We, at Worsthorne Primary School, aspire to develop curiosity and wonder, together with a deep knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and of the wider world. We aim to enable children to ask perceptive questions, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement.
Past and Present ELG
Children at the expected level of development will:
– Talk about the lives of the people around them and their roles in society;
– Know some similarities and differences between things in the past and now, drawing on their experiences and what has been read in class;
– Understand the past through settings, characters and events encountered in books read in class and storytelling;
Our topic in Year 3 for History is World War 2. We have been learning all about the lives of children, in particular how children have to carry around gas masks to keep them safe. We listened to an audio of a class having a gas mask drill at school and decided we are lucky to not have to do that now! We loved making our own gas mask boxes and pretending to be children from World War 2.
Year 3 have been learning about how and why gas masks were used in WW2. We looked at lots of pictures of adults, children and babies wearing gas masks and even watched a video of a gas mask drill where a teacher told the children in her class to put their gas masks on and leave it on for as long as they could. We made our own gas mask boxes and imagined what it would be like for children in WW2, wearing their gas mask! As you can see from our photos, we didn’t think it would be very enjoyable!
The children have been studying some chess pieces that were found on the Isle of Lewis in 1831. The 78 pieces, all made from whale tooth or walrus ivory, were made in Scandinavia during Viking Times. This proves that the Vikings played games and were skilled craftsmen. In 2001, replicas of the Lewis chess pieces were used in the first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The children had a go at excavating their own chess pieces and coins out of soil, and plaster of paris. The children had great fun using their toothbrushes and tools to uncover their treasures.
Ancient Egypt Workshop
Year 6 were extremely lucky to have a visit from History Alive for an Ancient Egypt workshop. The morning began with the children acting as different people in the ancient civilisation. Some were peasants, temple dancers, soldiers, a script and a Pharaoh, amongst others. The children were shown artefacts and were allowed to handle them. Each one was individually described. Everyone was dressed up with costumes and played a role.
In the afternoon, we learnt about how food was grown, sown and made into food. We role played trading goods at the markets, trying to sell their wares and outshouting the other market sellers. We pretended to eat as the Egyptians did by reposing (laying down) and were told about the various foods that would be available. Later in the afternoon, we learnt about the pyramids. We discovered how the giant stones were moved, the conditions of the workers and how hard life was for an ordinary person.
The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were praised by Mrs Balshaw, who led the session, for how well behaved they were. All the children, asked very thoughtful questions and listened carefully. Well done Year 6!
All Aboard!
We learnt about Rosa Parks and how she was treated unfairly one day on a bus.
We chatted about how we are all special and that no body is more important than anyone else.
The children agreed that everybody should be able to sit where they want. We did ask some more thought provoking questions, such as ‘Is there ever a time that you might give up your seat?’ and ‘Was Rosa right to do what she did?’
The children made their own bus, to represent that everyone is welcome.
Year 1 have learned all about The Great Fire of London. They know what happened and how the fire changed London. They were lucky to have a visit from Burnley Fire Station as they told the children all about how we put out fires today. The children loved comparing old and new!
Year 3 went on an educational visit to Fleetwood Museum. The children and staff loved visiting different workshops where the museum staff worked in role explaining how and why Victorians visited the seaside. We found out about how steam was created to power trains to get the people there. We visited a boarding house where rich people would go at ‘Wakes Week’ and where poor children worked as maids. The children dressed in Victorian clothes to have their picture taken – we found out that it took 30 seconds for a single photo to be taken and that they had to remain still throughout hence Victorian people never smiled.
The last part of the visit was a traditional Punch and Judy show which involved a naughty crocodile, cheeky monkeys, sausages policeman, a crying baby and a dirty nappy! The children laughed their socks off!!!
