History in the Early Years at Minster

Helping children make sense of their world, past and present

In the Early Years at Minster, History is about children exploring the past through stories, people, events, objects and meaningful experiences. These foundations spark curiosity, build early chronological understanding and help children begin to understand how life changes over time.

History in EYFS is hands‑on, engaging and rooted in what children know—family, celebrations, special people and familiar traditions—before gradually expanding to significant events such as Bonfire Night and Remembrance Day.

What History Looks Like in EYFS

📚 Stories of the Past

Children explore stories, pictures and animations to understand events from long ago, such as:

• The Gunpowder Plot and why we celebrate Bonfire Night
• Why we mark Remembrance Day and who we remember
• Seasonal changes and how people, clothing, food and daily life differ across the year

These stories help children place events in simple sequences and begin to understand that the past was different from today.

🕰 Early Chronology

Children learn:

• That they have grown and changed since they were babies
• That events can be ordered (e.g., “first,” “next,” “then,” “now”)
• That celebrations such as Bonfire Night happen every year on the same date
• The sequence of simple events (e.g., the Gunpowder Plot story)

Through photographs, simple timelines and sorting activities, children begin to understand the passing of time.

🧠 Understanding Why We Remember

Through topics such as Remembrance, children learn:

• What a poppy represents
• That soldiers in the past helped to keep people safe
• That we honour and remember people in different ways
• That some people in history are significant because of what they did

Children take part in whole‑school events like the Remembrance Assembly, helping them understand community traditions.

🧺 Exploring the Past Through Objects

Children investigate:

• Baby toys vs toys they use now
• Old and new objects
• Clothing for different seasons now and in the past
• Images of older ways of life (e.g., older clothing, past celebrations, older technologies)

Handling and sorting these objects helps children recognise similarities and differences between past and present.

🧵 Real Experiences and Creative Learning

EYFS History is practical:

• Making poppies and wreaths
• Creating artwork linked to fireworks and Bonfire Night
• Sequencing pictures to retell the Gunpowder Plot
• Dressing for the seasons and packing suitcases
• Exploring seasonal nature changes
• Sorting and comparing toys from “baby” and “now”

These experiences build rich language and deeper understanding.

How EYFS History Links to Development Matters

Our EYFS History offer aligns closely with Development Matters, particularly the “Understanding the World” strand. Children build skills in:

✨ Playing & Exploring

• Investigating photos, artefacts and simple sources
• Asking questions about what things were like “before”

✨ Active Learning

• Remembering historical stories and vocabulary
• Recalling past experiences and comparing them

✨ Creating & Thinking Critically

• Sequencing events
• Noticing similarities and differences between past and present
• Beginning to understand cause (“Why do we celebrate Bonfire Night?”)

By the end of Reception, children recognise that:

• The past is different from now
• Events happen in order
• People in history had different roles, jobs and experiences
• Traditions and celebrations have historical origins

How EYFS History Prepares Children for Year 1

Your EYFS curriculum provides all the essential building blocks for the more formal History curriculum in Key Stage 1.

✔ Secure Foundations in Chronology

Children enter Year 1 ready to order events, use time words and recognise the passing of time.

✔ Confidence with Historical Language

Vocabulary such as past, present, long ago, then, now, before, after, change, special, important, remember prepares children for KS1 history units.

✔ Understanding of Significant Events & People

Bonfire Night and Remembrance introduce the idea of significant national events and important historical figures, preparing children for learning about people like Mary Seacole, Florence Nightingale and the Great Fire of London.

✔ Early Enquiry Skills

Through speaking, listening and investigating objects, children learn to:

• Ask questions
• Look closely at pictures and artefacts
• Make simple historical comparisons
• Explain their ideas

These are the foundations of KS1 historical enquiry.

✔ Strong Sense of Self in Time

Units like “Through the Ages” help children understand change over time, making Year 1’s progression into broader historical periods feel natural and accessible.

Our Vision for History in EYFS

We want every child to feel that history is meaningful to them.
By beginning with their own lives, their families and the traditions they recognise, we help them understand that history is all around us.

History in EYFS at Minster encourages children to be:
✨ Curious about the world
✨ Proud of their community and heritage
✨ Ready to explore bigger historical ideas in Year 1