Teaching and learning at KS2 - Keystage history

It’s time to think about the teaching of time at KS1 and 2

Time is probably the concept most fundamental to understanding history. This presents problems, of course, particularly with the youngest children. But just because its a slippery concept doesn’t mean we shouldn’t plan how we are...

10 top dos and don’ts of using knowledge organisers in primary history

Used well, knowledge organisers are a really powerful resource but it all depends on how they are used. However attractive and packed with facts it might appear, if it just sits inertly with very little...

10 Things to do to make your history teaching better at KS2

1. Teach through historical enquiries.

Enquiries are the most effective subject pedagogy in history, not least because when well drafted, they make pupils think. You will notice that all the lessons on the site deliberately have...

A six step approach to history lessons

Step 1: Teacher motivates pupils to want to learn and scopes the enquiry

Hooking them in: eg. with a slow reveal
Making it real, exciting, a job that needs doing, a problem that needs sorting

10 questions which we should ask when planning historical enquiries at KS2

Is this area of content significant enough to spend time on?
How can we turn this area of content into a rigorous and motivating enquiry question?
Can we focus the enquiry on individual people,...

Progression in historical interpretations at Key Stage 2 – How the past is represented and interpreted in different ways, and to give reasons for this

Beginning of Key Stage

Children can identify differences between versions of the same event e.g. the video gives a different view to what we have just read e.g. version of a Greek myth. • Children give a...

The top 10 things you need to know about chronology at KS2, but were afraid to ask.

1. There is more to chronology than sequencing

While sequencing is fundamentally important, you also need to think about...

ICT and Film in history at Key Stage 2

You may think it surprising that film and ICT appear together and not separately. Wit hthe advent of digitisation and easy manipulation of images, including moving images, using computers the two are now intertwined. So,...

Strategies for using artefacts in teaching history at KS2

Nobody would seriously doubt the value of using artefacts in history at Key Stage 1, but at Key Stage 2 they are used far less regularly. In part, this reflects the need to work on...

Teaching Interpretations at Key Stage 2

Although challenging, teaching interpretations in history at KS2 level is immensely rewarding when you see the 'penny drop' in pupils' minds. It is hard because it is abstract. It is hard because you are...

Teaching enquiry in history at Key Stage 2

You will hear a lot spoken about historical enquiry, but very little written down and easily accessible. Given its central importance to an understanding of the nature of history, this is regrettable. What I write...

Fit for purpose history teaching strategies at Key Stage 1 and 2

As primary schools have been so heavily criticised by OFSTED for failing to select strategies that are fit for purpose, I thought it would be helpful to show the range and style of activities...

What makes an outstanding history lesson at KS2?

With very little national guidance now coming from OFSTED by way of revisions to the subject-specific criteria for outstanding primary history, we have to fall back on the survey reports that HMI write when they...

The teaching process in history at KS2

Key Stage 2 history teaching is often unfairly caricatured as a teacher telling interested pupils lots of interesting stories: fun at the time, but of little lasting benefit. We need to ensure that shallow learning...

′100′ great ideas for teaching history at KS2

This section describes the best of the imaginative ideas I have seen work successfully in the teaching of history at Key Stage 2. The figure'100' is in inverted commas because it is rather an arbitrary...

Views of learners in history at Key Stage 2

There has been very little published research on the views of KS2 pupils on their history work, other than lots of ranking activities which place history at, or near, the top of the list...

The learning process in history at KS2

Given that this site specialises in giving practical support to busy teachers and subject leaders, you may be surprised to find a section on the theory of learning. Well, don't worry it is very...

50 imaginative learning activities to use in history at Key Stage 2

Currently these top 50 imaginative ideas are just listed in alphabetical order with a brief description of each, cross-referenced to an Outstanding Lesson in which the strategy is used. If you would rather search...

Roles of learners in history at Key Stage 2

Pupils in the field excavating Roman remains

One of the best ways of exciting young children in history is to put them in role. Dorothy Heathcote's approach, called Mantle of the Expert, invests expertise in the pupils, giving them a real, adult...

20 cool ideas creative products for history Key Stage 2

This section accompanies the ones on teaching and learning approaches. It offers you a few ideas you may not have tried for a while, or at least not within the current topic. It is always...

Personalised learning in history at KS 2

This is certainly one of the key areas to be focusing on in the next few years and lies at the heart of the government's Every Child Matters agenda. But a few points are worth making quickly...

Gender issues in history at Key Stage 2

It is hard to think of a teaching and learning strategy that one would use with boys. We all know that boys seem to like more active approaches, but so would many girls. When I...

Gifted and talented pupils in history at Key Stage 2

Much has been written in general terms about identifying and then catering for able pupils in history. OFSTED and others have criticized schools for not moving beyond identification and general provision to looking...

Key motivational factors in history teaching at Key Stage 2

The essence of what appeals to pupils can often be summed up by the words, People, Puzzle and Point. Children engage best if there is human interest . They like to feel that history is...

S.E.N. in history at Key Stage 1 and 2

By inclusion we mean three things here: setting suitable learning challenges, responding to pupils' diverse needs, and overcoming potential barriers to learning and assessment for individuals and groups. Below are featured a range of ideas...

Grasping the chronology nettle

Everyone knows that chronology is one of the key historical concepts pupils need to learn, and yet in very few schools is it given serious attention. Unless the subject leader makes a determined attempt...

History for pupils with EAL in Key Stages 1 and 2

Most of you will be well-versed in strategies for helping children with EAL access other subjects in the curriculum and will not need detailed guidance on general issues. To help contextualise the support for history...

Teaching and Learning

It’s time to think about the teaching of time at KS1 and 2

10 top dos and don’ts of using knowledge organisers in primary history

10 Things to do to make your history teaching better at KS2

1. Teach through historical enquiries.

A six step approach to history lessons

Step 1: Teacher motivates pupils to want to learn and scopes the enquiry

10 questions which we should ask when planning historical enquiries at KS2

Progression in historical interpretations at Key Stage 2 – How the past is represented and interpreted in different ways, and to give reasons for this

Beginning of Key Stage

The top 10 things you need to know about chronology at KS2, but were afraid to ask.

1. There is more to chronology than sequencing

ICT and Film in history at Key Stage 2

Strategies for using artefacts in teaching history at KS2

Teaching Interpretations at Key Stage 2

Teaching enquiry in history at Key Stage 2

Fit for purpose history teaching strategies at Key Stage 1 and 2

What makes an outstanding history lesson at KS2?

The teaching process in history at KS2

′100′ great ideas for teaching history at KS2

Views of learners in history at Key Stage 2

The learning process in history at KS2

50 imaginative learning activities to use in history at Key Stage 2

Roles of learners in history at Key Stage 2

20 cool ideas creative products for history Key Stage 2

Personalised learning in history at KS 2

Gender issues in history at Key Stage 2

Gifted and talented pupils in history at Key Stage 2

Key motivational factors in history teaching at Key Stage 2

S.E.N. in history at Key Stage 1 and 2

Grasping the chronology nettle

History for pupils with EAL in Key Stages 1 and 2

Useful links

Recent Posts

Outstanding Lessons: Key Stage 1

Using artefacts to help children’s historical understanding at Key Stage 1

Some key findings from OFSTED’s English curriculum report that affect history – May 2022

A pupil response to KS2 assessment task on women in Ancient Greece

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