1. A general history of the community
Advantages
- Can build a sense of place enhancing pupils’ awareness of how the place they live in as developed over time, thereby adding to their chronological knowledge.
- You can cover a range of aspects so you don’t need to leave anything out if you lack detailed resources on any one aspect you can spread existing resources over a wider time span.
Disadvantages
- Can lack shape and focus.
- Resources in terms of general histories tend to be written for adults not children.
- Requires maturity and chronological awareness for pupils to be able to see the ‘big picture’.
- It can seem very bitty to pupils without an overarching narrative.
2. A specific event in the locality.eg. the Great Fire at Warwick
Advantages
- Clear focus in terms of both content and disciplinary knowledge e.g. explaining causes and consequences.
- Excitement at realising something significant happened in their town / village.
- Resources tend to be easier to access.
Disadvantages
- Often difficult to find sufficient material pitched at the right level so that pupils can enquire independently.
- May be at expense of a broader range of aspects of the locality’s past.
