A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 24 February
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 24 February?
- 1303 The Scots win the Battle of Roslin
During the First War of Scottish Independence, a Scottish force led by John Comyn and Sir Simon Fraser defeated the English near the village of Roslin. - 1711 Handel's opera Rinaldo opens in London
George Frideric Handel's opera Rinaldo was first performed at the Queen's Theatre in the Haymarket, London. - 1743 Born: Joseph Banks
Joseph Banks was an English naturalist and botanist, an expert on plants. - 1809 The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, burns down
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London burned down after standing for only 15 years. - 1827 Born: Lydia Becker
Lydia Becker was a leader of the early campaign to win the vote for women in Britain, known as the suffrage movement. - 1854 The Penny Red becomes the first official perforated stamp
Penny Red stamps began to be officially issued with perforations, the rows of tiny holes that let stamps be torn apart neatly. - 1917 The secret Zimmermann Telegram is reported to the US president
Walter Hines Page, the American ambassador in London, reported the Zimmermann Telegram to President Wilson. - 1920 Nancy Astor is the first woman to speak in the House of Commons
Nancy Astor became the first woman to make a speech in the House of Commons, three months after being elected as a Member of Parliament (MP).
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1303 | The Scots win the Battle of Roslin | 2026 − 1303 = | |
| 1743 | Born: Joseph Banks | 2026 − 1743 = | |
| 1827 | Born: Lydia Becker | 2026 − 1827 = | |
| 1917 | The secret Zimmermann Telegram is reported to the US president | 2026 − 1917 = |
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!
- The Penny Red becomes the first official perforated stamp
- The Scots win the Battle of Roslin
- Handel's opera Rinaldo opens in London
- The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, burns down
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Handel's opera Rinaldo opens in London”?
- A. 1854
- B. 1303
- C. 1711
In which year did this happen: “The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, burns down”?
- A. 1854
- B. 1809
- C. 1303
Which of these happened first?
- A. The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, burns down
- B. Nancy Astor is the first woman to speak in the House of Commons
- C. Handel's opera Rinaldo opens in London
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 24 February. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1303 → 723 years; 1743 → 283 years; 1827 → 199 years; 1917 → 109 years.
Order: 1 = The Scots win the Battle of Roslin (1303), 2 = Handel's opera Rinaldo opens in London (1711), 3 = The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, burns down (1809), 4 = The Penny Red becomes the first official perforated stamp (1854).
Quiz: 1. C (1711); 2. B (1809); 3. C (Handel's opera Rinaldo opens in London).