Year 1 History – Toys through time
In Year 1, the children have been developing their early historical skills by exploring the theme of toys through time. Their learning was guided by a series of enquiry questions that helped them think like young historians:
- What are our toys like today?
- What are other people’s toys like?
- How can we tell these toys are old?
- Have children always played with the same toys?
- What were our grandparents’ toys like and how do we know?
Through discussion, hands‑on exploration and lots of curiosity, the children compared a range of toys from the past and present. They sorted toys into ‘old’ and ‘new’, looking closely at materials, design and how they worked. This helped them talk confidently about what has stayed the same over time and what has changed.
To bring all their learning together, the children designed and created their own toys from the past, thinking carefully about how to make them look authentic. They then proudly set up their very own toy museum, showcasing their creations and sharing what they had learned.


