History
'For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction,
that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.' Romans 15:4
At All Saints' we believe that a high-quality history education will help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It should inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. Teaching should equip pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement.
History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.
Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage
The National Curriculum History : Key stages 1 and 2
History Long Term Plan 2026-27
History through reading
A love of history can begin in many different ways, and one of the most engaging is through reading. Historical fiction and non-fiction texts allow children to immerse themselves in different periods of time, develop their historical understanding and spark curiosity about the past. Through stories, children can explore significant events, influential people and fascinating civilisations in a memorable and meaningful way.
Reading helps children make connections between their learning in history lessons and the wider world, whilst developing their vocabulary, empathy and understanding of how the past has shaped the present. By providing access to a wide range of high-quality texts, we aim to inspire every child to discover an aspect of history that captures their imagination and encourages a lifelong interest in the subject.
At Chorley All Saints, our History Reading Spine has been carefully selected to enrich the history curriculum, deepen historical knowledge and foster a lifelong love of reading. The recommended books complement the topics studied throughout school and provide opportunities for children to further explore periods of history through both fiction and non-fiction texts.
We encourage children and families to enjoy these books together and use them as a gateway to discovering more about our shared past.
History Fiction Recommendations
Our History Ambassador for 2026-27 is:
Civil Rights Leader
"He showed courage, kindness and determination in working for equality and fairness."
History Club
At All Saints' we have a History club for Year 5 and 6 children. Last year, children choose to research areas of history that they were interested in including : the Victorians, the Romans, the Vikings, World War 1 and 2, Henry VII, Greek Mythology and the Zulus! They used their historical investigative skills to ask questions and make objective judgments about the source material they found. History Club started in February and lasts the whole year!
History Websites for Pupils in School and at Home
Would you like to travel back in time, explore ancient worlds or investigate clues from the past? These websites can help you discover more about the people, places and events you study in history.
Explore the Past
BBC Teach Primary History
Watch short videos about topics including:
- The Great Fire of London
- Ancient Greece
- Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot
- Famous people and important events
The videos are designed for primary-aged pupils and can help bring historical stories to life.
National Geographic Kids: History
Discover fascinating facts, pictures, articles and comics about:
- Prehistoric Britain
- Ancient Egypt
- Ancient Greece
- Imperial China
- Romans
- Vikings
- Tudors
- Important people from the past
Many of the resources are designed to support the history topics studied in primary school.
Oak National Academy: Primary History
Explore lessons, videos and activities about topics such as:
- The Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages
- Ancient Egypt
- Ancient Greece
- Romans
- Anglo-Saxons
- Vikings
- Benin and the Maya
- The First and Second World Wars
The lessons help pupils use historical evidence, investigate important questions and understand how life changed over time. [thenational.academy]
Become a History Detective
The National Archives: Education
Investigate real documents and records from the past. Look closely for clues and ask:
- Who created this source?
- When was it created?
- What does it tell us?
- What might it leave out?
- How reliable is it?
The resources are designed to help pupils investigate evidence in the same way as historians.
British Museum
Explore historical objects from cultures around the world. You can investigate artefacts connected to Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Historic England: School Resources
Discover buildings, photographs, maps and places from the past. The website includes historical images, timelines and activities that can help you investigate the history of your local area. [historicen...and.org.uk]
English Heritage: Learning Resources
Explore castles, forts, abbeys and prehistoric monuments. The website includes pictures, historical information and activities connected to more than 400 historic places cared for by English Heritage.
Before You Start
Remember to:
- Ask an adult before visiting a new website.
- Follow links chosen by your teacher.
- Never share your full name, password or personal information.
- Check information using more than one reliable source.
- Write facts in your own words.
- Make a note of the website you used.
- Ask questions about anything that seems surprising or unclear.
Be a Great Historian
When exploring history online, remember that historians do more than collect facts. A great historian:
- Asks thoughtful questions
- Examines evidence carefully
- Places events in chronological order
- Compares different sources
- Considers different viewpoints
- Explains causes and consequences
- Notices changes and similarities over time
- Understands that people may interpret the past differently
Historical Artefacts
All our classes have the opportunity to look at artefacts from the period of history they are studying. Looking at historical artefacts in is important because it provides children tangible connections to the past, turning abstract historical concepts into concrete, relatable stories. These objects act as a "hook" that sparks natural curiosity and encourage the children to ask investigative questions like "Who used this?" or "What was it for?"
Handling real items, such as an old Victorian iron or a Roman coin, helps the children empathise with people from different periods by seeing the actual tools they used in daily life.
