Primary Humanities
Learning Through Enquiry
- Tony Pickford - University of Chester, UK
- Wendy Garner - University of Chester, UK
- Elaine Jackson - Formerly Chief Adviser (Primary) Trafford BC & Primary Headteacher
Enquiry processes are central to learning and teaching in both History and Geography. This book aims to demystify and justify the approaches, identifying their common features and unique attributes.
Using an enquiry-based approach as a means of exploring teaching, it combines theoretical coverage with practical examples to develop an informed and engaging survey of humanities teaching in the primary classroom. Covering issues such as planning and assessment in history and geography, using resources in teaching and exploring creative and cross-curricular approaches in humanities, Tony Pickford and Wendy Garner provide clear theory-informed guidance vital for success in the modern primary classroom.
This is essential reading for all students studying primary history and geography on primary initial teacher education courses including undergraduate (BEd, BA with QTS), postgraduate (PGCE, SCITT), and employment-based routes into teaching, and NQTs.
'This book brings together the traditions of historical enquiry and geographical enquiry. It helps to clarify the role and application of these essential skills within each subject and helps to demonstrate the strengths of the enquiry approach in both teaching and learning. It goes on to explore most helpfully and clearly the place of enquiry in primary pedagogy in relation to thinking skills, creativity, philosophy for children, learning outside the classroom and cross curricular links. Case studies are used throughout to illustrate and exemplify, and websites for resources are indicated. It is both reflective and practical and will support the more experienced classroom teacher as well as student and the newly qualified teacher in planning, teaching and assessing these significant humanities subjects through an approach which has a central place within both subjects. At its heart is the belief in children's capacities to be enquiring historians and geographers, enabling them to develop a sound base of historical and geographical knowledge and understanding'
-Lynne Dixon, Senior Lecturer in Primary Humanities
'This book successfully outlines the fundamental process of enquiry led learning in History and geography. In recognising the distinctive elements of primary geography and history, it also highlights elements where these subjects can be brought together. As well as exploring possible enquiries that can take place both inside and outside the classroom, very useful advice is given on resourcing enquiry based learning. This book successfully combines theory and practice; it helps the reader to make sense of different perspectives on theories of learning related to these subject areas. It is therefore useful to both classroom practitioners and students alike, whether it is useful reading for a masters assignment or for refining enquiry based learning in class, readers will certainly be able to identify elements useful to their needs'
-Emily Rotchell, Senior Lecturer in Primary Geography, University of Roehampton
The book successfully combines theory and practice: it helps the reader to make sense of different perspectives of theories of learning related to these subject areas. It is therefore useful to both classroom practitioners and education studies students alike. Whether you are a trainee or a practitioner, this book will develop your knowledge of how young children's understanding of place, time and community can be fostered through an enquiry-based curriculum. It will also benefit, perhaps, teachers of older children looking to encourage more independent learning in their schools.
Very helpful book - some of the ideas fed into our Humanities sessions and was a recommended text for our Whole Curriculum Studies module.
Highly recommended to our trainees. Good balance of theory and practice. Accessible and easy to navigate and relevant with its focus on cross curricular and enquiry based learning.
An essential text that adds new insight into the enquiry process in primary education. Something that can be nebulous is made clear, progressive and easy to apply. A must for primary geographers.
Delighted with this book, fits in well with our cross curricular module and is now stocked in library
A useful addition to the range of books we suggest our trainees look at.
An excellent book. Very suitable for a course I will be teaching in the autumn on primary geography/ history enquiry/ thinking skills.
An excellent resource for primary Humanities undergraduate trainees. It provides reflective opportunities for intending subject leaders.
An excellent book, this should be required reading for trainee and practising teachers. Also very useful for secondary trainees to develop understanding of progression through learning in the Humanities .
