A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 15 May
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 15 May?
- 1532 The English church submits to the king of England in passing a convocation in…
- 1602 Early English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold arrived on Cape Cod in present-day…
- 1836 English astronomer Francis Baily observed Baily's beads, a phenomenon during a…
- 1862 Fertilisation of Orchids, the first book by Charles Darwin which demonstrated…
- 1945 The British Army directed fleeing Croatian soldiers to surrender to the…
- 1948 Following the expiration of The British Mandate for Palestine, the Kingdom of…
- 1987 Born: Andy Murray
- 2004 Arsenal became the first football team in England's top flight to finish a…
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1532 | The English church submits to the king of England in passing a convocation in… | 2026 − 1532 = | |
| 1836 | English astronomer Francis Baily observed Baily's beads, a phenomenon during a… | 2026 − 1836 = | |
| 1945 | The British Army directed fleeing Croatian soldiers to surrender to the… | 2026 − 1945 = | |
| 1987 | Born: Andy Murray | 2026 − 1987 = |
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!
- Early English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold arrived on Cape Cod in present-day…
- Fertilisation of Orchids, the first book by Charles Darwin which demonstrated…
- The English church submits to the king of England in passing a convocation in…
- English astronomer Francis Baily observed Baily's beads, a phenomenon during a…
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Arsenal became the first football team in England's top flight to finish a”?
- A. 1862
- B. 2004
- C. 1948
In which year did this happen: “The British Army directed fleeing Croatian soldiers to surrender to the”?
- A. 1862
- B. 1945
- C. 1909
Which of these happened first?
- A. The British Army directed fleeing Croatian soldiers to surrender to the
- B. English astronomer Francis Baily observed Baily's beads, a phenomenon during a
- C. Arsenal became the first football team in England's top flight to finish a
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 15 May. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1532 → 494 years; 1836 → 190 years; 1945 → 81 years; 1987 → 39 years.
Order: 1 = The English church submits to the king of England in passing a convocation in… (1532), 2 = Early English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold arrived on Cape Cod in present-day… (1602), 3 = English astronomer Francis Baily observed Baily's beads, a phenomenon during a… (1836), 4 = Fertilisation of Orchids, the first book by Charles Darwin which demonstrated… (1862).
Quiz: 1. B (2004); 2. B (1945); 3. B (English astronomer Francis Baily observed Baily's beads, a phenomenon during a).