A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 25 February
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 25 February?
- AD 138 Emperor Hadrian chooses Antoninus Pius to rule after him
Roman emperor Hadrian adopted Antoninus Pius as his son and chose him as the next emperor. - 1843 A British captain takes over Hawaii without permission
Royal Navy captain Lord George Paulet made the King of Hawaii, Kamehameha III, sign an agreement, then set himself up as part of a new government. - 1866 Miners find the Calaveras Skull, later shown to be a hoax
Miners in Calaveras County, California, found a human skull. - 1870 Hiram Revels becomes the first African American in the US Congress
Hiram Rhodes Revels took his seat in the United States Senate, representing the state of Mississippi. - 1939 The first Anderson shelter is put up in a London garden
As part of Britain's air raid precautions, the first Anderson shelter was built in a garden in Islington, north London. - 1943 Born: George Harrison
George Harrison was an English musician who became world famous as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. - 1951 The first Pan American Games open in Buenos Aires
The first Pan American Games opened in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after being delayed by the Second World War. - 1991 The Warsaw Pact is brought to an end
At a meeting in Budapest, Hungary, the members of the Warsaw Pact agreed to end their alliance.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| AD 138 | Emperor Hadrian chooses Antoninus Pius to rule after him | 2026 − 138 = | |
| 1866 | Miners find the Calaveras Skull, later shown to be a hoax | 2026 − 1866 = | |
| 1939 | The first Anderson shelter is put up in a London garden | 2026 − 1939 = | |
| 1951 | The first Pan American Games open in Buenos Aires | 2026 − 1951 = |
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!
- A British captain takes over Hawaii without permission
- Hiram Revels becomes the first African American in the US Congress
- Miners find the Calaveras Skull, later shown to be a hoax
- Emperor Hadrian chooses Antoninus Pius to rule after him
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “A British captain takes over Hawaii without permission”?
- A. 1917
- B. 1943
- C. 1843
In which year was George Harrison born?
- A. 1917
- B. 1841
- C. 1943
Which of these happened first?
- A. The first Anderson shelter is put up in a London garden
- B. Emperor Hadrian chooses Antoninus Pius to rule after him
- C. A British captain takes over Hawaii without permission
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 25 February. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 138 → 1,888 years; 1866 → 160 years; 1939 → 87 years; 1951 → 75 years.
Order: 1 = Emperor Hadrian chooses Antoninus Pius to rule after him (AD 138), 2 = A British captain takes over Hawaii without permission (1843), 3 = Miners find the Calaveras Skull, later shown to be a hoax (1866), 4 = Hiram Revels becomes the first African American in the US Congress (1870).
Quiz: 1. C (1843); 2. C (1943); 3. B (Emperor Hadrian chooses Antoninus Pius to rule after him).