Humanities

Humanities subjects like History, Geography, and RE are a big part of primary education because they help children learn about people, places, and different ways of life. They give pupils the chance to ask questions, think for themselves, and understand how the world works.

 

History

History in primary education helps children understand how people lived in the past and how those events have shaped the world today. It encourages curiosity, thinking skills, and a sense of identity. By studying history, children learn to ask questions, look at different points of view, and make sense of changes over time. In the primary phase, they might explore topics like the Great Fire of London, Ancient Egypt, the Romans, the Victorians, or World War II. These topics bring the past to life and help children see how history connects to their own lives and the world around them.

At HATO, we believe that trips and real-life experiences are a great way to help children learn more about history and really understand what they're studying. School trips to museums or significant buildings, dress-up days or taking part in fun workshops, helps bring the past to life. It gives pupils the chance to see real objects, ask questions, and get a better feel for what life was like in different times, making their learning more exciting and memorable.

Geography

Geography in primary school helps children learn about the world, from their local area to faraway places, and how people and the environment are all connected. To make learning more fun and real, we do extra activities like Outdoor Classroom Day and enrichment clubs like SAGE club (Science, Art & Geography explorers). This gives pupils the chance to get outside, explore nature, use maps, and see how geography works in real life. It’s a great way to help them enjoy the subject and understand it better.

Fieldwork is a key part of learning geography because it gets children outside to explore the world around them. It helps them see things for themselves, like how a river flows or what their local area looks like on a map. By doing things like observing, asking questions, and collecting information, pupils get a better understanding of what they’ve learned in class. It also helps them build useful skills like working together, noticing details, and thinking for themselves.