Change and Continuity

A key concept within history learning is what has stayed the same and what has changed – change and continuity. This concept allows children to get a better understanding of the passing of time and the durations involved; something young minds can struggle with. During their learning about the Tower of London, linked to their History War of the Roses topic, the children in Year 6 worked together whilst looking at maps from different periods of time and identifying what has changed and stayed the same. Significant changes include the size of London, the number of bridges and the appearance of railways. Features which children could identify as being constant, and which helped them order the maps chronologically, included the River Thames, the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral and the outlines of parks (from more recent maps).