History
The units taught at Ark Priory are as follows:
- Year 1: Toys over Time, Transport and Travel.
- Year 2: Kings and Queens, Great Fire of London, People who Made a Difference.
- Year 3: Stone, Bronze and Iron Age Britain, Ancient Egypt.
- Year 4: The Romans, Roman Britain, Maya Civilisation
- Year 5: Anglo-Saxons and Scotts, Vikings, Baghdad and the Middle East.
- Year 6: Ancient Greece, Conflict and Resolution.
In Key Stage 1, pupils develop their understanding of the past—beginning with familiar objects and places within living memory before moving beyond living memory. Pupils study toys and transport in Year 1. They then further develop their understanding of the past by studying the lives of significant individuals both nationally and internationally as well as studying a significant event beyond living memory. Pupils study the Great Fire of London, kings and queens, and significant individuals who have made a difference in Year 2.
In Key Stage 2, the curriculum divides into two main strands: a study of Britain’s past and a series of studies focusing on civilisations and people around the world. When studying British history, units are taught chronologically from the Stone Age in Year 3 to the Roman invasions and an in-depth study into Roman Britain in Year 4, to the Anglo-Saxons, Scots, and Vikings, and ending with the Battle of Hastings in Year 5.
After this chronological study of British history, in Year 6 pupils move to studying an isolated unit in modern history, chosen because of its significance: Conflict and Resolution—the First World War and the Second World War.
Units about world civilisations have been linked to the geographical studies of continents focused on in each year group. These civilisations often overlap with one another, and comparisons will be made between the civilisations in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and South America, but also with the different periods of British history occurring at the time. Pupils gain an overview of the locations of the earliest civilisations before studying the Ancient Egyptians, the Maya, Baghdad in its Golden Age, and Ancient Greece.
Geography
- Year 1: Our Local Area, The United Kingdom, Beside the Sea
- Year 2: Planet Earth, Life in Kenya
- Year 3: Settlements and Land Use, Climate and Climate Zones, Europe
- Year 4: The Amazon: Rivers and Rainforests, The USA
- Year 5: Asia, Mountains, Volcanoes and Earthquakes, Biomes
- Year 6: Mapping the World, Global Challenges: Climate Change, Global Challenges: Trade
In Key Stage 1, pupils begin their journey in geography with a study of the familiar—the local area. They then move outwards to study the United Kingdom and the British seaside, and outwards again to gain an overview of Earth and its continents and oceans. Pupils then study a contrasting location within Kenya, Africa.
Through Key Stage 2, pupils develop their understanding of locations, places, processes, and people. In Lower Key Stage 2, they use their knowledge of the UK to understand settlements and land use before exploring Europe and North and South America. The exploration of these continents includes identifying the location and characteristics of a range of the most significant human and physical features, as well as the opportunity to explore three places in more depth and compare them to their own locality. Pupils also learn about climate, climate zones, rivers, and rainforests. In Upper Key Stage 2, pupils explore Asia before focussing once again on the wider world in the biomes unit. They explore the human and physical characteristics of Asia and learn about mountains and natural disasters, such as volcanoes and earthquakes. A case study of a natural disaster allows pupils to see the impact on both a place and the people within it.