History Curriculum Map

At Garswood, our history curriculum is far more than a timeline of dates; it is a strategic expedition designed to ignite curiosity and help our children discover their place in the world.

We believe that by exploring the "Story of Us," children gain the perspective needed to understand their own identity and the diverse cultures that surround them.

Our goal is to cultivate the "Garswood Historian"—a pupil who is not only knowledgeable but critical, curious, and capable of seeing the connections between yesterday and today.

Early Foundations:

From 'Now' to 'Then' (Nursery – Year 2)

For young children, time is a slippery, abstract concept.

To ground them, we begin with the most concrete evidence available: their own lives. By starting with personal experience, our youngest historians learn the fundamental mechanics of change and continuity.

The progression begins in Nursery and Reception with "now and next," focusing on daily routines and personal growth from birth. In Year 1, we move into "living memory," comparing the lives of pupils to those of their parents and grandparents. By Year 2, children are ready to look "beyond living memory," exploring significant national events like the Great Fire of London and the Gunpowder Plot.

The "So What?" Layer:

Local Pride We make history tangible by celebrating heroes from our own doorstep. Children learn about Lily Parr, the St Helens footballing pioneer who challenged the Power of the FA to achieve equality for women, and Steve Prescott, whose resilience in the face of illness led to incredible advancements in local charitable support.

Crucially, in Year 2, we ground history in our immediate geography.

We study George Stephenson and the "Rocket," but we emphasize that its fame was won at the Rainhill Trials right here in St Helens.

We also explore the Sankey Viaduct, the oldest in the world, helping children realise that their local community was the very heart of the industrial revolution.

Early History Vocabulary:

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Once children understand the flow of time and local significance, they are ready to explore the ancient world.

Expanding Horizons: Discovering Ancient Worlds and British Roots (Year 3 – Year 4)

In Key Stage 2, the curriculum shifts toward broader world history and the deep roots of Britain.

This is a vital stage where children begin to use chronological conventions like BC and AD to navigate thousands of years of human development.

Pupils trace Britain’s story from the Stone Age through to the Roman Empire and the subsequent struggle between the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings for the "Kingdom of England."

We compare these British roots to the great "Ancient Ancients," such as the civilisations that settled on the River Nile.

A highlight of this journey is the Golden Age of Islam in Baghdad. Here, children learn about the House of Wisdom, which attracted scholars from across the globe, and the invention of advanced banking systems and the use of paper, which revolutionized how knowledge was shared compared to old parchment.

The Importance of Evidence At this stage, children act as "historical detectives."

They don't just receive facts; they engage in "Enquiry," using primary and secondary sources to ask their own questions. They learn that history is a reconstruction of the past based on the evidence we find.

These big stories of empires and ancient scholars eventually lead our pupils back to the legacy found on their own doorstep.

The Modern Era and Our Local Legacy

(Year 5 – Year 6)

In their final years at Garswood, pupils study recent history to understand the modern world's complexities.

This includes a deep dive into the World Wars, where we compare the trench warfare of WWI with the air battles of the Battle of Britain in WWII, always looking at the impact these global conflicts had on the "Home Front" in St Helens.

Our "Mining and Beyond" unit is central to our Year 6 experience.

While Year 2 looks at the events of the industrial revolution, Year 6 evaluates its long-term impact. We explore how St Helens became a global powerhouse for coal and glass.

The "So What?" Layer: Ex Terra Lucem Children learn the profound meaning behind the St Helens motto:

"Ex Terra Lucem" (From out of the earth came light). We help them synthesise the fact that the coal pulled "from the earth" was the very fuel that allowed our famous glass industry to create "light."

By studying the rise and fall of these industries—and seeing the "Dream" sculpture as a symbol of our mining heritage—children appreciate how their town has evolved and how its future planning is built on its industrial past.

While the topics change, five "golden threads" run through every year to connect the learning.

The Golden Threads:

Interconnected Webs of Learning

We use "Substantive Concepts" as the big ideas that children meet repeatedly. This ensures that by the time they leave us, they have a connected "web" of understanding rather than isolated facts.

• Communication: Links Egyptian hieroglyphics in Year 3 to the art of LS Lowry in Year 1 and the evolution of film and television in Year 6.

• Industry: Connects Stone Age hunter-gatherers to the invention of the "Rocket" in Year 2 and the global logistics hubs of modern St Helens.

• Power/Control: Grows from the authority of the FA over Lily Parr in Year 1 to the absolute control of Roman Emperors in Year 3 and the struggle for rights in the 20th century.

• Invention/Advancement: Ties the first stone tools to the Islamic Golden Age’s House of Wisdom and the medical breakthroughs celebrated by Steve Prescott.

• Settlement: Compares the first farmers on the Nile in Year 3 to the Viking "Danelaw" in Year 4 and the development of local housing and roads.

By the time a child leaves Garswood, they possess a mental map of how human society works and how these threads are woven into their own identity.

Vocabulary for the Future:

To think like a historian, children must master "Disciplinary Vocabulary"—the tools of the trade. We focus on "Power Words" that allow pupils to analyse rather than just remember:

• Cause & Consequence: Why did it happen and what was the result?

• Similarity & Difference: How do different eras or people compare?

• Significance: Why does this specific event or person still matter to us today?

• Historical Interpretation: This is the vital skill of understanding that the past can be told from different points of view.

  By learning why different accounts of the same event exist, our children develop the critical thinking skills needed to navigate a world of "fake news" and varying perspectives.

This curriculum ensures that Garswood pupils leave us prepared to make informed, value-based choices. They understand that history is not just about the past—it is the foundation upon which they will build their future.