The Key Stage 2 curriculum requires pupils to have a comprehensive understanding about how Britain changed between the beginning of the stone-age and 1066.
The National Curriculum - Key Stage 2 history states:
Pupils should develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study. Specifically, for the period between the beginning of the stone age and 1066 pupils should be taught about:
- Changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age
- The Roman Empire and its impact on Britain
- Britain's settlement by Anglo-Saxons and Scots
- The Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle for the Kingdom of England to the time of Edward the Confessor
These comprehensive mid-term plans have been designed to help to reinforce pupils' understanding of British chronology by looking at three themes which will run over a three-year period.
They have the advantage that pupils will revisit each period (stone age, Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Viking) each year through the themes of homes, food and culture. Therefore, supporting their long-term retention.
The suggestion is to have
three enquiries looking at how Britain changed between the stone age and 1066, focussing on homes, food and culture.
The enquires would be:
- How did people's homes change between the stone age and 1066
- How did people's food change between the stone age and 1066
- How did people's beliefs change between the stone age and 1066
These could run in a three year cycle and then the fourth year could focus on a period beyond 1066: a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils' chronological knowledge beyond 1066 (National Curriculum - history - Key Stage 2 requirement).