KS1 History Report Comments (Years 1-2)

History covers chronology, knowledge of people, events and periods studied, using sources as evidence, understanding that the past is interpreted in different ways, and asking questions about cause, consequence, change and similarity.

Below are 9 sample sentences for KS1 (Years 1-2): one strength and one next step for each of the 4 comment levels (Extending / Confident / Developing / Beginning), plus a tip for families. They are a small selection from the 119 history sentences in the full pack. Copy one, then add a detail only you know about the student.

Jump to: Extending · Confident · Developing · Beginning · Writing tips

Student name Pronouns

Fills in the name and pronouns on this page. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Extending E

Strengths

When learning about the Great Fire of London, [Name] explains why the fire spread so quickly and how the city was rebuilt afterwards.

Next step

A further challenge is to make a timeline of a significant person's life, adding pictures and short captions in the right order.

Confident C

Strengths

On a simple history timeline, [Name] usually puts photographs from long ago and from recent times in the right order.

Next step

A next step is to use words such as 'long ago', 'recently' and 'now' more often when describing old and new things in history.

Developing D

Strengths

With reminders, [Name] recalls some facts about a significant person studied in history, such as Neil Armstrong and the first Moon landing.

Next step

[Name] could practise ordering three pictures, such as an old toy, a newer toy and a toy of today, on a simple history timeline.

Beginning B

Strengths

[Name] is starting to recall one or two facts about a significant person from the past, using pictures to help.

Next step

Handling old objects, such as an old iron or a wind-up toy, alongside modern ones will help [him/her/them] begin to notice how things have changed.

Support at home

A visit to a free museum, an old church or a historic street gives your child the chance to look closely at objects and places from the past.

How to write history comments for KS1 (Years 1-2)

Use the KS1 content: changes within living memory, a significant person, or an event beyond living memory such as the Great Fire of London. Name what the child can explain, not just that they took part.
Comment on comparing old and new: objects, photographs, toys or homes. 'Spots clues in a photograph that show it was taken long ago' gives families an easy activity with old family photos.
Build early historical vocabulary, such as long ago, then and now, before and after. A next step can be using one of these phrases while ordering pictures on a simple timeline.

Watch out: Avoid comments that are only a list of facts recalled. Pair knowledge with a historical skill, such as explaining why an event happened, so families see how the child thinks about the past.

The scale describes how independently the child shows the learning. Extending suits independently, applies it in new contexts and explains reasoning; Confident suits usually and with occasional support; Developing suits sometimes, or with a model or word mat; Beginning names what the child does with adult support. Show the point through one piece of learning rather than writing the scale word itself.

What History covers

In these comments, history covers these behaviours:

develops a sense of chronology and places events and periods on a timeline
knows about significant people, events and periods studied
uses sources to find out about the past and understands that the past is interpreted in different ways
asks and answers historical questions about cause, change, similarity and difference

More UK primary subjects comments

How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.