Year 1 – Toys Through Time

This half-term in History, Year 1 have engaged in an enriching exploration of toys, tracing their evolution from a century ago to the present day.

A significant highlight of our learning journey was our recent visit to Abbey House Museum, where the children gained first-hand experience of life 100 years ago. They were able to interact with a range of historical toys, allowing them to compare and contrast these with modern-day playthings. The museum’s exhibit of toys through time sparked their curiosity and inspired creativity.

Following this insightful visit, the children channelled their enthusiasm into making their own toys using recycled materials in the creative area. In addition, they have been developing their writing skills by describing the features and materials of old toys, employing a range of adjectives to enrich their descriptions.

This half-term has not only broadened their understanding of history but has also fostered creativity and critical thinking skills.

What The Student Says

“In the past, children had toys made from wood and they were not very colourful. Now, we have toys made from plastic and they are very different to toys from 100 years ago.”

“I loved seeing all the different toys at the museum. My favourite was the whipping top because my grandad played with one when he was little!”

“I enjoyed learning how toys have changed, and some toys are the same as the toys we have in the present.”

“I know that some toys from the past can look new in the present because they have been looked after. I have a toy from when I was a baby that looks old because I played with it every day.”

What knowledge and skills have been developed?

Historical skills:

  • Knowledge and understanding of events, people and changes in the past.
  • Chronological understanding.
  • Historical interpretation.
  • Organisation and communication.
  • Historical enquiry.

Key knowledge:

  • Toys can be categorised and some toys are favoured over others.
  • The toys children play with have changed overtime.
  • The materials used to make toys can help us to identify which toys are from the past, and which are from present day.
  • There are similarities and differences in the toys our grandparents played with compared to the toys we play with today.
  • Toys from the Victorian period are different to those we play with today.
  • In some ways, toys from the past are better than ours today.

What the Teacher says

This half-term, it has been a joy to see the children's love for learning history flourish. They have engaged with the topic extensively, speaking in great detail about the changes in toys over time, and demonstrating an impressive ability to identify key features that distinguish toys from the past compared to those of the present. The use of fantastic vocabulary during our class discussions has greatly complemented their learning experience. Moreover, it was delightful to observe the children applying the information they have acquired in a practical context, particularly through our continuous provision and engaging role-plays that represented life from different eras over the past century. Their enthusiasm was palpable during our trip to Abbey House Museum, where they eagerly participated in all activities and discussions, enriching their understanding of history further.

School Address:

Clapgate Primary School
10 Cranmore Drive
Belle Isle
Leeds
LS10 4AW

School Contacts:

Headteacher: Mrs Singleton
Deputy Headteacher: Miss Taylor
SENDCO: Mrs Lawton
Office: Mrs Austin, Miss Johnson, Mrs Belt and Miss Stamp
Chair of Governors: Mr Bache

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Tel: 0113 271 6700
Email: clapgate@clapgateprimaryschool.org

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