Intent
Integrating RAK History into the curriculum will ensure that students able to:
- Realise the rich history of the region and the local area.
- Make connections between the past and the present by focusing on the traditions and values of their local area.
- Actively engage with the local community through a range of different methods, for example: volunteering, history-based community projects, interviewing local citizens from the community & inviting members of the community to share their history.
- To understand the establishment of the United Arab Emirates.
- To make connections with their ancestors and to study different periods of time in RAK.
Implementation
Integration of RAK History to Moral Social & Cultural Studies will further explore knowledge of local history and will provide students with knowledge of the area in which they are living.
Students are actively encouraged to contribute to a number of ways as well as to challenge the information they are presented with.
- Students are taught through targeted differentiated small groups and mixed ability whole class lessons.
- Lessons use a variety of approaches to guide students through their understanding of historical skills, knowledge and perspectives.
- Revise and Review consolidation lessons are used to revisit previous learning and ensure Historical and English Language skills are embedded.
- Links are made with contemporary events and other subjects across the curriculum.
- RAK History actively enables students to interact with members of the community through: Oral History sessions, school trips & guest speakers from the community.
- Students will have the opportunity to use their oracy skills, written skills and creative skills to publish information to the wider community.
Impact
Students will be able to:
- Explain how cultural attitudes, values, and beliefs influence personal behaviour and the development of personal identity.
- Literacy skills are enhanced by defining key terms, developing vocabulary, and speaking and writing in an academic style.
- Connect with their local community by studying the development of trade in RAK History.
- Examine Oral History techniques by conducting interviews, research and by creating community projects.
- Become an active member of the community by volunteering.
- Have the opportunity to visit local museums and to work in collaboration with RAK historical sites and archaeologists.
Lessons per Term
Topics Covered in the Term 2
- A history of trade in RAK. The Grade 6 students will focus on the historic trade of pearls in RAK. RAK harbour was one of the busiest trading ports in the region because of its pearl industry and this is an important area for students to study as it clearly highlights the significance of RAK throughout history. ‘Suwaidi Pearls’ is a successful tourist attraction that educates people on the history of RAK and provides an abundance of knowledge on the history of the pearl industry of RAK.
Skills Developed
- Making links between subjects; making decisions based on evidence; understanding historical and social contexts and change; empathy; cause, effect and consequence; respecting cultural sensitivity and diversity; classifying information; developing awareness of time and place.
- Making connections with the local community by studying the development of RAK from the past to the present. Students will have the opportunity to focus on the history of a local establishment the ‘Suwaidi Pearls’ and they will be able to follow their journey from past to present.
- Interview techniques and writing skills.
Literacy and Numeracy
- Students will have the opportunity to develop their numeracy skills by, reading and interpreting graphs, reading and presenting numerical information.
- Students will have the opportunity to develop their literacy skills by defining key terms, using key terms and completing exam style questions.
Cross Curricular Links
- RAK History consolidates knowledge from across the curriculum including maths, English language, English literature, history, geography, journalism, global citizenship, art, music, and Theory of Knowledge.
Extra-Curricular
- The focus for Grade 6 RAK History this year will be the history of the industry. Therefore, the school has organised a trip for the Grade 6 students to go and visit Suwaidi Pearls. This will give students an amazing opportunity to be able to go and experience the history of a local business. Suwaidi Pearls do explain the history of the pearl industry during their tours, and they also explain how RAK developed during the years.
- ‘This Week in History’ is document that is shared with students every Monday in form time. ‘This Week in History’ focuses on all the big events that happened in the upcoming week to make students to reflect and observe past events. The document focuses on different themes each week, but a reoccurring theme is the local history theme ‘RAK History’. This provides students with the opportunity to engage more with the history of RAK as well as seeing what other key events happened around the world in the week ahead.
Home Learning
- A RAK History project will be set for the Grade 6 students that will give them the option to either: Promote Ras Al Khaimah to tourists by focusing on the history of RAK; interview family or friends from the local area to gain an insight into local history and also to be involved in Oral History.
Reading List and E-books
- The UAE Ministry of Education supplies a course textbook which is given to all students.
Listed below are suggested websites that provide plenty of information on RAK history.
Students are encouraged to watch videos on YouTube where relevant.
https://history.visitrasalkhaimah.com/
https://visitrasalkhaimah.com/discover/activities/suwaidi-pearls/
https://ed.ted.com/
https://thecrashcourse.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheInfographicsShow
https://www.britannica.com/place/Ras-al-Khaimah
Guide Links
