At Kidsgrove Primary School, history ignites children’s curiosity about the past and helps them understand how people, events and developments have shaped the world we live in today. We want pupils to think like historians—asking thoughtful questions, examining evidence and making connections across periods of time.

Through a rich and ambitious curriculum, children develop a strong sense of chronology, deepen their understanding of different civilisations and cultures, and explore the lives of significant individuals. Most importantly, they learn that history is a story of people: their ideas, their actions and their impact.

How We Teach History

History at Kidsgrove is taught through the Opening Worlds curriculum in Key Stage 2, with a linked and carefully structured curriculum in Key Stage 1 to prepare pupils for the depth of learning that follows.

Knowledge-rich lessons

Opening Worlds provides rich, sequenced content supported by high-quality texts and stories. Children learn essential historical knowledge alongside wider contextual details (“hinterland knowledge”) that bring the past to life and help them make sense of events.

Strong vocabulary instruction

Each unit explicitly teaches ambitious vocabulary, giving pupils the language they need to understand historical ideas and express their thinking clearly.

Storytelling at the heart of learning

Opening Worlds uses powerful storytelling to help pupils build vivid mental pictures of the past. Through compelling narratives, they learn about individuals, cultures and turning points in history.

Clear progression

Historical concepts—such as empire, civilisation, parliament, monarchy, invasion, migration, continuity and change—are revisited and deepened across the school.
This ensures pupils build secure, long-lasting understanding.

 Enquiry-led approach

Each lesson begins with an enquiry question that encourages children to think critically. Pupils consider evidence, explore sources and draw conclusions, developing their own historical arguments.

Disciplinary skills

Children learn to:

  • ask and answer historically valid questions

  • use evidence from a range of sources

  • compare periods of time

  • identify cause and consequence

  • understand continuity and change

  • recognise similarities and differences between civilisations

These skills grow progressively from EYFS to Year 6.

What Your Child Will Learn

Through our history curriculum, children will:

  • Develop a secure understanding of chronology

  • Learn about significant events and people from British history

  • Explore ancient civilisations and world history

  • Understand how societies have changed over time

  • Recognise how the past influences the present

  • Learn to examine evidence critically and use it to form opinions

  • Build a rich historical vocabulary

  • Make meaningful connections across periods, places and culture

Opening Worlds

Opening Worlds provides our pupils with:

  • Ambitious and carefully sequenced content

  • High-quality texts and exceptional storytelling

  • Strong emphasis on vocabulary and recall

  • Frequent opportunities to revisit learning

  • Clear links between History, Geography and RE

  • Teaching based on Rosenshine’s principles

This ensures pupils develop a powerful, connected understanding of the past and are able to apply their knowledge confidently.

 

128 KB