History at key stages 1 and 2 (Year 3/4)

Unit 18: What was it like to live here in the past?
Section 1: What is our area like today?

Objectives

Children should learn:

that a map is a representation of an area
to recognise some features in the local area, and to locate them on a map
that an area may contain a mixture of old and new buildings

Activities

Outcomes

Children:

Prepare a large simplified map of the area, with a picture of the school as its central point, and collect photographs of nearby buildings or features that the children will recognise. Ask the children what they know about the area and mark on street names. Put the photographs in their correct places on the map.

Use the pictures as a basis for an introductory discussion about how the buildings are used and who uses them. Ask the children to sort the buildings into 'old' or 'new', giving reasons for their choice. Use this as an opportunity to discuss what is meant by 'old'.

identify features in their area on the large map
use features of buildings to infer their use and who owned them
categorise buildings as 'old' or 'new'

Points to note

Identify an individual building or a group of buildings, such as a street or row of shops. Select buildings which are easily and safely accessible from school, which will interest children, and which have a range of available supporting material for a particular date or dates in the past, eg old photographs, maps, newspaper cuttings.

Take photographs of local buildings, using digital technology if available. Make sure they include a variety of different types of buildings that the children will recognise, eg shops, schools, churches, garages.

If possible, lay the large map out flat on the floor or on a table, rather than upright.

Remember when looking at 'old' and 'new' that some buildings are multi-period.

These activities have important connections with a geographical local study.

Sections in this unit

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This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.


	1. What is our area like today?
	2. How can we use maps to explore how our area has changed?
	3. What can local buildings or sites tell us about the past?
	4. What do pictures and photographs tell us about past life in our area?
	5. Which written sources can we use?
	6. How can oral sources help us to find out about how people lived?
	7. What was it like to live in our area in the past?