Edinburgh Academy
Understanding ourselves by understanding the past
Houses and Homes, Vikings, Transport, Ancient Egyptians, The Romans, Edinburgh, The Victorians, Word War II - all these are topics through which we aim to develop an understanding of the past.
Visits to museums and other places of historical interest (left) are features of our curriculum from the earliest years.
Thinking skills
When our pupils learn history they are not just gaining chunks of knowledge about people and events. They are also developing thinking skills - particularly critical thinking - and attitudes that will stand them in good stead elsewhere in the curriculum and throughout life. One key example is distinguishing between fact and opinion, when examining evidence. In an information age it is increasingly important to be able to evaluate the reliability of your sources. In the Junior School pupils are introduced to this way of thinking in history.
Working together
Opportunities will be seized for genuine collaborative work, where children come together to find an answer to a problem needing some investigation, for instance by using the displays at a Museum to find out why historical change came about. The outcome might be a written report or an oral summary of the findings, but the process is as important as the product.
Project work
Independence & creativityProject work in Upper Primary involves an overall challenge being set, the parameters clarified, the learning objectives explained and the success criteria revealed. This kind of project is a very good stimulus for the development of independent working habits. The close monitoring by the teacher of the quality of children's planning and investigation is vital, as is the blending of the use of school-based sources - Library, Internet, Topic boxes, etc - with independent work being done at home. Projects of this kind offer the chance for the children to show what they can really do and gives scope for creativity and the pursuit of excellence - open expectations ensure that those who can do detailed, lengthy investigations are given every encouragement to achieve these goals. |
Role Play
Suppose you are a merchant of the middle ages, chosen by your town to present to the king the case for making it a royal burgh? What will you say to him? |
Or possibly ...As a crofter in 18th century Scotland you have just been told that you and your family must all leave the land to make way for your laird's latest money-making scheme, sheep. How do you feel and what will you do? |
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