Humanities (history, geography and religious education)
Early Years Foundation Stage – Understanding the world
The educational programme for understanding the world, set out in the EYFS Framework, is delivered in our reception class in line with the Extend Reception Curriculum.
Key Stage 1 and 2 – humanities: history, geography and religious education
We follow the national curriculum for history and geography. Our curriculum for religious education is broad and balanced.
In key stage 1, we teach history and geography in line with our multi-academy trust’s ‘Extend Early Curriculum’ and we use 'Discovery RE' for religious education
In key stage 2, we follow the 'Opening Worlds' scheme to teach all humanities subjects.
Note: we introduced Opening Worlds in September 2023. The Opening Worlds' team strongly recommended for the material to be taught in sequence because each part makes the next part much more understandable. Numerous words that are explicitly taught and practised in Year 3 are then revisited in lessons in Years 4-6. If children do not have the secure knowledge of the content and vocabulary of the Year 3 curriculum this is likely to slow progress and limit enjoyment. Therefore, all key stage 2 children started with the Year 3 Opening Worlds curriculum in the 2023/24 academic year. This means in 2025-26, Years 5 and 6 are following the Year 5 curriculum. Any national curriculum content gaps as a result of changing the scheme of work were identified and have been addressed through experiential visits.
“One acid test for a curriculum is whether it enables even lower-attaining or disadvantaged pupils to clamber into the discourse and practices of educated people, so that they gain the powers of the powerful”– Christine Counsell
Humanities 2025-2026
History
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Term 1 |
Term 2 |
Term 3 |
Term 4 |
Term 5 |
Term 6 |
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Year 1 |
The past and the passing of time
Timetable and the structuring of the day Themselves, the school and technology in the past. |
Family trees
Weston in the Past
Events beyond living memory |
Significant individuals in the past
Royal families |
Significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements |
Changes within living memory.
Sequencing events |
Significant historical people, events and places in their own locality.
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Year 2 |
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The Great Fire of London |
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Significant people in the past |
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Stone Age |
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Year 3 and 4 |
Ancient Egypt |
Cradles of Civilisation |
The Indus Valley |
Persia and Greece |
Ancient Greece |
Alexander the Great |
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Year 5 |
The round city: Baghdad |
Anglo-Saxon Britain |
Vikings 1: Lady of Mercians |
Norse culture |
Changing rulers, changing worlds |
Local History |
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Year 6 |
The round city: Baghdad |
Anglo-Saxon Britain |
Vikings 1: Lady of Mercians |
Norse culture |
Changing rulers, changing worlds |
Local History |
Geography
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Term 1 |
Term 2 |
Term 3 |
Term 4 |
Term 5 |
Term 6 |
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Year 1 |
Daily weather patterns and seasonal changes |
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Describing and mapping, comparing and contrasting the world around us Field trip to Uphill |
The United Kingdom and its four countries |
Our world: the seven continents
Following maps |
Describing and contrasting a coastal town with a city. Field trips to Weston-super-Mare seafront and Bristol. |
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Learning simple compass directions and locational/directional language |
Mapping the school’s locality |
Working hard |
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Year 2 |
Physical and Human features of the UK |
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Weather in our world |
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Looking after our world |
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Year 3 and 4 |
Rivers |
Mountains |
Settlements |
Agriculture |
Volcanoes |
Climate and Biomes
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Year 5 |
Why is California so thirsty? |
Oceans |
Migration |
North and South America |
The Amazon |
Interconnected Amazon |
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Year 6 |
Why is California so thirsty? |
Oceans |
Migration |
North and South America |
The Amazon |
Interconnected Amazon |
Religious Education
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Term 1 |
Term 2 |
Term 3 |
Term 4 |
Term 5 |
Term 6 |
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Year 1 |
RE is taught through artefacts images, stories and assemblies as part of children’s ongoing continuous provision using the themes of Discovery RE. |
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Year 2
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Theme: What did Jesus teach? Is it possible to be kind to everyone all of the time?
We are learning to re-tell Bible stories that show kindness, and to explore how this makes Christians behave towards other people. |
Theme: Christmas; Jesus as a gift from God
We are learning to reflect on the Christmas story and the reasons for Jesus’ birth. |
Theme: Prayer at home
We are learning to explain what commitment means to us and to Muslims by knowing about how Muslims pray 5 times a |
Theme: Easter Resurrection
We are learning to re-tell the Easter story and understand what Jesus’ resurrection means for Christians. |
Theme: Prayer at home
We are learning to understand the special relationship between Jews and God and the promises they make to each other
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Theme: Hajj
We are learning to understand what happens during Hajj and to explore the importance of this to Muslims |
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Year 3 and 4 |
A Hindu Story: Rama and Sita |
More Hindu Stories |
Living Hindu Traditions |
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob |
Joseph, Moses and the Exodus |
The kings, the temple and living as a Jew |
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Year 5 |
Stories of the Prophets |
Living Muslim traditions |
Living Christian traditions |
Study of Two Christian sites |
The Prince who became Buddha |
Buddhist stories and teachings |
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Year 6 |
Stories of the Prophets |
Living Muslim traditions |
Living Christian traditions |
Study of Two Christian sites |
The Prince who became Buddha |
Buddhist stories and teachings |
