Year One history unit on Old and New

This unit is designed for year 1. This unit introduces children to some of the key vocabulary they will need to better understand the past. It uses ‘toys, cartoons and stories to consolidate this understanding. Also, there is a focus on the meaning of ‘exploration’ and ‘invention’. It develops the following skills and knowledge from the National Curriculum:

1. Pupils should develop an awareness of the past, using common words and phrases relating to the passing of time.
2. They should know where the people and events they study fit within a chronological framework and identify similarities and differences between ways of life in different periods.
3. They should use a wide vocabulary of everyday historical terms.
4. They should ask and answer questions, choosing and using parts of stories and other sources to show that they know and understand key features of events.
5. They should understand some of the ways in which we find out about the past and identify different ways in which it is represented.
6. Changes within living memory - Where appropriate, these should be used to reveal aspects of change in national life

Lesson 1: Children are introduced to age appropriate historical vocabulary through the use of photographs.

Lesson 2: A practical activity where the children learn about invention and exploration.

Lesson 3: Children further develop their understanding of historical vocabulary through cartoons.

Lesson 4: Children use a story to further focus in on what the difference between old and new is.

Lesson 5: Children use artefacts (toys) to build their understanding of the past.

Lesson 6: Now the children switch their focus to the future and compare with the past and now.

Within this unit plan there are hyperlinks to other resources associated with the plan.