckingham and painstakingly deliberated over whom they might pledge their personal allegiance to within the English Civil War. Arguments have been written, opinions hotly contested, and battle lines finally drawn – all that is left is for year 6 to join the English Civil War, 1642!

Year 7 have immersed themselves within the Industrial Revolution over the last three terms and have created some wonderful work. Presentations around the topic of Industry have been illuminating - with every child presenting and speaking

knowledgably and confidently about their chosen subject. Year 7 have then gone on to study Agrarian Reform within the period and understand the importance of this within the Industrial Revolution as a whole. Of late, focused study has surrounded the Transport Revolution 1750-1900 and a highlight has been evaluating the socio-economic influence/impact of such innovation on Industrial Britain. Our trip to Bristol and our visit to the SS Great Britain generated much interest and enjoyment, especially as the influence of Isambard Kingdom Brunel can be seen/felt so strongly there, particularly as children walked across the Clifton Suspension Bridge, not only marvelling at the magnificence of engineering, but also the wonderful views!

Finally, our year 8s have been working harder than ever in History in preparation for their senior exams. Many have primed for scholarship and have analysed the most challenging sources and written a great many essays, concentrating on their quality of evidence, analysis and evaluation. Other children have been enthralled whilst learning about the First World War and have created a wide selection of brilliant work, which demonstrates their clear understanding and effective analysis. Presently, all of year 8 are learning about ‘Russia in Revolution 1900 to 1917’ and even though this may be a somewhat emotive subject at the moment, the children have been pleased to gain some contextual understanding of Russia and its Empire at the turn of the 20th Century.

As you can see, the History Department here at SPS is a busy and vibrant one and I truly believe our children very much enjoy the history that they learn and engage in. I therefore very much look forward to continuing the exciting adventure with all the children, as we venture back through the years, in an attempt to understand and piece together the past!