Year 8 History
What will my child study in History during Year 8?
In Year 8 we study the following topics, which are broken down into enquires with an overarching big question:
- Migration through time – through key case studies
- Ideas, political power, industry and Empire, 1745-1901
Industrial Revolution: what was it?
Industrial Revolution: was it all doom and gloom?
- Depth Study: Mughal India 1526-1857
- Depth Study: India under British rule – the Legacy of the British rule of India
- Why was Tommy Atkins stuck in a trench in 1914
- How G.R.E.A.T was Wavell’s WWI?
Note: There will be ongoing changes to the content of Year 8 2024-25.
How will my child be assessed and how will I know how well they are doing in History in Year 8?
- Work in this subject is assessed regularly as classwork and homework tasks.
- Formal assessments take place half-termly or at the end of a topic of study (not all enquiries have a formal assessment).
- Work is marked diagnostically with clear targets, time is given for feedback and improvement.
- Parent’s are informed of Progress through Progress Reviews home.
What homework will my child be expected to do in Year 8 in History?
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Homework is set fortnightly. Students are expected to spend around 30 minutes on their homework task, depending on what sort of task the teacher has set. Homeworks include - spellings, Revision e.g. gap fill tasks, Topic Tool Boxes, research, questions and projects (some extended ones).
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The aim of setting fortnightly homework tasks is to facilitate students learning in lessons and to extend their literacy levels. Completing homework independently helps students to develop the skills which they will need to have mastered by the time they begin GCSE History, as they are required to be organised and punctual with their work.
How can I support my child to do well in History during Year 8?
- Check that homework is being done.
- Encourage the use of any additional resources for information, for example the library, the Internet, videos/ documentaries/ films
- Encourage students to develop their knowledge of historical events by reading around the subject.
What equipment may my child need in addition to the standard school equipment?
- In addition to standard equipment expected for all lessons, colouring pencils, pencils and a 30cm ruler will also be needed. Highlighters are recommended.
By the end of the year, what would an 'expert' be able to do in History?
- Have an increased depth of factual knowledge and understanding.
- Describe and make links between features of past societies and periods.
- Make links between causes and consequences of events and changes.
- Explain the reasons why there may be different interpretations of the past.
- Explore criteria for making judgements about the historical significance of events, people and changes.
- Investigate historical problems and issues, asking and beginning to refine their own questions.
- Evaluate sources to establish relevant evidence for particular enquiries.
- Select, organise and deploy relevant information and make appropriate use of historical terminology to produce structured work.
My child is struggling during the course, what additional help is available to help them keep up?
- Lessons and sequences of lessons are designed to build knowledge and skills – there are clear scaffolds
- Work is differentiated in lessons
- 1:1 support is given in lessons and LSA deployed where available in lessons
- Students are given the chance to practice writing skills before an assessment and get formative feedback
- Students may ask for word banks/ mats, keywords lists or pre-reading to use at home
- BBC Bitesize and SAM Learning can be very useful
Updated July 2024
