A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 29 May
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 29 May?
- 1630 Born: Charles II of England
- 1660 English Restoration: Charles II is restored to the thrones of England…
- 1790 Rhode Island becomes the last of North America's original Thirteen Colonies to…
- 1874 Born: G. K. Chesterton
- 1929 Born: Peter Higgs
- 1954 Diane Leather became the first woman to run a mile in less than five minutes
- 1982 Pope John Paul II becomes the first pontiff to visit Canterbury Cathedral
- 1982 Falklands War: The British Army defeats the Argentine Army at the Battle of…
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1630 | Born: Charles II of England | 2026 − 1630 = | |
| 1790 | Rhode Island becomes the last of North America's original Thirteen Colonies to… | 2026 − 1790 = | |
| 1929 | Born: Peter Higgs | 2026 − 1929 = | |
| 1982 | Pope John Paul II becomes the first pontiff to visit Canterbury Cathedral | 2026 − 1982 = |
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!
- Rhode Island becomes the last of North America's original Thirteen Colonies to…
- English Restoration: Charles II is restored to the thrones of England…
- Pope John Paul II becomes the first pontiff to visit Canterbury Cathedral
- Diane Leather became the first woman to run a mile in less than five minutes
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Pope John Paul II becomes the first pontiff to visit Canterbury Cathedral”?
- A. 1959
- B. 1982
- C. 1967
In which year did this happen: “Diane Leather became the first woman to run a mile in less than five minutes”?
- A. 1982
- B. 1954
- C. 1929
Which of these happened first?
- A. Rhode Island becomes the last of North America's original Thirteen Colonies to
- B. Pope John Paul II becomes the first pontiff to visit Canterbury Cathedral
- C. Diane Leather became the first woman to run a mile in less than five minutes
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 29 May. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1630 → 396 years; 1790 → 236 years; 1929 → 97 years; 1982 → 44 years.
Order: 1 = English Restoration: Charles II is restored to the thrones of England… (1660), 2 = Rhode Island becomes the last of North America's original Thirteen Colonies to… (1790), 3 = Diane Leather became the first woman to run a mile in less than five minutes (1954), 4 = Pope John Paul II becomes the first pontiff to visit Canterbury Cathedral (1982).
Quiz: 1. B (1982); 2. B (1954); 3. A (Rhode Island becomes the last of North America's original Thirteen Colonies to).