Year 6 History

Understanding why the River Nile was essential to Egyptian civilisation and how it shaped farming, building, and early settlements.

Exploring the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt and the establishment of the first pharaohs and dynasties.

Exploring the role of pharaohs as god-kings, their divine authority, and their responsibilities to the people.

Investigating the engineering marvels of the pyramids, their construction techniques, and their purpose.

Investigating Egyptian beliefs about death, the process of mummification, and the journey to the afterlife.

Exploring the pantheon of Egyptian gods and goddesses, their roles, and the purpose of their grand temples.

Learning about the complex writing system of Ancient Egypt and the vital role of the scribe in administration.

Investigating the homes, food, clothing, and leisure activities of ordinary Egyptians across different social classes.

Examining the roles of women, from ordinary farmers to powerful queens like Hatshepsut and Cleopatra.

Exploring the distinctive styles of ancient Egyptian art, sculpture, and the significance of their jewellery.

Discovering the practical inventions and technological advancements of ancient Egypt, from irrigation to papyrus.

Investigating the factors that led to the eventual decline and conquest of ancient Egypt, including foreign invasions.

Understanding the geography of Greece and how it led to the development of independent city-states.

Investigating the origins and practices of Athenian democracy and its impact on civic life.

Comparing the democratic city-state of Athens with the militaristic society of Sparta.

Exploring Greek mythology, the Olympian gods, and how myths explained the world to ancient Greeks.

Investigating the origins, rituals, and significance of the original Olympic Games in Greek society.

Investigating the conflict between the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire, including key battles.

Discovering the origins of tragedy and comedy and the importance of the theatre in Greek civic life.

Introducing key Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and their contributions to thought.

Exploring the distinctive styles of Greek art, the principles of classical architecture, and famous sculptures.

Investigating the conquests of Alexander the Great and the spread of Greek culture across a vast empire.

Discovering the Maya civilisation in the rainforests of Central America: their cities, rulers, and achievements.

Exploring the grand Maya cities like Tikal and Chichen Itza, their pyramids, and ceremonial centres.

Exploring the Maya writing system, their invention of zero, and their remarkably accurate calendar.

Investigating how the Maya farmed in the rainforest and the importance of cacao and maize.

Exploring Maya gods, cosmology, and the importance of rituals and ceremonies in their daily lives.

Understanding the religious and social significance of Pok-ta-pok, the ancient Maya ball game.

Investigating the daily routines, social structure, and roles of different people in ancient Maya society.

Investigating why the great Maya cities were abandoned and what theories historians have about their collapse.

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.

Comparing the development and use of hieroglyphs, alphabets, and logograms in ancient civilisations.

Introducing a local castle, church, or historic building and finding out when and why it was built.

Learning to use primary and secondary sources like maps, photographs, and documents to research local history.

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.

Connecting the specific history of our local site to broader events and trends in British history since 1066.

Introducing Queen Victoria, her long reign, and the key characteristics of the Victorian era.

How steam power and factories changed Britain from a rural to an urban nation.

Investigating the rapid growth of cities, the challenges of overcrowding, poverty, and disease, and early reforms.

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.

Exploring how Victorians spent their free time, from music halls to seaside holidays and new sports.

Exploring the popular art movements and influential authors of the Victorian era, such as Dickens and the Pre-Raphaelites.