“The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.” Theodore Rosevelt.

A lack of historical knowledge prevents people from truly understanding the world they live in. The study of history teaches students to think in a critical fashion to question what they read and hear and to appreciate that there may be other points of view just as worthwhile as their own .

At Langholm Academy History Department we aim 

• To foster an understanding of the themes of continuity and change
• To develop an understanding of the social, political and economic explanations and consequences of key periods in the past
• To develop an awareness of time and sequence
• To be able to describe and analyse key events from the past
• To develop an awareness of historiography and debate
• To encourage feelings of empathy

 

Teaching Methodologies

• History courses lend themselves to a wide range of teaching activities and pupil learning experiences. The courses are designed to stimulate pupil learning through well-paced and demanding lessons. This involves a combination of teacher exposition to introduce new ideas followed by independent pupil work, paired work on evaluating the importance or reasons for events, group Work with emphasis on research and presentation as well as ICT Resource based learning.

 

Assessment

• The purpose of homework in the History Department is to reinforce learning in school as well as give practice in historical skills
• It is given when appropriate to do so as determined by the class teacher and is a relevant part of learning.
• Assessment across all year groups and courses involve informal mid unit assessments, vocal responses, formal written extended responses and end of unit of unit tests.

S1/S2 History 

In S1 and S2 History pupils will experience the subject as part of a Combined Social Subjects Course. Topics included will cover aspects of World and Scottish History. These will focus on Witchcraft in Scotland in the Early Modern Period, the Scottish Wars of Independence, Slavery in the USA and Life in Germany in the 1930s. Pupils will also be introduced to foundation History skills looking at source types, offering their opinion and placing sources in context. Debate and discussion is encouraged throughout.

S3 BGE

Pupils will develop their skills further in S3 looking at the importance of studying History as a discrete subject. S3 BGE aims to enhance their use of evaluation and comparison skills as well as encouraging interest and a sense of empathy around studying the past. Independent learning is emphasised as a core skill and pupils will have opportunity to illustrate this in both assessment methods and teaching activities. The use of primary sources is especially important in S3 and this is shown in newspapers, cartoons, film material as well as reports and speeches. Pupils will have the opportunity to assess their value and offer an opinion concerning the context.

In S3 History pupils will study a range of topics covering World and Scottish History including a focus on why women were awarded the Vote with particular attention paid to the Scottish experience. We will also examine war and conflict looking at the Cold War as well as undertake personal investigations and the assassination of JFK.

 

National 4/5 History

• At Langholm Academy the National Units we study examine the growth of the civil rights movement in America after the First World War to 1969 and covering topics looking at Immigration to America, the inequality in the Southern States, the protest events leading to the Washington March and the split of the movement from 1965 into more violent approaches. We also study the Scottish experience of the First World War examining the Front line experience of soldiers, the Homefront and the Impact of War on the Scottish economy and politics. Lastly, we study British History examining the impact of the industrial revolution on Transport, Coalmining, Textiles and Democracy.
• As well as knowledge and understanding pupils are taught source techniques and also undertake an Assignment which is an independent body of research.

 

Higher History

• At Higher level we study the development of British identity through the growth of democracy, the welfare state and the right to vote. We also study Italian History looking at the growth of nationalism, the formation of the Italian nation and the rise of Fascism. Our Scottish History Unit focusses on the process of migration within Scotland, the experience of Immigrants in Scotland as well as the impact of Scots across the globe.
• Pupils are assessed through extended responses, short answer evaluation techniques and also undertake an Assignment.

 

Pupil feedback  

“History is such a good subject. The topics you learn may not sound interesting at times, but as you go through them they actually are. You can work as a team and individually which is great. History is a really good National 5 subject which I would highly recommend” (National pupil)

“History has been a subject that I have stuck with and would be interested to continue with in the future. In National 5 History you never get bored. I have thoroughly enjoyed the national course and got an A on my prelim result as it’s something I genuinely enjoy studying.”(National pupil)

“It is a subject that teaches you loads of other skills that are useful in other subjects. There is a very positive atmosphere ” (Higher pupil)

“It is an enjoyable subject that has helped me gain confidence in other areas such as English or RMPS. The topics that are taught are extremely interesting and easy to write about and remember.” (Higher Pupil)

Social StudiesBenchmarksPDF

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