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Understanding Our World
Each of the individual subjects that build into the ‘bigger picture’ of our ‘Understanding Our World’ curriculum make a clear and positive impact through the journey that we provide for our pupils throughout their time at Seymour Park Community Primary School. Within this key strand of our bespoke curriculum, we take great pride in the degree to which the learning opportunities provided to our pupils support them in their development – not solely regarding academic attainment, but also as individuals with a strong moral, spiritual, cultural and social conscience, alongside a clear sense of pride in their own identity. Seymour Park’s ‘Understanding Our World’ curriculum provides pupils with the necessary knowledge and skills for them to both reflect on ‘their’ past and look forward to ‘their’ future as a part of our whole school family and the wider community. They are taught to respect the differences between the people and places within this community, as well as those that exist worldwide and are supported in exploring how they can make a difference as important and unique 21st century citizens of our ever-changing planet.
Click to download our Understanding Our World Curriculum Overviews
History-and-Geography-Overview-2023-24.docx.pdf
Our Vision
History
We provide our children with the opportunity to develop their knowledge about the past of Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain as a whole and the wider world. We believe that a sound knowledge of the impact and influence of what has come before, supports our pupils to think critically; to develop personal perspective and judgement and empowers them to understand their own identity, the challenges of their time and their role as 21st century citizens.
Geography
At Seymour Park our Geography curriculum aims to inspire in our pupils a curiosity and fascination about the natural and human aspects of the diverse world that they live in and enables them to develop key knowledge and skills which are transferable to other curriculum areas. Through developing their knowledge and understanding of their Earth and its key human and physical features and processes, we nurture our pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development - helping them to develop a greater understanding of their place in the world; their rights and responsibilities to others and the environment and to recognise how they can make a world of difference.
R.E
Through the RE curriculum at Seymour Park, it is our intent to engage, inspire and challenge our pupils, whilst equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to both ask and answer challenging questions and deliberate key topics regarding the religious beliefs, values, traditions and practices that are followed within our diverse school family; our wider community and the world in which they are key citizens. We want pupils to recognise and respect the differences that exist within and between communities or amongst individuals and to be up-standers of the fact that everybody has the right to an identity – inclusive of personal religious beliefs.
Aims and objectives
History:
The national curriculum for history aims to ensure that all pupils:
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know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day: how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world
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know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations
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gain and deploy a historically grounded understanding of abstract terms such as ‘empire’, ‘civilisation’, ‘parliament’ and ‘peasantry’
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understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance, and use them to make connections, draw contrasts and analyse trends
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understand the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used rigorously to make historical claims, and discern how and why contrasting arguments and interpretations of the past have been constructed
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gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts, understanding the connections between local, regional, national and international history; between cultural, economic, military, political, religious and social history; and between short- and long-term timescales.
Alongside the national curriculum aims at Seymour Park we also aim to:
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Ensure that our children have the specific technical vocabulary to engage in historical discussions
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Provide rich and immerse learning that allows pupils to experience events of the past through the use of technology and engaging lessons
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Encourage and promote historical skills that equip children with the tools to analyse the world around them
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Inspire and promote pupils curiosity and fascination about the diverse world around them
Geography:
The national curriculum for geography aims to ensure that all pupils:
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develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places – both terrestrial and marine – including their defining physical and human characteristics and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes
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understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time
are competent in the geographical skills needed to:
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collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes
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interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
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communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.
Alongside the national curriculum aims at Seymour Park we also aim to:
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promote the use of technical vocabulary so that children can carry out effective geographical enquiries
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encourage in pupils a commitment to sustainable development and an appreciation of what ‘global citizenship’ means.
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provide learning opportunities that enthuse, engage, challenge and motivate pupils to learn and foster a sense of curiosity and wonder at the world around them.
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Provide children with a sense of their own surroundings through local fieldwork and encourage interaction between pupils, their community and the environment
R.E
The national curriculum for R.E aims to ensure that all pupils:
Know about and understand a range of religions and worldviews, so that they can:
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describe, explain and analyse beliefs and practices, recognising the diversity which exists within and between communities and amongst individuals;
Express ideas and insights about the nature, significance and impact of religions and worldviews, so that they can:
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explain reasonably their ideas about how beliefs, practices and forms of expression influence individuals and communities;
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express with increasing discernment their personal reflections and critical responses to questions and teachings about identity, diversity, meaning and value, including ethical issues;
Gain and deploy the skills needed to engage seriously with religions and worldviews, so that they can:
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find out about and investigate key concepts and questions of belonging, meaning, purpose and truth, responding creatively
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articulate beliefs, values and commitments clearly in order to explain why they may be important in their own and other people’s lives.
Alongside the national curriculum aims at Seymour Park we also aim to:
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Inspire and challenge our pupils, whilst equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to both ask and answer challenging questions
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Promote high levels of technical vocabulary to enable pupils to engage in high quality discussions
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Promote wherever possible community beliefs, values, traditions and practices that are followed within our diverse school family
Curriculum Overviews & Organisation
Geography
Through our Geography curriculum we inspire in our pupils a curiosity and fascination about the natural and human aspects of the diverse world that they live in. Regular opportunities for fieldwork and outdoor learning (both within the school grounds and at locations further afield) allow pupils to gain ‘hands on’ experience of these concepts and empowers them in their development of key knowledge and skills which are transferable to other curriculum areas. Pupils are encouraged to use a variety of sources, maps, pictorial and digital resources to support in their development of a greater understanding and knowledge of the world (as well as their place in it). With a strong awareness of the issues facing their Earth and its key human and physical features and processes, we provide a solid foundation for an in-depth understanding of their rights and responsibilities to others and the environment and to recognise the actions they can take to make a world of difference.
History
The experiences provided to our pupils during history lessons inspire in them a curiosity to know and understand more about the past of Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain as a whole and the wider world. Development of key enquiry skills such as the study of sources; consideration of differing viewpoints and the ability to make or adapt predictions and decisions according to what they discover, equips our pupils with a resilience and perseverance that is key to success in all other areas of learning. Pupils’ chronological understanding is developed through the use of whole-class blank timelines which give them regular opportunities to recall previous learning and make connections. Visits to places of historical importance and the welcoming of visitors into school enrich our already vibrant history curriculum, which centres on the impact and influence of significant people and events in Britain (as well as the wider world) and a chronologically accurate understanding of the changes that have taken place over time. At Seymour Park Community Primary School, our pupils are taught to recognise the value of a sound knowledge of the impact and influence of what has come before. This cultivates their ability to think critically; to develop personal perspective and judgement and empowers them to understand their own identity, the challenges of their time and their role as 21st century citizens.
Religious Education
We are proud to be a diverse school and our RE curriculum is at the heart of our harmonious school community. Through our RE curriculum, our children recognise and respect the differences that exist within and between faith communities and individuals. They become up-standers of the rights to an identity and a faith or beliefs. Throughout our school, the study of world religions engages, inspires and challenges our pupils. Our RE curriculum is built on the foundation of teaching pupils in EYFS and KS1 to recognise what is special about them and builds to encompass an understanding of the different religions practised by people throughout the world. Lessons centre on a ‘big question’ to which pupils then use their knowledge and enquiry skills to form their own responses. This learning is presented in dynamic ‘floor books’. Our curriculum ultimately equips our children with the necessary knowledge and skills to both ask and answer challenging questions and deliberate key topics regarding the religious beliefs, values, traditions and practices that are followed within our diverse school family; our wider community and the world in which they will grow up in.
Outdoor Learning
An important element of our bespoke curriculum is the embedding of outdoor learning opportunities as a way to enrich and develop pupils’ understanding and application of key skills, knowledge and the values of our school. We provide equal opportunity for ‘hands on’ exploration of our local environment – teaching pupils to respect their surroundings and also to develop life-long skills and attitudes that contribute towards healthy, fulfilled lives as 21st century citizens, with a strong growth mindset.