History
Welcome to the History Department!
The History department actively strives to provide all students with an enjoyable experience of learning History which is relevant, stimulating, challenging as well as accessible to all. In developing an awareness of the different ways of learning and the representation of past events, a variety of teaching strategies have been implemented across the department. The emphasis of this subject is both the historical knowledge and the skills required for accurate research.
It is envisaged that each learner will increase their ability to utilise and organize information effectively in order to weigh up conflicting factors which will assist them in making informed decisions. Students learn about the nature of cause and effect, continuity and change, similarity and difference and find out how to use and understand historical evidence as part of their studies. Finally the learners gain an understanding of the past in relation to themselves and the wider world in which they live.
We begin key stage three in year 7 by looking at primary and secondary sources as well as defining why history is an important subject to study. We then move on to a study of Medieval Britain. Topics include clothing, village life as well as the Battle of Hastings. To end off the year we investigate the Black Death and determine whether or not it was a disaster for the few who survived.
We travel back to Tudor times in year 8 and cover the life and times of Henry VIII and his six wives, tudor homes, clothes and society. We also investigate the lives of his three children as well as the English Reformation. To conclude we travel around the world with famous Tudor explorers and study naval strategies that were employed when the Royal Navy fought against the Spanish Armada.
In year 9 we begin by studying the Industrial Revolution of Britain. In this section attention will be drawn to the many inventions and developments which facilitated in the rapid change of Britain’s society. We then look at child labour, living conditions and the economic, social and environmental impact not only concerning Britain but indeed the World.
In key stage four we study the The Cambridge IGCSE History syllabus. The course looks at some of the major international issues and important figures of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. To begin this course the Year 10′s we study World War One and then learn about the Treaty of Versailles as well as the League of Nations. Following on from that Britain’s Policy of Appeasement shall also be analysed and this shall be followed on by an in-depth study of life in Nazi Germany 1918 – 1945. In Year 11 the focus shall move to the spread of Russian Communism. In this topic the learners shall engage in research and enquire about some key figures and important events which took place in the Cold War from the end of World War II right up until 1991.
For the duration of the IGCSE History syllabus the emphasis is on both historical knowledge and on the skills required for historical research and writing. The learners shall also develop an understanding of the nature of cause and effect, continuity and change, similarity and difference and learn how to use and understand historical evidence as part of their current and future studies.
As an additional resource and support mechanism for all of the students we have created a CIS Humanities website where you can find out about the Humanities teachers, homework assignments as well as the subject termly outlines. Please feel free to visit it at:
http://cishumanities.weebly.com/
