Until recently, history was sometimes seen as being inapprop riate for young children. Increasingly, however, teachers are discovering that children enjoy finding out about the past, and that teaching history can be an integral part of good practice. Parts 1 and 2 of the book explore the context for teaching history in the early years, including sections on *understanding change over time *interpretations of the past *deductions and inferences from sources. Parts 3, 4 and 5 present a range of practical strategies and activities through which teachers can work to develop children's historical thinking. Part 3 concentrates on organisation, planning and assessment, including how history can be related to other areas of the curriculum and cross-curricular themes. Also in Part 3 is a detailed section on planning a unit of study, which offers step by step guidance for busy teachers. Part 4 looks at how these strategies can work in practice, through four case studies: *Year2/3 - Memories of Childhood: The Victorians *Year 2 - A Class Museum *Year 1 - Castles * Children with sever learning difficulties - A Victorian Kitchen. The final part presents some examples of inservice workshops through which teachers can develop their own curricula, based on the needs and strengths of their own schools, on the resources of their own localities and on their own interests and those of their children and their families.

'History in the Early Years is a timely response to a real need to support curriculum co-ordinators in primary schools. Hilary Cooper has succeeded in the difficult task of writing a text which provides the necessary theoretical underpinning of good practice and sufficient practical help to translate principles into memorable experiences and valuable outcomes...this book rings with a biblical authority on the subject and adds to the stature of this already highly regarded series.' - Times Educational Supplement

'This second book by Hilary Cooper is a pleasure to read ... at present it is the most thorough study of History at Key Stage 1. ... highly recommended.' - Teaching History

'History in the Early Years... is the most recent text with a thorough overview of research and practical suggestions for teaching all aspects of history to young children.' - Teaching History