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History
The History Curriculum aims to develop pupils' knowledge, skills and understanding in five key areas. These are:
- chronological understanding
- knowledge and understanding of events, people and changes in the past
- historical interpretation
- historical understanding
- organisation and communication of ideas
The National Curriculum states that “Pupils should be taught to find out about the past from a wide range of sources of information (for example stories, eye-witness accounts, pictures and photographs, artefacts, historical buildings and visits to museums, galleries and sites, the use of Information and Communication Technology sources).”
It is possible to combine a study of History with other curriculum areas, e.g., Literacy, Science, Design and Technology, Geography or Art and Design
How to Take This Forward
- Contact other museums who offer sessions supporting the History Curriculum, look at the useful website section for contact details and ask if you can visit them.
- Contact your local schools and ask to speak to the History Co-ordinator.
- Contact your Local Education Authority (LEA) and ask to speak to the Adviser who deals with History (their title may be a Humanities Adviser).
- Look at the relevant Schemes of Work.
N.B., If you are a museum with a collection which supports the study of local history this should be one of your biggest strengths. See below for examples of museums who use their collections to support a study of local history, which can be linked to a geographical study of the local area.
Downloads
Museums, Libraries and Archives South East (MLA South East) case study Saving the Tin Temple of Learning (Word DOC, 24Kb)(Rural Life Centre/Old Kiln Museum Trust).
Useful Websites
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National Curriculum History for Key Stages 1 and 2.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families, Standards Site for Schemes of Work for History, Key Stages 1 and 2 and Key Stage 3.
Local History
Surrey Heath Museum in Camberley is an example of a small local museum that runs excellent sessions to support the study of local history.
Slough Museum has carried out some innovative work relating to local history.
Godalming Museum offer a range of talks specific to the local area.
Reading Museum use a wide range of historical source material to chart the development of the Huntley and Palmer Biscuit factory.
Brighton Museum and Art Gallery run local history sessions.
General History
Look at the Hub Museums' websites to see what they offer and whether it is relevant to your collections:
Hampshire Museums Service which includes SEARCH hands-on centre and Milestones living history museum.