Humanities – curriculum information
Throughout Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 in Humanities, pupils will be involved in investigating a variety of people, places and environments both locally, within the United Kingdom and also in a Global context. History and Geography under the New Curriculum is linked closely together and is covered in a range of set Topics, but also in response to areas of pupil interest.
Geography lessons at Wheeler will inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people.
Teaching will develop pupils’ knowledge of; their location in the world, globally significant places, key physical and human features and the processes that create them. Pupils will also learn the vocabulary needed to describe and explain these. The use of maps, globes, diagrams, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) will be embedded in each Topic taught, with opportunities for pupils to interpret the information presented by each.
Over their time at Wheeler, pupils will experience a range of fieldwork opportunities in our local area and further afield. They will use these fieldwork experiences to ask and answer geographical questions and collect data using a range of techniques and instruments. Pupils will analyse this data to deepen their understanding of geographical processes and communicate the information in a variety of ways.
History lessons at Wheeler will inspire children and spark an interest and empathy for events in the past, reasons for them and how they have shaped the thoughts and views of the world today.
Pupils will acquire coherent knowledge and understanding of the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups in the past. They will use this knowledge to analyse how the past has, and is, shaping the world and their lives today. Each topic will focus around a ‘Big Question’ which will direct the learning, aiding the children’s understanding.
Pupils will be taught to ask questions, think critically, weigh up the evidence given and develop their own perspective and judgement.
Visits and ‘hands on’ experiences will be promoted and will be used to ignite interest, provide deeper learning opportunities for the children, enabling them to apply the knowledge they have gained.
Information for parents
They want pupils to ‘Be Respectful, Responsible and Resilient in Learning and Life’
Leaders are passionate about preparing pupils to be good citizens for the world beyond Wheeler Primary School
The staff are really encouraging. They always help us to be the best we can be
The leader’s vision for the school is demonstrated in the way pupils behave
Pupils in key stage 2 talk confidently about a wide range of authors and texts they have read.
Pupils are proud to be part of the Wheeler family.
Parents say that the school is ‘fantastic’ and that staff ‘greet the children come hail, rain or shine’ every morning as they arrive.
The support that leaders provide for families is a strength of the school.
The pastoral team works well together to ensure that pupils are safe.
Pupils report that bullying is rare, but if it happens, staff will sort it out quickly and fairly.
I think the best thing about being a Wheeler pupil is that all of the staff listen and care about you
Throughout my time at Wheeler, I have been given so many opportunities to experience and learn new things
Leaders give pupils the opportunity to complete well-planned and exciting
activities, such as performing in front of an audience, in order to create a ‘bag’ full of life experiences as they progress through the school. .
The best thing is having someone to go to when you’re upset
The teachers are so supportive they help and guide you all the way through the year
Being at Wheeler is like being part of a family and that makes learning fun
Leaders have designed and implemented an ambitious and well-planned curriculum.
Pupils are excited about adding experiences to their ‘Bag for Life’.
Pupils take books home which contain the sounds that they are learning in class. This gives them plenty of practice.
Pupils are encouraged to develop a positive attitude towards themselves and others.
Classrooms are calm and purposeful places for pupils to learn.
Pupils enjoy coming to Wheeler Primary School every day.
Everyone cares for each other and that every teacher adds a little bit of fun into every lesson
Leaders and teachers have high expectations for every child.
There are
opportunities for pupils to attend different clubs and raise funds for charities
It is a safe and happy place to learn.
The school has made recent changes to the teaching
of phonics to help pupils get off to the best start with their reading.