Humanities
Geography and history topics at Argyle are planned to inspire children's curiosity about the past and about the world in which they live. In both subjects, the approach is twofold: to develop children's knowledge and their skills.
Every topic starts with a 'Big Question' to engage children's interest and encourage children to develop their own questions, to think critically and to draw on their 'Super Learning Powers' as Inquisitive Enquirers. As part of their homework, children are challenged to make models, annotate maps and research key figures - giving them the opportunity to delve deeper into a subject.
Educational visits play a key part in every topic. In geography, map and compass skills are developed in visits to Trent Park, Bonsall and orienteering on Hampstead Heath. Subject knowledge is widened through exploring our local area and visits further afield, for example, to the River Thames and Annables Farm in Hertfordshire. In history, subject knowledge and skills in interpreting primary and secondary sources are developed by visits to a wide range of museums, including the Florence Nightingale Museum, the British Museum, the R.A.F. Museum in Hendon and the Chiltern Open Air Museum.
Progression in developing skills as historians and geographers plays an important part in children's learning. From Year 1 to Year 6 children learn to order objects and events chronologically; they learn to identify information from a range of primary and secondary sources and to reflect on what life might have been like in the past. Skills in drawing and reading maps are also taught throughout school and links are made between science and geography when studying different areas.