Welcome to History at Chesswood

We hope you enjoy exploring the Chesswood History Curriculum content. Below are examples of some of the wonderful activities we have been enjoying inside and outside school. If you want to explore the curriculum in more depth, please click on the 'Also In This Section' menu for knowledge organisers and more.  

south downs for all project

At the end of term a group of children were selected to take part in a tour exploring local history in Worthing, led by local historian Chris Hare. The children visited a range of sites and found out some amazing facts about our town.

Did you know that there used to be a lake in Homefield park that was fed by the stream that runs beneath the train track?

Did you know that, during WW2, a fighter plane crash-landed off of Lyndhurst road and two women, who lived in the house, narrowly escaped?

Did you know that, during WW2, our beach had large barriers made of barbed wire and that a section of the pier had to be blown up as a precaution against the German army landing.

It was a really amazing trip and the children will continue to work with Chris next academic year.

You can find out more about the South Downs For All Project by clicking on the following link: https://southdownsforall.org.uk/ 

 

year 6's ww2 day - celebrating their hard work after sats

After all of their incredibly hard work, the year 6 children were able to enjoy an activity packed WW2 day. They had a visit from local historian Chris Hare who gave them a talk on Worthing during the war. One of our children spotted her nan's house that had previously been bombed in one of the photos that was shared. We then had a wonderful opportunity to handle and view some original artefacts such as warden helmets, ration books, shrapnel, gas masks and much much more. We also had a visit from two WW2 vehicles that the children were able to sit in. We ended the day with scones and cream whilst listening to some Lindy Hop of course.

A massive thank you to Pat and Vivien Carroll for lending us the vehicles and resources - it truly was a fantastic experience for the children.

 

year 5's worthing town trail history trip

Year 5 had a wonderful time visiting Worthing Museum to explore local artefacts and try on some historical fashions - very glamorous! They also followed a historical trail around Worthing where they noted important historical locations such as Steyne Gardens, the Dome Cinema, the Town Hall and the Connaught theatre. We certainly have a very historical town!

 

 

Year 6 are evacuated to michelham priory 

As par t of our WW2 topic, the children were evacuated to Michelham Priory which is a stately home that housed a group of evacuee children during WW2. The children got to experience what life was like in this wonderful home for the evacuees. 

 

year 3's worthing museum stone age to the iron age workshop

The children had a visit from Worthing Museum who brought along a range of artefacts for them to explore. Pupils became archaeologists as they carefully dug and found a range of items to identify. 

 

Year 4's Saxon trip to weald and downland

Year have been learning about the Saxons and got to visit the Weald and Downland Museum in Sussex. The children tried their hands at chopping wood, exploring traditional homes and tried on some traditional clothing.  

 

Research project Celebration

A huge well done to Isla (3DH), Frankie (3HG), Jess (3HG), Lola (3HG), Holly (3KM), Hrishaan (3LB), Isabella (3LB), Theo (3TH),    Skye (3DH), Hridishtitha (4CR), Rachel (4MP), Josie (6RW) and Sydney (6BP) for completing the History task celebrating heritage and the people of colour who are making history today. It was lovely to learn about the wonderful history of your families and to see how well you researched the people you wanted to celebrate. 

Click on the images below to see more.

  

                

                        

                        

 

Research project

The children have enjoyed a set of assemblies recognising Black British people who have made history as part of Black History Month. We'd like to take the opportunity to explore our local and wider community of people of colour who are making history right now. Please see the poster below to find out more.

 

 

War Graves Week task update

Thank you to all children who took part in this. I hope you and your families found the activity interesting.

A huge well done to William in 6MH and Lilly and Hazel in 6BP for the further research they completed to find out more about the servicemen. 100HP to you three!

Also, congratulations to the following children for completing the task sheet and earning themselves 50HP!

Isla and Ghenmar in 6BP

Annie in 6MH

Nastia in 6RW

 

War Graves Week

                                                                         

                                                            Image Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Our year 6 children are celebrating War Graves week (21st-28th May). Sarah Nathaniel from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission filmed a fascinating assembly where classes could take a look at the lives of Noor Inayat Khan and Josef Frantisek to idenfiy what skills and talents these incredible individuals possessed through our ACRO task (Attitude Creativity Relationships and Organisation). The children were then introduced to a research project on local war graves and we can't wait to see what they find out. 

      

If you are interested in War Graves Week then click on the link below for a variety of resources. There is an activity on the homepage where you can enter your postcode and see the ex-service staff who lived on your street. You don't have to be year 6 to take part in our project - all families can also complete the task above and explore the lives of the casualties on Worthing War Memorial.

 https://www.cwgc.org/our-war-graves-your-history/war-graves-week/

Our wonderful ww2 day! 

Chesswood's year 6 children were really fortunate to have a visit from Viv and Pat Carroll who brought in their amazing collection of items and vehicles from the second World War. We planned evacuee letters, completed a code breaking challenge and then ended the day with scones, cream and jam to toast VE Day. 

                   

                 

 

 

Fantastic entries!!!! 100hp

A huge well done to Jasper in 6RW for his interview with his Nan. It was lovely to see them keeping in contact and sharing what they both know of Chesswood and the areas surrounding. Did you know that there used to be a swimming pool in Heene Road or that our school field was a stables? 

 

Another big well done goes to Buddy in 6RW for his interview with a family friend. It was really interesting to hear about schooling for her - how would you feel sharing a class with children of really mixed ages? She told Buddy that a big difference from her childhood to childhood today was having more freedom to play in areas such as the Downs that had less traffic nearby when she was growing up.

Due to lockdown we are going to extend this activity until the end of February half term - it would be so nice to see more of your interviews so that we can get an idea of what our town used to be like and how it compares to the places our relatives grew up in. See the activities below for ideas on what you can make.

calling all young historians!!!

complete one of our Lockdown activities to earn 100 housepoints.

 

Chesswood Junior School have teamed up with South Downs Schools Living History Project to create two festive activities for over the lockdown period. You can earn 100 housepoints by submitting a well thought out  and carefully presented entry. We can't wait to see your amazing work! 

                 

   

 

Welcome to History at Chesswood

To explore the Chesswood Art and Design Curriculum content; see examples of all the great learning that goes on and to access knowledge organisers, please use the menu options. 

The history curriculum at Chesswood seeks to help pupils gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. It inspires pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. Teaching equips pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. History helps pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as their own identity and the challenges of their time.