History: Blog items
🌟 Heritage Week Adventure: Year 2 Visit Showtown! 🎡🏖️
Date: 7th Jul 2026 @ 3:29pm
As part of our Heritage Week celebrations, Year 2 enjoyed an exciting trip to Showtown in Blackpool to discover how Blackpool became one of Britain's most popular seaside resorts. 🌊☀️
During our visit, we travelled back in time to learn why people first started visiting Blackpool. We explored how families would come to enjoy fresh sea air, relax on the beach and experience the many attractions that made Blackpool famous. 🎠🎭
At Showtown, we saw fascinating exhibits all about Blackpool's rich entertainment history. We learned about the famous Blackpool Tower, traditional seaside holidays, spectacular shows, and the exciting amusements that have delighted visitors for generations. 🎪✨ We also discovered how entertainers and performers helped make Blackpool a favourite destination for families from all over the country.
One of our favourite activities was learning about how beach clothing has changed over the years. We were amazed to discover that, many years ago, people wore very different swimming costumes. Some women even went swimming in heavy wool dresses! 👗🌊 We compared these outfits to the lighter and more practical swimwear that we wear today.
Back at school, our learning continued as we explored how famous Blackpool rock is made. 🍭 We tasted some unusual and interesting flavours and discussed which ones we liked best. Inspired by what we had learned, we then designed our own Blackpool rock with colourful patterns and creative flavour ideas. 🎨🍬
Year 2 had a wonderful time discovering Blackpool's history and learning how seaside holidays have changed through the years. It was a fantastic way to celebrate Heritage Week and bring our learning to life! ⭐🏖️🎡
Date: 7th Jul 2026 @ 2:50pm
Acorns have been exploring the question " What do we do/need when we go to the beach?".
We have had lots of fun exploring this through multi sensory activities, songs and tasks. We have been creative, making shell castles using flour sand, scooping and pouring and matching items we need for the beach or a sunny day in the garden. Have a look at our fun afternoon.
Date: 7th Jul 2026 @ 9:58am
As part of our annual whole-school Heritage Day, Year 5 explored the history of our local area by investigating the key question: Who is Shelly Woods and why is she important to our local area? The children learned about Shelly Woods, a Paralympic wheelchair racer from Layton, Blackpool, who has represented Great Britain and won medals on the world stage. We discussed the challenges she has overcome, including living with a disability, and explored the qualities of perseverance, resilience and determination that helped her achieve success. Through discussions, fact-file writing and inspirational speeches, the children reflected on why Shelly is an important local role model and how her achievements have created a positive legacy for Blackpool.
Nursery Compare Seaside Holidays Past and Present
Date: 6th Jul 2026 @ 8:33pm
As part of our whole-school Heritage Week, Nursery enjoyed learning about seaside holidays in the past and comparing them with seaside trips today. We looked at photographs and talked about the similarities and differences we could spot, such as the clothes people wore, the activities they enjoyed and the ways families travelled to the seaside.
The children shared their own experiences of visiting the beach and were excited to discover that some things, such as building sandcastles and paddling in the sea, have remained popular for many years!
To continue our learning, the children helped to dress two teddies for different seaside visits. One teddy was dressed for a warm summer day at the beach, while the other was dressed for a cold winter visit. The children talked about the different clothes needed for each season and explained their choices thoughtfully.
It was wonderful to see the children developing their understanding of the past while having lots of fun exploring seaside holidays through discussion, comparison and play.
Date: 17th Jun 2026 @ 8:24pm
In our second WWII lesson, we explored the question: Why were children evacuated, and what was the experience really like?
The children worked in pairs, each with a real evacuee memory. They spoke to others on their table to gather different experiences, then judged each one as positive (+1 to +3) or negative (-1 to -3), noting key details.
We discovered that evacuation experiences were very mixed—some children were happy and well cared for, while others felt scared or lonely. We ended by discussing the stories that shocked us most, helping the children build empathy and a deeper understanding of life during the war.
Date: 14th Jun 2026 @ 12:20pm
Year 3 made an exciting start to their new history topic this week, learning all about the events leading up to World War II. The lesson was full of curiosity, thoughtful discussion, and a great deal of engagement from the children.
To begin, we revisited the concept of chronological order. The children took part in a practical table activity where they worked together to organise events into the correct sequence. This helped to refresh their understanding of how historians place events in time and see how one moment can lead to another. It was fantastic to see such teamwork and careful thinking as they discussed and justified their choices.
Building on this, the class moved on to explore the key steps that led to the outbreak of World War II, focusing on the actions of Adolf Hitler. Through age-appropriate discussion and resources, the children began to understand how decisions and events over time can have significant consequences.
A particularly thought-provoking part of the lesson was when the class considered the idea of appeasement. Together, we explored the different viewpoints—looking at reasons why some people supported appeasement, as well as arguments against it. The children showed great maturity in sharing their opinions and listening respectfully to others, demonstrating excellent critical thinking skills.
It was a brilliant first lesson that sparked plenty of interest and questions. We are looking forward to continuing our journey through this important period in history and discovering even more together. Well done, Year 3, for your enthusiasm and fantastic effort!
Date: 10th Jun 2026 @ 6:50pm
🏛️ Year 6 Trip to Manchester Museum 🚌
Year 6 had an amazing day out visiting the Manchester Museum, packed full of exciting discoveries, hands-on learning and fascinating history. From ancient worlds to living creatures, there was something for everyone to enjoy – and it truly was a great day enjoyed by all! 😊
🐫 Ancient Egypt Adventure
One of the highlights of the trip was exploring the Ancient Egypt gallery. We saw real mummies, beautifully decorated coffins and artefacts that are thousands of years old! 🏺
Pupils were fascinated to learn about how the Egyptians lived, their beliefs about the afterlife, and how mummification worked. It felt like stepping back in time!
🌍 Discovering the Natural World
In the Natural World section, children explored exhibits all about habitats, animals, and our planet. 🌱🐾
They learned about biodiversity and how different species adapt to survive. There were lots of interactive displays which made learning fun and engaging!
🦖 Fossils and Dinosaurs
The fossils and dinosaurs gallery was a big hit! 🦕🦴
We saw enormous dinosaur skeletons and real fossils, giving us a glimpse into life millions of years ago. Pupils loved identifying different dinosaurs and imagining what the Earth was like in prehistoric times.
🏮 Chinese and Asian Culture
Another fascinating part of the museum focused on Chinese and wider Asian cultures. 🎎
We explored traditional clothing, art, and objects, learning about different customs and ways of life. It was a fantastic opportunity to understand and celebrate cultures from around the world.
🐸 A Visit to the Vivarium
The Vivarium was definitely one of the most exciting areas! 🦎🐍
We saw a variety of live animals, including frogs, lizards, and fish. Some were brightly coloured, while others were masters of camouflage. It was incredible to see these creatures up close!
🌟 A Day to Remember
The trip to Manchester Museum was a wonderful experience for everyone. Pupils were curious, enthusiastic, and eager to learn throughout the day.
We returned to school with lots of new knowledge, great memories, and plenty to talk about. A huge thank you to the staff and helpers who made this trip possible!
👏 Well done Year 6 – what a fantastic day! 🌟
Year 5 - History - Ancient Greek Artefacts
Date: 30th Mar 2026 @ 5:23pm
Today, Year 5 explored a fascinating selection of Greek artefact replicas. The children examined a model of the Parthenon frieze, a monkey‑shaped perfume bottle, and a terracotta oil lamp, along with several other intriguing objects. Each artefact helped us deepen our understanding of life in Ancient Greece and sparked lots of curiosity and discussion.
Year 2- Birch's Adventure to Blackpool Zoo!
Date: 27th Mar 2026 @ 11:23am
🌟 Year 2 Adventure to Blackpool Zoo! 🌟
What an exciting day our Year 2 children had on their fantastic trip to Blackpool Zoo! 🐾🌍 From the moment we arrived, the children’s faces lit up with curiosity and enthusiasm, ready to explore the wonderful world of animals.
🦁 Amazing Animal Encounters
We enjoyed discovering a huge variety of animals—majestic lions, mischievous monkeys, towering giraffes, and many more! The children were full of brilliant questions and loved sharing what they’ve been learning in Science about animal groups and habitats. Their knowledge really shone through! ✨
🐧 A Day Filled with Learning and Wonder
As we moved around the zoo, the children had plenty of opportunities to make connections to their classroom learning. They impressed us with their observations, teamwork, and wonderful behaviour throughout the day. All the adults were incredibly proud! 😊
🔍 Spotting Braille Around the Zoo
One unexpected highlight was how many children excitedly noticed Braille signs around the zoo. 👀
This linked perfectly to our current History unit, where we’ve been learning all about significant people who changed the world—including Louis Braille.
The children loved being able to spot real-life examples of Braille and explained confidently how it helps people with visual impairments access information. What a fantastic way to deepen their understanding beyond the classroom! 🌈📚
🚌 A Brilliant Day Out
After a full day of exploring, learning, and lots of walking (and snacking! 😄), we headed back to school tired but happy. It was a day filled with memories, discovery, and excitement.
Thank you to all the staff who supported the trip—and to you, our parents and carers, for your continued support. ❤️
We can’t wait for our next adventure together!
Date: 18th Mar 2026 @ 1:56pm
For together time, we carried on our history learning. We started with a quiz all about Louis Braille to see what facts we could remember. We then tried to decode messages that were written in braille. We found this challenging and spoke about how long it would take to learn to read and write in braille. We then used what we had learnt to write our names using braille. Throughout our learning we have spoken about how important braille’s creation was and how it has supported blind people for many years.
Date: 12th Mar 2026 @ 12:15pm
This morning, Year 3 enjoyed an energetic and engaging musical assembly from the Travelling by Tuba duo. Designed to inspire pupils across the primary range, the session delivered exactly that. The performers introduced a fascinating collection of unusual wind and brass instruments—many completely new to the children—and filled the hall with humour and captivating storytelling.
Pupils were taken on a musical journey around the world, encountering remarkable instruments such as the Chinese dragon‑headed trumpet, the Swiss alpine horn and giant Tibetan dungs. The children were amazed by their size and unique sounds, and the duo’s lively delivery kept everyone thoroughly entertained.
Year 3 especially enjoyed joining in with rhythms, actions and musical challenges. The performance also reinforced learning across music, history, geography and science, creating a rich cross‑curricular experience. The children left the hall buzzing with excitement and eager to share their favourite moments from this memorable musical adventure.
Year 4 - Did Ancient Egyptians write anything down?
Date: 12th Mar 2026 @ 8:53am
This week, we looked at how we know about Ancient Egyptians and what evidence they left behind. Ancient Egyptians wrote in hieroglyphics and historians decoding this version of the writing to find things out about them. We found out that not everyone could write. People who could were called scribes and they had to go to school to learn how to do it.
Year 4 - Introduction to Ancient Egypt
Date: 23rd Feb 2026 @ 3:52pm
This week, we spoke about what we already know about Ancient Egypt then for the rest of the lesson we looked at what we could quickly find out about them. We went on an ‘information run’ where we had to go and find a new piece of information out about Ancient Egypt and take it back to our groups and share it. We when shared all these findings together as a class and added them to our class mind map. Next, we were given a scene from Ancient Egypt and we had to find the things which were the odd one out because they didn’t exist in Ancient Egyptian times.
Here’s what we found out about during the lesson:
- They had mud houses with flat roofs.
- They had lots of gods.
- It started 5000 years ago and lasted for 3000 years.
- They used tools to make flour for bread.
- They had a calendar the same as us and it has 365 days (but it was solar).
- Their river is called the river Nile, and it will helped grow their crops.
- They wrote using hieroglyphs.
- They invented paper (Papyrus).
- Pharaohs were kings who were in charge
- Kings did not have any crowns
- They did not have Oak trees
- So many people that lived in Ancient Egypt usually lived next to the river Nile because it went from the top to the bottom and they need the water to water their crops
- The Great Pyramid took 5000 men to build
- They did not have any electronics.
- They fished with nets
Date: 16th Jan 2026 @ 11:28am
🛡️ Year 6 Blog: Discovering the Real Vikings 🛶
This week, Year 6 have been exploring how archaeological excavations have changed what we think about the Vikings. 🏺
Instead of imagining them only as fierce warriors, we learned that digs have revealed homes, tools, jewellery, and even everyday items that tell a very different story.
🔍 What Excavations Have Taught Us
Archaeologists have uncovered Viking villages, longhouses and workshops. These discoveries show that Vikings were:
- 👩🌾 Farmers who grew crops and kept animals
- ⚒️ Craftspeople skilled in metalwork and woodwork
- 🌍 Traders and explorers who travelled far across the world
These finds help us understand that Viking life was full of family, farming, building, and trading—not just raiding!
🪙 Artefacts We Looked At
We also studied a selection of Viking artefacts in class. Looking closely at objects like:
- 🗡️ Tools and weapons
- 💍 Jewellery and brooches
- 🧴 Everyday items like combs and pottery
…gave us a clearer picture of how Vikings lived, dressed, and worked.
✨ What We Learned
By exploring both excavations and artefacts, we now have a much richer and more accurate understanding of Viking life. It’s amazing how much a single object can reveal about the past!
Date: 13th Jan 2026 @ 3:56pm
Year 6 Start Their French Unit on Vikings!
This term, Year 6 are starting an exciting new topic in French – Les Vikings! They will learn words and phrases about Viking life, such as ships, warriors, and homes, all in French.
The children will also learn how to describe:
- Hair colour
- Hair length
- Eye colour
This is a great way to learn French while exploring history. By the end of the unit, Year 6 will be able to talk about Viking life – en français!
Date: 6th Jan 2026 @ 2:41pm
Year 6 kicked off their new history topic this week with an exciting first lesson on the Vikings ⚔️.
The children explored who the Vikings really were beyond the stereotypes, discovering their origins in Scandinavia and the reasons they travelled across the seas. They also began to piece together how the Vikings fit into the wider story of British history 🇬🇧, from early raids to settlement and cultural influence. It was a brilliant start to the unit, full of curiosity, questions, and plenty of enthusiasm for what’s to come next
Date: 27th Nov 2025 @ 9:56am
In this lesson, children explored oracy skills by immersing themselves in the story Cave Baby. After listening to the book, pupils became different characters from the story, such as Cave Baby, the mammoth, and the parents. They used key phrases from the text alongside their own imaginative ideas to bring the narrative to life through role play. This activity encouraged expressive language, turn-taking, and active listening, while promoting confidence in speaking. By adopting character perspectives, children practiced using tone, gesture, and vocabulary effectively, deepening their understanding of the story and enhancing their ability to communicate creatively.
Date: 25th Nov 2025 @ 1:52pm
Year 5 have been studying the Anglo-Saxons this half term. They have learned about when and why the Anglo-Saxons settled in Britain, the different tribes they came from, and what everyday life was like during this period. The class also explored how their beliefs changed over time, learning how the Anglo-Saxons moved from pagan traditions to Christianity and how this transformation affected their culture and society.
They have investigated how the Anglo-Saxons defended their land against repeated Viking raids and invasions, discovering the key battles, leaders, and strategies that shaped this turbulent period. They also learned how the ongoing conflict eventually led to the creation of the Danelaw, an area of Britain ruled by the Vikings but influenced by both cultures.
This week, the children examined the growing threats the Vikings posed over several centuries — from early coastal raids to full-scale invasions — and considered how these challenges impacted Anglo-Saxon communities and the development of early England.
Date: 21st Nov 2025 @ 4:09pm
👨👩👧 Year 6 Together Time
This week, we welcomed our parents and carers into Year 6 for a special Together Time session. It was a fantastic opportunity to share all the hard work we’ve been doing since September.
To make it fun and interactive, we organised a quiz covering everything we’ve learned in class so far. From maths and reading to history and science, the questions gave our families a real taste of the wide range of topics we’ve explored. Everyone joined in with great enthusiasm, and it was brilliant to see parents and carers working alongside us, testing their knowledge and celebrating how much we’ve achieved. The quiz sparked lots of laughter and proud moments, showing just how far we’ve come this term.
Together Time was a wonderful way to connect home and school, and we’re already looking forward to the next chance to share our learning journey.
Year 3 - History Museum Loan Box
Date: 19th Nov 2025 @ 4:56pm
This week, we had an exciting opportunity to dive deeper into our History topic through a museum loan box, filled with fascinating artefacts from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. The children were captivated as they explored each item up close, discussing what it might have been used for and how life would have been very different thousands of years ago.
Inside the box, we examined a range of tools and everyday objects, including an antler tool, sewing kit, hand axe, blades and scrapers, fire kit, sickle, spoke shave, pot, coins, bone needle, and a purse. The children were especially intrigued by how people created tools from natural materials and used them for hunting, preparing food, building shelters, and making clothing.
This hands-on experience really helped us visualise how early humans lived, survived, and adapted. The artefacts sparked brilliant discussions and thoughtful questions, showing just how engaged the children are with this topic.
We look forward to continuing our journey through prehistoric Britain over the coming weeks!
Date: 17th Nov 2025 @ 6:27pm
Today we began our History journey by developing our understanding of what toys are like today. Together, we worked to distinguish old and new toys and sorted them by colour, shape and material. We then thought more indepth about our favourite toys, how they work and why we enjoy playing with them.
Date: 11th Nov 2025 @ 4:43pm
Today, Year 3 have been learning all about Remembrance Day. We started by talking about what we already know and why we have Remembrance Day each year. We remembered that it is a special time to think about and honour the soldiers who have fought and died for our country, helping to keep us safe and free.
In art, we created some beautiful gestural drawings of poppies in our sketchbooks. We practised using different lines and shapes to show movement and detail. After that, we chose our favourite poppy design and created a final piece on black card, using chalk and oil pastels to make our poppies bright and bold. The colours really stood out, and everyone worked so carefully to add lots of detail.
This morning, we planted our poppies together and took a quiet moment to remember the fallen soldiers. It was a peaceful and thoughtful time for all of us.
Later, we joined the whole school for our Remembrance Service. We listened carefully as the Year 6 readers told us all about the meaning of Remembrance Day and why the poppy is such an important symbol.
We are very proud of how respectful and reflective everyone in Year 3 was today. Our poppies now stand proudly as a reminder of those who have given so much for us.
Date: 11th Nov 2025 @ 11:15am
Today, Tuesday 11th November, each pupil from Boundary Primary School made and planted their poppy in the school Remembrance Garden. On each poppy they had written the name of a soldier who had died in the First World War. Afterwards, the school took part in a service where the pupils remembered these soldiers and others who had sacrificed their lives in past and present conflicts. The service was led by Year 6 and Reverend Peter. The pupils also had further opportunities to reflect as they took part in a whole school art week based around the theme of poppies, using different techniques, such as collage, print and sketching.
Date: 7th Nov 2025 @ 9:18am
Children in Year 5 have been looking at Remembrance and have learnt more about why the Poppy is a symbol of remembrance. They have then sketched poppies in a variety of styles and using a range of different techniques. Their final piece will be sketched onto battle field maps, flight plans or plane diagrams from World War 1 and 2. The children have also been busy making poppies that have the name of a soldier that they will keep in their thoughts when they plant them during our whole school act of remembrance on Tuesday 11th November.
Date: 6th Nov 2025 @ 5:43pm
This week, along with the rest of our school, Year 1 have taken part in a number of different activities to learn about Remembrance and why we wear poppies. We have created poppies using pastels, planted poppies as part of our Remembrance day service and written labels/sentences to share our understanding of Remembrance. We have all shown lots of respect when learning about this very important time.
