Children Doing History

Roman life in 21st-century Harrogate History is an evidence-based, problem-solving discipline that brings us face to face with people and societies from the past. In actively making sense of historical situations children construct their own histories, that is, they 'do history', with the teacher's guidance.

Doing history requires children to understand human behaviour in the past. It is a creative and interpretive art that draws on both the imagination and on logical deduction.

In creating their histories children draw on historical sources which they study in depth. At the heart of doing history is interacting with texts of all types and forms, from official documents and fictional stories to maps, pictures and objects. (As an example, see the History Mysteries on the Exeter University website.)

The Project's seven key principles form the basis for doing history with children.