History

Someone far cleverer than me once said that ‘historians are like rowers - they look backwards to go forwards,’ and certainly events of the last couple of years and the challenges with which we enter 2023 have left many of us searching the history books for answers.... This term has, as always, been a busy one in the History Department and as we seek to provide an increasingly broad ranging and diverse history curriculum. The term has seen our pupils engage in a variety of different studies and activities: • In the Senior Department, Top Form pupils have been looking at the beginnings of colonisation in

America and the campaign for women’s suffrage in

Britain; • Year 7 have been learning about the early Tudors with the ‘Winter King’ Henry VII, and the galloping inflation of the sixteenth century, something with which we can all sympathise, I’m sure! • Year 6 have been studying the Crusades and considering some of the key lessons to be learned based around the Fundamental British Values of tolerance and mutual respect. • Year 5 have been learning about William the Conqueror and completed some wonderful historical fiction writing based around the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066 .

Middle Department History

Year 5

The Year 5 pupils have made a particularly good start with their history topic this term. They spent some time considering what life in 1065 might have been like for the Anglo-Saxon villagers before learning what we mean by an ANACHRONISM and spotting some glaring chronological errors in a medieval village cartoon!

At a time when we are particularly aware of the passing of kingship from mother to son in our own royal family, the pupils have explored why the same smooth transition did not happen upon the death of King Edward the Confessor in January 1066. As you will see in the photo, our three contenders, and arch rivals, are now lined up ready to fight for the English throne and the pupils are looking forward to learning how events unfolded in that tumultuous year, and also learning how we know so much about events which occurred nearly 1000 years ago. You can see more examples of Year 5’s historical fiction here

Year 4 Year 4 having also been studying matters closer to home with the Anglo-Saxons. To begin their topic, Year 4 considered what challenges the Anglo- Saxons might have faced when settling in Britannia during the early Middle Ages. To aid their learning they played a game where children were either tribe members of the Angles, South and East Saxons, Frisians or Jutes. Competitive natures bubbled to surface as tribes fought for control of land! With a bit of luck children fought of the Picts, avoided plagues of disease or defeated a Pagan king to claim land and become the dominant Anglo-Saxon tribe! The pupils then moved on to look at the treasures found in Suffolk at the Anglo-Saxon burial ground at Sutton Hoo. Children had the opportunity find, examine images and make predictions about the amazing artefacts found by archaeologists in 1938. Pupils have been working on their research projects based on everyday aspects of Anglo-Saxon life. After deciding on a topic the children, working in pairs, came up with keys questions they would like answered. For example, ‘What were Anglo-Saxon Homes made from?‘ or ‘How did the Anglo-Saxons hunt and catch their food?’. After using the internet and information books to find the answers, children have started to create presentations using Google Slides or PowerPoint.

Year 3 Year 3 have been learning about Ancient Egypt. Year 3 In our History Topic on Ancient Egyptians, pupils had enormous fun designing their own Egyptian Pharaoh heads and learning about mummification ahead of the highlight of their term - Egyptian Day! The day began with pupils, teachers and parent volunteers arriving at School in a fantastic array of outfits! Everyone looked fabulous and the School was buzzing with Pharaohs, Cleopatras and mummies, and the odd archaeologist too. Not forgetting - how could you? - Miss Stredwick’s fabulous pyramid costumer! Transporting themselves back in time with the aid of History of the Page, the children were treated to a potted history of the Ancient Egyptians, which included enough wars and battles to entertain everyone. They then took part in a variety of creative activities, ate a traditional feast and then took part in a procession! A fun day of learning for everyone! Here are just a few photographs from the day - you can view more here