St Richard Reynolds Catholic High School
SUBJECT: History
YEAR GROUP: 7
TOPICS COVERED:
A thematic approach to History that looks at the following topics
throughout History:
- What is History
- Movement and Settlement
- Everyday Life
- Ideas and Beliefs
PROGRAMME OF STUDY
Autumn Half Term 1: What is History?
By the end of the topic, pupils will be able to:
• Explain key historical terms such as chronology, anachronisms, reliability and
usefulness.
• Begin using historical sources. Pupils should be able to describe what a source
shows them and begin commenting on the reliability and usefulness of the
source.
• Make links between events and modern life with a particular focus on piracy
• Prepare and present a project on pirates.
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Pupils will prepare a presentation on
pirates. Pupils will be asked to include
information on the main causes of piracy
and also 21st century pirates. Pupils will be
assessed on the accuracy and depth of
the information as well as their
presentation skills.
Autumn Half Term 2: Movement and Settlement
In this module, pupils will be looking at a variety of topics ranging from Alexander the
Great to the Kindertransport. The purpose of this topic is to assess and judge the key
reasons for humans moving and settling in different parts of the world. Pupils will be
developing their essay writing, source analysis and presentation skills in this module.
Pupils will be assessed regularly in
lessons but the main assessment will be
an essay based on the question ‘Warfare
was the main reason for people moving
and settling around the world
throughout history’. Do you agree?
Trip opportunity. Pupils in Year 7 will have the chance to explore London and learn
how it has changed since its beginnings.
Spring Half Term 3: Everyday Life
Pupils will be exploring how people’s lives have changed throughout history. The
module will investigate with what life was like in Ancient Athens, Sparta, Ancient
Rome, the Middle Ages and finishes with life in Tudor England. Key themes that will
be covered during the module are:
• Entertainment
• Medicine/Health
• Rich vs. Poor
• Transport
• Jobs
Spring Half Term 4: Everyday Life
This term, students explore what life was like during key events in British history such
as the Great Plague and Fire of London. Students will then study how life changed
dramatically for people during the Industrial Revolution and will finish with an
investigation into the Liberal Reforms, 1906-1914.
Students will be able to reach a balanced judgement on the key changes to people’s
lives throughout history and be able to include sources in their written answers.
Pupils will be assessed regularly in
lessons but the main assessment will be
an essay based on the question ‘Life in
Tudor England was very hard for most
people’ Do you agree?
Pupils will be assessed regularly in
lessons but the main assessment will be
an essay based on the question ‘What are
the most important changes to people’s
lives since the Tudor Era?’
Summer Half Term 5: Ideas and Beliefs
This unit builds on the previous unit by examining how ideas and beliefs shaped the
way people have lived throughout history. This module will begin with the polytheistic
religions of Ancient Athens and Rome and will then focus on the change under
Emperor Constantine to a monotheistic religion. The module will investigate the
murder of Thomas Becket and this will be the main assessment for the term.
Summer Half Term 6: Ideas and Beliefs
This term, pupils will continue to look at how ideas and beliefs have changed over
time. Pupils will study the Reformation, the Break from Rome, the Religious
Settlement, witches and finally 20th century political ideas.
Main assessment is a source based
assessment on Thomas Becket. ‘Why do
we remember Thomas Becket?’
The source based question will assess
how well pupils are analysing and
including sources in their answer.
Main assessment will be a presentation on
how ideas and beliefs have changed over
time.
Key Skills:
Students will build on the historical skills they developed at primary school. The main aim of History in Year 7 is to introduce
students to historical sources, develop their understanding of historical key words and enhance their essay writing skills.
By the end of Year 7, students should be able to explain historical events and demonstrate how certain events have shaped the
modern world.