Sweden Year 3 History Curriculum

This course entry details aspects of the Swedish History curriculum, focusing on Year 3. It is derived from the official curriculum document published by Skolverket (Swedish National Agency for Education).

Fundamental Values and Tasks of the School

The Swedish education system emphasizes democratic values, respect for human rights, and the equal value of all people. The school promotes understanding, compassion, and empathy, actively combating discrimination. Education is adapted to each pupil's needs and promotes lifelong learning. The curriculum emphasizes objectivity, open discussions, and critical thinking.

Overall Goals and Guidelines

The curriculum aims to instill norms and values, fostering ethical standpoints based on human rights and democratic values. It promotes respect for others, empathy, and care for the environment. Knowledge acquisition is paramount, with goals for proficiency in Swedish and English, mathematical reasoning, problem-solving, digital literacy, and cultural understanding. Pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their studies and participate in democratic processes.

Year 3 History: Core Content within Social Studies

History in Year 3 is taught within the broader context of social studies, which also encompasses geography and religion. The core content for social studies in Year 3 includes:

• Living Together: Exploring depictions of life past and present through various media, including children's literature, songs, and films. Understanding the causes and consequences of migration, and discussing life issues like friendship, gender roles, and relationships. Learning about norms and rules in different environments, including digital spaces, and understanding traffic rules for safety.
• Living in the Neighborhood: Examining the local environment's influence on population and settlements, including land, water, and climate. Investigating local history through places, buildings, and objects, and learning about the role of Christianity and other religions in the community. Understanding key societal functions like healthcare, emergency services, and schools, as well as local occupations and activities.
• Living in the World: Learning about continents, oceans, and countries on the globe. Exploring human origins, migration, and the development of agriculture. Understanding different historical periods like the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. Learning about traces of the past in language and nature. Exploring narratives from mythology and religions like Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Discussing environmental issues, basic human rights, and the organization of meetings. Learning about money and its uses, and exploring current social issues in different media.
• Exploring Reality: Developing methods for searching and assessing information from various sources, including interviews, observations, and measurements. Developing spatial understanding using maps and concepts like place, location, and boundaries. Working with timelines and understanding time concepts like past, present, and future.

Knowledge Requirements for Year 3 Social Studies

By the end of Year 3, pupils should be able to describe and give examples of simple relationships in society and history based on their experiences and explorations. They should be able to make simple comparisons between life past and present, discuss important issues, and understand basic human rights and the rights of the child. They should also be able to gather information through simple interviews, observations, and polls, and use maps and other tools to understand spatial relationships. They should be able to discuss social questions and use timelines to represent events over time. They should also be able to describe places of worship and relate them to religions practiced in the local area, giving examples of religious ceremonies, symbols, and narratives. They should be able to retell parts of narratives from the Bible and different myths.

This information provides a comprehensive overview of the History component within the Year 3 Social Studies curriculum in Sweden.