A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 22 February
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 22 February?
- 1371 Robert II becomes the first Stewart king of Scots
Robert Stewart became King of Scots as Robert II after the death of his uncle, King David II. Robert's mother, Marjorie, was the daughter of the famous King Robert the Bruce, and his father was the High Steward of Scotland. - 1632 The first copy of Galileo's famous Dialogue is printed
Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, received the first printed copy of Galileo Galilei's book Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. - 1797 The last invasion of Britain begins near Fishguard
About 1,400 French troops landed at Carreg Gwastad Point, near Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, Wales. - 1857 Born: Robert Baden-Powell
Robert Baden-Powell was a British Army officer and writer who started the Scout movement. - 1979 Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom
The Caribbean island of Saint Lucia became an independent country. - 1980 USA's young ice hockey team wins the 'Miracle on Ice'
At the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, the United States ice hockey team beat the Soviet Union 4–3. - 1997 Scientists reveal Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal
Scientists at the Roslin Institute in Midlothian, Scotland, announced Dolly, a Finn-Dorset sheep born the summer before. - 1998 A bird thought to be extinct is rediscovered in Brazil
A cherry-throated tanager was rediscovered on a farm in Espírito Santo, Brazil.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1371 | Robert II becomes the first Stewart king of Scots | 2026 − 1371 = | |
| 1797 | The last invasion of Britain begins near Fishguard | 2026 − 1797 = | |
| 1979 | Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom | 2026 − 1979 = | |
| 1997 | Scientists reveal Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal | 2026 − 1997 = |
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!
- Robert II becomes the first Stewart king of Scots
- The last invasion of Britain begins near Fishguard
- Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom
- The first copy of Galileo's famous Dialogue is printed
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Robert II becomes the first Stewart king of Scots”?
- A. 1371
- B. 1632
- C. 1797
In which year did this happen: “Scientists reveal Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal”?
- A. 1997
- B. 1371
- C. 1881
Which of these happened first?
- A. The last invasion of Britain begins near Fishguard
- B. Scientists reveal Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal
- C. Robert II becomes the first Stewart king of Scots
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 22 February. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1371 → 655 years; 1797 → 229 years; 1979 → 47 years; 1997 → 29 years.
Order: 1 = Robert II becomes the first Stewart king of Scots (1371), 2 = The first copy of Galileo's famous Dialogue is printed (1632), 3 = The last invasion of Britain begins near Fishguard (1797), 4 = Saint Lucia becomes independent from the United Kingdom (1979).
Quiz: 1. A (1371); 2. A (1997); 3. C (Robert II becomes the first Stewart king of Scots).