How has Swindon changed over time?

Through a series of five enquiry questions, pupils will learn how Swindon has changed from prehistoric times to the 21st century.

Each question has a PowerPoint presentation of information plus a series of supporting enquiries and activity sheets to help pupils discover more about Swindon’s history and embed their learning.

Our Local History series is proudly produced in partnership with Teacher’s Pet. We’d also like to thank Swindon Local Studies Library for their help and kind permission to use their images.

Downloads

Teaching ideas

By investigating the development of the town chronologically, pupils will be able to look for similarities, differences, and changes over time throughout the whole history of the town. They will gain an understanding of how the town they live in today has been shaped, and continues to be shaped, by the place itself and the people who have lived in it.

Each of the following questions is designed to enable pupils to use enquiry techniques to discover for themselves how their local history relates to the national history of Britain.

The Swindon Local History Teaching Overview describes the specific learning outcomes for each of the activities listed below. You can also download our ‘Essentials’ for extra resources that can be used with all five questions, such as a word mat, glossary, teacher cheat sheet and much more.

Question 1 - Who were the first people to live in the Swindon area?

  • Early Swindon - PowerPoint Presentation
  • Coate Stone Circle Comparison Activity
  • Groundwell Ridge Artefact Analysis Activity

Extended Task: What other Roman discoveries have been made near Swindon?

Question 2 – What impact did the Goddard family have on Swindon?

  • Goddard Family - PowerPoint Presentation
  • Residents in 1673 Activity
  • 1773 and Modern Map Activity

Extended Task: Can you find out more about the Lawns estate? What is it like today?

Question 3 – What was the impact of the railways on Swindon?

  • Swindon’s Railway Heritage - PowerPoint Presentation
  • Swindon Population Activity
  • Census Data Activity

Extended Task: Can you learn more about an important Swindon building that is associated with the railway?

Question 4 – How did the World Wars impact Swindon?

  • Swindon World Wars - PowerPoint Presentation
  • Research A War Hero Activity
  • Comparing the World Wars Activity

Extended Task: Can you learn more about the work that the GWR Works did during the wars?

Question 5 – How has Swindon changed since World War 2?

  • Swindon Post 1945 - PowerPoint Presentation
  • Visit Swindon Booklet Activity
  • Swindon Comparison Photography Activity

Extended Task: Can you find photographs of your street or neighbourhood and see what’s changed?

Learning aims and outcomes

  • To learn about changes in Britain from the Stone Age to the Iron Age
  • To make inferences from archaeological evidence
  • To investigate aspects of local history and how it relates to a national story
  • To develop a sense of pride in where they live
  • To develop skills in chronology using timelines and historical information
  • To create reasoned and evidentially supported judgements
  • Establish clear narratives within and across the periods studied

Prior knowledge

  • No prior knowledge is required, all information is provided.
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