United Kingdom · National Curriculum Attainment Targets
Year 6 History
Key Stage 2 History Year 6: studying ancient civilisations including Egypt, Greece, and the Maya, alongside a local history study of a post-1066 site, aligned with UK National Curriculum attainment targets.
Ancient Egypt: Life and Death on the Nile
Investigating one of the world's earliest and greatest civilisations: the pyramids, pharaohs, and everyday life along the Nile.
Understanding why the River Nile was essential to Egyptian civilisation and how it shaped farming, building, and trade.
Exploring the great pyramids, the role of pharaohs as god-kings, and the hierarchical society they ruled.
Investigating Egyptian beliefs about death, mummification, and the journey to the afterlife.
Learning about the complex writing system of Ancient Egypt and the vital role of the scribe in administration.
Examining the roles of women, from ordinary farmers to powerful queens like Hatshepsut and Cleopatra.
Ancient Greece: Democracy and Philosophy
Studying Greek civilisation and its lasting influence on democracy, philosophy, art, and modern life.
Comparing the democratic city-state of Athens with the military society of Sparta.
Exploring Greek mythology, religion, and the original Olympic Games and what they meant to Greek society.
Investigating the conflict between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire, including the Battle of Marathon.
Discovering the origins of tragedy and comedy and the importance of the theatre in Greek civic life.
Discovering how ancient Greek ideas about democracy, philosophy, science, and theatre still shape our world.
The Maya: Cities in the Rainforest
Studying the ancient Maya of Central America: their cities, calendar, writing system, and mysterious decline.
Discovering the Maya civilisation in the rainforests of Central America: their cities, rulers, and achievements.
Exploring the Maya writing system, their invention of zero, and their remarkably accurate calendar.
Understanding the religious and social significance of Pok-ta-pok, the ancient Maya ball game.
Investigating how the Maya farmed in the rainforest and the importance of cacao and maize.
Investigating why the great Maya cities were abandoned and what theories historians have about their collapse.
The Big Picture: Comparing Civilisations
Drawing connections and contrasts between Egypt, Greece, and the Maya to understand the nature of human civilisation.
Exploring what the great ancient civilisations had in common: writing, cities, religion, and social hierarchy.
Comparing how Egyptians, Greeks, and Maya understood their gods, death, and the meaning of life.
Comparing the building techniques of the Pyramids, the Parthenon, and Maya temples.
Thinking about the big patterns of history: why empires grow, peak, and eventually decline.
Local History: Our Story Since 1066
Investigating a local site or building that dates from after 1066, connecting national history to our own community.
Introducing a local castle, church, or historic building and finding out when and why it was built.
Using maps, photographs, and records to trace changes to the site across different periods of history.
Researching the individuals who lived or worked at the site and what their lives were like.
Reflecting on the importance of preserving local history and connecting it to the bigger story of Britain.
The Victorians: A Turning Point in British History
Exploring the massive changes in industry, empire, and daily life during the reign of Queen Victoria.
How steam power and factories changed Britain from a rural to an urban nation.
Comparing the lives of rich and poor children, from chimneysweeps to the first state schools.
Investigating how Britain became the world's leading power and the impact of the Empire on other countries.
Looking at how the railway, the telephone, and medical advances changed the world.
Evaluating the legacy of the Victorian period as Britain entered the 20th century.