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Humanities

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Humanities is the study of man-made creations and the expansion of mankind. Humanities cover a vast realm of subjects and topics. This broad field is inclusive of art, history, philosophy, geography, languages, music and drama. In a primary school setting (KS1 and KS2) humanities is predominately taught through geography and history.   At Leighton Academy history and geography are valued as subjects that, by their very nature, inspire children to become active and independent learners.The teaching of geography and history encourages children to ask questions and to find answers, to form opinions and develop new skills.

Humanities at Leighton Academy will also enable children to become aware of why the world around them is like it is and to understand and value their part in it.

Aims and Objectives for teaching Humanities at Leighton Academy:

  • to promote an interest and enjoyment in learning about the past and the world they live in;
  • to enable children to ask and answer questions about the past and their world;
  • to learn about the development of Britain, Europe and the wider world;
  • to develop research and interpretation skills using a range of media and artefacts.
  • to develop a sense of chronology and an understanding of how to use of historic terms;
  • to enable children to communicate their knowledge and understanding in a variety of ways;
  • to address issues of equal opportunities in context, challenging stereotypes, with an awareness of the background and cultural heritage of all pupils;
  • to teach historical and geographical knowledge;
  • to support or provide a means of enriching other areas of the curriculum.
  • to provide opportunities for learning through visits to places of historic and geographical interest, handling primary and secondary sources, bringing visitors into school and partaking in field trips.
  • to develop an awareness of their surroundings and the wider world through an appreciation of the variety of physical and human environment;
  • to foster a sense of responsibility about the environment and promote an active participation in caring for the environment;
  • to help children to develop an informed concern about the quality of the environment and the future of the global environment, including an awareness and understanding of the issue of sustainability.

Cross Curricular Opportunities

The contribution of Humanities to teaching in other curriculum areas:

Literacy
Humanities contributes significantly to the teaching of English in our school by actively promoting the skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Children can develop their speaking and listening skills through the discussion of historical or geographical questions or presenting their findings to the rest of the class. Historical accounts and geographical discoveries also allow for extended pieces of writing.

Mathematics
Humanities teaching contributes to the teaching of mathematics in a variety of ways. Children learn to use numbers when developing a sense of chronology through doing activities such as time-lines. Children learn to interpret information presented in graphical form, for example, when studying population statistics. We teach the children how to represent objects with maps. The children study space, scale and distance and they learn how to use four and six figure grid references. They also use graphs to explore, analyse and illustrate a variety of data.

ICT
We use ICT in humanities, where appropriate, to enhance children’s skills in data handling and presentation of written work. Children research information using the Internet. We also offer the opportunity to use iPads to record and use photographic images.

Design and Technology/Arts

The teaching of humanities provides opportunities for children to research and record using their creative skills such as sketching, drawing maps, creating booklets, posters, leaflets and model making. This encourages children to develop detailed knowledge about objects, events, landscapes and people.

Food technology also provides the opportunity to create and explore foods from the past and from around the world.

Role play encourages children to become 'part' of history and re-enact events using research, stories, pictures, facts and artefacts. This allows a deeper understanding of the event as children can become active learners through language, actions, emotions and debates.

Educational visits

At Leighton Academy we aim to promote children’s curiosity and learning through first hand experiences and involvement. The use of artefacts, visits and visitors is viewed as fundamental and essential to the teaching of history and geography.

Fieldwork is integral to good humanities teaching and we include as many opportunities as we can to involve children in practical geographical/historical research and enquiry. 

Subject Documents Date  
Geography Curriculum overview 25th Jun 2022 Download
Humanities Overview 2022-23 28th Jul 2022 Download
History Progression Overview 2022-23 28th Jul 2022 Download
Humanities Progression Overview 2022-23 28th Jul 2022 Download