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Topic title: Who are the British?

Year group: 7

When taught: June to July

What are we learning?

  • Who makes up ‘people of the British Isles’ and the diverse nature of those who migrated here;
  • Learn about how different empires affected the makeup of Britain.

Why is this important to know? 

  • It is important for us to understand that there has always been migration to the British Iles and that Britain has always been a multicultural society;
  • To help us understand Britain’s links to the wider world;
  • To give us background about current debates about migration and immigration;
  • To develop our chronological understanding.

Where does this link into our past and future learning? 

  • Earlier in the year we have looked at life in the Middle Ages;
  • Possible links to topics covered in primary schools particularly in relation to ancient history;
  • In year 8 we will be learning more about the British Empire and its impact on Britain and the world;
  • We will also focus on Black British history in our final topic of Year 8.

How will we be assessed on this topic?

  • The end of topic assessment will begin with a ten minute knowledge test (including some multiple choice questions, some non multiple-choice questions, a chronology task and a key word task).

What makes a strong piece of work in this topic?  What are teachers hoping to see?  

  • PEEL paragraphs to explain an answer to the topic question, using detailed evidence like the examples on the knowledge organiser show;
  • Understand concepts of change and continuity across the period;
  • Correctly understanding the chronological order of the events studied;
  • Considering how different groups in society may have experienced different time periods;
  • Use of key words regularly, as highlighted below.

What key words are there in this topic?

Quizlet: Click here 

  • ‘Alien’: medieval word for someone born abroad.
  • Asylum seeker: Someone who flees their own country in fear, and can claim the right to live somewhere else because their country of origin is not safe for them.
  • Civil rights: Right people have as a citizen. For example to be able to own property; be protected by the law; to be able to vote for the government.
  • Diversity: In this study it means when a society has different ethnicities; religions and cultures within it.
  • Emigration: when people move away from a country to live somewhere else.
  • Empire: One country ruling over a lot of other countries.
  • Equality: To be treated in the same way as other people.
  • Evidence: Facts that help us to answer our question.
  • Hypothesis: A theory against which you use evidence to test if it is accurate.
  • Immigration: when people move to another country to live.
  • Integration: becoming part of something, in this case becoming part of society.
  • Medieval: adjective to describe something from the Middle Ages (100-1450).
  • Multiculturalism: When diversity is celebrated. Different cultures and communities are encouraged to keep their own identity within society.
  • Nationality: Which country someone has a permanent right to live in.
  • Pope: head of the Catholic Church.
  • Reformation: During the Early Modern Era many Catholic Christians criticised the Catholic Church, partly for its wealth and corruption. Some of these people left the Catholic Church and became Protestant Christians. This led to lots of conflict, which was often violent.
  • Repeal: to get rid of a law.
  • Slave: A person who is owned by another. They can be bought and sold by other people, and are forced to work for no wages.

What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?

  • Study more about migration to Britain during different time periods (e.g. Vikings) – what similarities and differences do you notice between different time periods?

What wider reading can be done on this topic?

  • Black and British: A short essential history (available in the Aird library): Click here 
  • Medieval antisemitism: Click here
  • How did the British Empire affect migration?: Click here
  • Why was WORLD War One a global war?: Click here

Supporting document/links:

  • Knowledge organiser students will be given at the end of the topic to revise for the end of topic assessment.

Who are the British