News Blog

When teaching History at Woodford Green Preparatory our aim is to make the connections from a child’s individual knowledge and experience with the events and lives of others in the past.  The field of History is not just about ploughing through endless written texts.  It is about seeking evidence, making interpretations and forming questions from a plethora of resources, such as artefacts, artworks, architecture, music, poetry and maps.  One of the most insightful resources being the narrative of family, neighbours and friends.

Interpreting what is being communicated supports the development of critical thought, a skill so essential in the information overloaded wider society that pupils of today are presented with.  Is ‘fake news’ only a modern phenomenon?  History is so much more than an endless list of significant dates to be memorised.  A task that is so arduous when there is little understanding of the context.     

Woodford Green Preparatory School have created an art installation around Remembrance 2018, using the poppy as the central theme and our recycled old style uniform as the main medium.   The subject of war is never easy to discuss.  However, through the design and generation of meaningful art, an opportunity is presented to facilitate thought on the challenging themes of sacrifice, heroism, obedience and loss.  Discussions motivated some pupils to produce independent writing for the British Legion’s Thank You campaign.  Year 6 produced an evocative canvas around their study of the poem In Flanders Field.   

The Remembrance project is on display in School and can be viewed at our Open Afternoon Talk and Tour, Friday 9^th November 2018, see our website for further details www.wgprep.co.uk

Mrs Sharon Kaner

History Subject Leader at Woodford Green Prep School