A first attempt at implementing the 2014 history curriculum in Year 2

The chance to pilot the new National Curriculum presented me with the opportunity I was looking for to revamp a tired Year 2 curriculum. I began teaching in Year 2 two years ago, having previously spent five years working in Key Stage 2. As in many other schools across the country, the same topics were being taught year on year, based broadly on suggestions from the QCA and accompanied by various Magic Granddad videos. So old are these videos that the child actors have now reached adulthood.

Because of the hectic nature of teaching, there had never been the opportunity or breathing space from a packed calendar to question why these topics were being taught or how relevant they were to our children. During my first year working in Year 2, I worked hard to develop the topics inherited and to ensure the learning intentions were suitably challenging and the activities devised engaging...