Big History Exploration with FLS Key Teachers
Terri Thompson and Nicky Johnson
At FLS we make learning meaningful and memorable. Our Big History curriculum ensures that all learning is cross-curricular and interdisciplinary. It is a three-year curriculum that begins with the Big Bang, the creation of the solar system, and our own Planet Earth millions of years ago. Children learn about “Goldilocks conditions” and the chemical elements that came together to create stars and our own beautiful planet. They discover that life began in the oceans and gradually moved onto the land. They learn about bacteria, fungi, and the amphibians and reptiles that were the first living things on our planet before the mammals and dinosaurs arrived. They learn about how humans have evolved as a species, discovering the human body and all its systems to enable us to thrive, and how our ability to communicate has enabled humans to develop civilizations and technologies.
As the curriculum moves towards the present day, children explore ancient civilizations around the world and consider how climate and topography have influenced settlements and migration. They learn about key events in global history the impact that these have had on different people and how they have influenced our own lives. They learn to understand events from different perspectives and compare their own life to those of their ancestors. Big History is delivered skilfully by the FLS teachers, incorporating every subject area when relevant to the topic: science, geography, history, religious studies, literacy, maths, art, music… Children sometimes work independently, but also in groups, working on different Big History projects which they then present at the end of term, sharing their knowledge and understanding. Through this project work, children design, build, write, create and explore the topic, whilst developing their collaborative working skills, problem-solving, critical thinking, and often resilience when things don’t quite go to plan.
Big History Workshops at FLS - Mondays 09:45 – 12:15
Next term the children will be entering the Medieval World, the era known as The Middle Ages, which lasted from the 5th to the 15th centuries. They will learn about the Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Vikings, and the territories they invaded following the fall of the Roman Empire, learning what was happening globally during these years. They will learn what medieval society was like and how the majority of the population lived as peasant farmers, living in huts made of wattle and daub, with a thatch roof but no windows. They will learn about the skilled craftmanship of carpenters, blacksmiths and tailors and how trade was a key part of town life, with goods such as iron, wool, salt and agricultural products being commonly bought and sold. They will explore life in medieval castles and the feudal system, and how children were educated – mainly in farming or in monasteries. This exploratory unit of work will incorporate creativity, group projects, building, literacy, history, geography, art, music, and religious studies. It will end with learning about one of the greatest battles in history – The Battle of Hastings, in 1066, and William of Normandy being crowned King of England on Christmas Day.