A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 1 January
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 1 January?
- 1600 Scotland starts counting its new year from 1 January
Scotland decided that each new year would begin on 1 January instead of 25 March. - 1651 Charles II is crowned King of Scotland at Scone
Charles II was crowned King of Scotland at Scone Palace, near Perth. - 1801 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is created
The Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland joined to become one country: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. - 1818 Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein is published
The Gothic novel Frankenstein was published in London, without the author's name on it. - 1877 Queen Victoria is proclaimed Empress of India
Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India. - 1948 British Railways is created as the railways are nationalised
Britain's 'Big Four' railway companies were nationalised, which means the government took them over. - 1973 The UK joins the European Economic Community
The United Kingdom, Denmark and Ireland joined the European Economic Community, or EEC. The EEC was a group of countries set up in 1957 to bring their economies closer together. - 1985 The first mobile phone call is made in Britain
The first British mobile phone call was made by Michael Harrison to his father, Sir Ernest Harrison.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1600 | Scotland starts counting its new year from 1 January | 2026 − 1600 = | |
| 1801 | The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is created | 2026 − 1801 = | |
| 1877 | Queen Victoria is proclaimed Empress of India | 2026 − 1877 = | |
| 1973 | The UK joins the European Economic Community | 2026 − 1973 = |
3. Put them in order
Write 1 next to the oldest event, then 2, 3 and so on up to the newest. Use list 1 to help you!
- Scotland starts counting its new year from 1 January
- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is created
- Charles II is crowned King of Scotland at Scone
- Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein is published
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Queen Victoria is proclaimed Empress of India”?
- A. 1877
- B. 1863
- C. 1973
In which year did this happen: “The first mobile phone call is made in Britain”?
- A. 1985
- B. 1801
- C. 1776
Which of these happened first?
- A. British Railways is created as the railways are nationalised
- B. The first mobile phone call is made in Britain
- C. Queen Victoria is proclaimed Empress of India
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 1 January. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1600 → 426 years; 1801 → 225 years; 1877 → 149 years; 1973 → 53 years.
Order: 1 = Scotland starts counting its new year from 1 January (1600), 2 = Charles II is crowned King of Scotland at Scone (1651), 3 = The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is created (1801), 4 = Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein is published (1818).
Quiz: 1. A (1877); 2. A (1985); 3. C (Queen Victoria is proclaimed Empress of India).