A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 13 January
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 13 January?
- 27 BC Octavian hands power back to the Roman Senate
Octavian, Julius Caesar's adopted heir, made a show of giving his powers, provinces and armies back to the Roman Senate. - 1822 Greece adopts its blue and white national flag
The first national assembly of Greek revolutionaries, meeting at Epidaurus, adopted a national flag for Greece. - 1888 The National Geographic Society is founded
A group of 33 explorers and scientists met at a club in Washington, DC, to start a society to spread knowledge about geography. - 1926 Born: Michael Bond
Michael Bond was an English author who created Paddington Bear. - 1942 Henry Ford patents a car made from soybean plastic
Car maker Henry Ford patented a car made almost entirely of plastic, fixed to a metal frame. - 1969 Led Zeppelin release their first album in the United States
English rock band Led Zeppelin released their first album, also called Led Zeppelin, in the United States. - 1972 Bernice Gera wins the right to umpire professional baseball
Bernice Gera won a court case against a professional baseball organisation, which had treated her unfairly because she was a woman. - 1993 Born: Max Whitlock
Max Whitlock is an English gymnast and the most successful gymnast in British history.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1822 | Greece adopts its blue and white national flag | 2026 − 1822 = | |
| 1926 | Born: Michael Bond | 2026 − 1926 = | |
| 1969 | Led Zeppelin release their first album in the United States | 2026 − 1969 = | |
| 1993 | Born: Max Whitlock | 2026 − 1993 = |
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!
- Greece adopts its blue and white national flag
- Henry Ford patents a car made from soybean plastic
- The National Geographic Society is founded
- Octavian hands power back to the Roman Senate
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Led Zeppelin release their first album in the United States”?
- A. 1822
- B. 1969
- C. 1815
In which year was Michael Bond born?
- A. 1993
- B. 1926
- C. 1942
Which of these happened first?
- A. Octavian hands power back to the Roman Senate
- B. Henry Ford patents a car made from soybean plastic
- C. Led Zeppelin release their first album in the United States
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 13 January. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1822 → 204 years; 1926 → 100 years; 1969 → 57 years; 1993 → 33 years.
Order: 1 = Octavian hands power back to the Roman Senate (27 BC), 2 = Greece adopts its blue and white national flag (1822), 3 = The National Geographic Society is founded (1888), 4 = Henry Ford patents a car made from soybean plastic (1942).
Quiz: 1. B (1969); 2. B (1926); 3. A (Octavian hands power back to the Roman Senate).