The national curriculum for history aims to ensure that all pupils: 

• Know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day: how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world.

KS1

• Pupils should develop an awareness of the past, using common words and phrases relating to the passing of time. 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.

KS2

• Pupils should continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history, establishing clear narratives within and across the periods they study.

Year 1

Chronological Understanding

Grandfathers Chest (Childhood then and now).

Sequence events in their life

Sequence 3 or 4 artefacts from distinctly different periods of time

Match objects to people of different ages.

Year 2

Chronological Understanding

Communication then and now.

Sequence artefacts closer together in time

Sequence photographs etc. from different periods of their life

Describe memories of key events in lives.

Year 3

Chronological Understanding

Prehistoric Britain.

Place the time studied on a timeline

Use dates and terms related to the study unit and passing of time

Sequence several events of artefacts.

Year 4

Chronological Understanding

British History Heroes.

Place events from period studied on a timeline

Use terms related to the period and begin to date events

Understand more complex terms e.g. BC/AD

Year 5

Chronological Understanding

Crime and Punishment.

Know and sequence key events of time studied

Use relevant terms and period labels

Make comparisons between different times in the past.

Year 6

Chronological Understanding

Medicine and Disease.

Place current study on a timeline in relation to other studies

Use relevant dates and terms

Sequence up to 10 events on a timeline.