Outside the classroom

Working outside the classroom environment gives younger children lots of experiences to develop their understanding. For example a simple walk around the local streets supports their growing understanding of old/new and local history. Experiencing contrasting spaces, for example a castle or cathedral helps them to begin to explore similarities and differences. Visiting historic sites or museums will encourage their language development and communication skills as well as give a context to these discussions.

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  • Learning about the past through toys and games

    Article

    A learning theme centred on toys and games is perfect for younger children as the Early Years curriculum is, of course, all about learning through play. Planned carefully, it can also provide many opportunities for children to develop their understanding of the past. Adult-directed learning opportunities Provide the children with...

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  • Local history and a sense of identity

    Article

    The history co-ordinator often finds some real challenges as well as opportunities in addressing local history in primary schools. The advantages are well rehearsed – making history relevant to the lives of the children and giving them an improved sense of identity and place through engagement with the ‘real thing’....

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  • Making use of outstanding resources in museums

    Article

    ‘An embarrassment of riches' is not an inappropriate description of the new ancient Egyptian galleries in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. The Ashmolean has always been famous for its Egyptian collection, being the product of the work of Oxford academics for over a 100 years, but the problem in the...

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  • Museums, schools and creativity: How learning can be enhanced

    Article

    What do we mean by creativity?In the last few years there has been an emphasis on the ‘creative curriculum', ‘creativity' and ‘creative teaching and learning', but there has not always been a shared understanding of what this means. This article uses the definition from ‘Creativity - find it, promote it'...

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  • One of my favourite history places: Bournville

    Article

    One of my favourite places is Bournville Village in the south of Birmingham – every time I go there it feels as if I am entering a different world, away from the noise and bustle of the city. Less than five minutes' walk away from the tourist attraction of Cadbury World is the village...

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  • One of my favourite history places: Mount Fitchet Castle

    Article

    Alf Wilkinson explores Mount Fitchet Castle in Essex – one of his favourite history places. As every schoolchild knows, William the Conqueror landed near Hastings in 1066, pursuing his claim to the throne of England. He was accompanied by the pope’s blessing, but also by an army of adventurers who...

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  • Piecing together the puzzle: Some thoughts on historical sites

    Article

    Please note: this article pre-dates the current National Curriculum and some content and links may be outdated. It is a sad fact that visits to historical sites have become a diminishing feature of primary school children's experience in recent years. Stringent health and safety regulations, tight budgets, exorbitant transport costs...

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  • Planning for history and environmental education

    Article

    Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated. As a headteacher, I want my teachers to plan high quality learning experiences for children. By ensuring that lessons are vibrant and exciting, and that stimulate that ‘inbuilt curiosity', we make sure that children encounter...

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  • Primary History summer resource 2022: Museum visits

    Article

    This year's free summer resource for primary members looks at making the most of museum visits. Museums and sites provide rich sensory environments that engage children's curiosity and allow them to explore through all their senses. Museums and sites transmit the past through a variety of perspectives, provide authenticity and present historical evidence. The experiential nature of museum visits encourages genuine...

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  • Questions you have always wanted to ask about... History and archaeology

    Article

    Please note: this article pre-dates the current National Curriculum and some content may be outdated. Don Henson answers questions about history and archaeology.

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  • Scheme of work: Local history – the story of our High Street

    Article

    Teaching a unit that considers ‘changes within living times’ requires a focus that provides clear evidence of those changes. Children need to be able to identify specific differences as well as recognise relevant similarities. While we all still undertake shopping on a daily or weekly basis the processes involved in...

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  • TREE-mendous history!

    Article

    Since the nineteenth century there has been a rich heritage of outdoor learning pedagogy in Europe, and today in Scandinavia the open air culture (frulitsliv) permeates Early Years education. In 1993 Bridgewater College nursery nurses returned from a visit to Denmark enthused by the outdoor educational settings and started their own ‘Forest School'. From 1995 the college...

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  • Teaching diversity through drama

    Article

    Teaching diversity through drama at the Museum of London: Stories of London people From Roman times to the present, London has been shaped by the diversity of its people. London is home to500 different nationalities, 300 different languages,14 major faiths and a host of other religions. The Museum of London...

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  • The 2014 History National Curriculum: how to get the best from heritage

    Article

    We all know that site visits are good for children - not least because they give a break from the normal school routine - and there are a plethora of heritage sites both local and national that are able to offer facilities for school visits. But we also know that...

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  • The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum

    Article

    At this stage children should listen to stories, ask how and why; use the past, present and future tense; talk about the past and present in their own lives and the lives of family members; recognise similarities and differences between families and traditions, objects and materials; and role play and...

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  • The History around us: Local history

    Article

    Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated. History is an important aspect of the development of even very young children. They need to begin to develop the foundations of an understanding of the past and how it has developed and affected our present....

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  • The wheels (and horses…) on the bus

    Article

    A theme in the Early Years will have many cross-curricular links, encompassing many of the different areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework. The focus for this article is on historical elements of Understanding the World; however there will be some cross-over into other areas of...

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  • Using Spaces Near You

    Article

    Please note: This article pre-dates the current National Curriculum; some content may be outdated and links may be broken. Urban spaces such as parks and gardens offer a range of opportunities for children's learning. In these green patches children can investigate, observe, wonder, record and create.

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  • Using museums, libraries and art galleries

    Article

    Lessons for Sustainablility: From the Experiences of Early Primary Student Teachers Student teachers, local museums, libraries and art galleries. This article is based on the experiences of student teachers on a BA (Hons) Early Primary Education Programme, during their placements in local Museums, Libraries and Art Galleries. We asked students...

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  • Using the back cover image: Mummified cat

    Article

    For hundreds of years, travellers to Egypt have marvelled at the amazing monuments evident throughout the country. The treasures of Ancient Egypt became more fascinating after  the discovery of the Rosetta stone in 1799, which led to the deciphering of the hieroglyphic language. Many Victorian explorers returned to their European...

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