A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 30 June
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 30 June?
- 1598 Anglo-Spanish War: After a 15-day siege Spanish troops in San Juan, modern-day…
- 1643 Royalists loyal to King Charles I led by the Earl of Newcastle defeat…
- 1685 Born: John Gay
- 1817 Born: Joseph Dalton Hooker
- 1860 The 1860 Oxford evolution debate at the Oxford University Museum of Natural…
- 1894 Tower Bridge, a combined bascule and suspension bridge over the River Thames…
- 1954 Born: Stephen Barlow
- 1983 Born: Cheryl
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1598 | Anglo-Spanish War: After a 15-day siege Spanish troops in San Juan, modern-day… | 2026 − 1598 = | |
| 1685 | Born: John Gay | 2026 − 1685 = | |
| 1860 | The 1860 Oxford evolution debate at the Oxford University Museum of Natural… | 2026 − 1860 = | |
| 1954 | Born: Stephen Barlow | 2026 − 1954 = |
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!
- Anglo-Spanish War: After a 15-day siege Spanish troops in San Juan, modern-day…
- The 1860 Oxford evolution debate at the Oxford University Museum of Natural…
- Royalists loyal to King Charles I led by the Earl of Newcastle defeat…
- Tower Bridge, a combined bascule and suspension bridge over the River Thames…
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Tower Bridge, a combined bascule and suspension bridge over the River Thames”?
- A. 1894
- B. 1643
- C. 1954
In which year did this happen: “Anglo-Spanish War: After a 15-day siege Spanish troops in San Juan, modern-day”?
- A. 1860
- B. 1643
- C. 1598
Which of these happened first?
- A. Royalists loyal to King Charles I led by the Earl of Newcastle defeat
- B. Anglo-Spanish War: After a 15-day siege Spanish troops in San Juan, modern-day
- C. Tower Bridge, a combined bascule and suspension bridge over the River Thames
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 30 June. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1598 → 428 years; 1685 → 341 years; 1860 → 166 years; 1954 → 72 years.
Order: 1 = Anglo-Spanish War: After a 15-day siege Spanish troops in San Juan, modern-day… (1598), 2 = Royalists loyal to King Charles I led by the Earl of Newcastle defeat… (1643), 3 = The 1860 Oxford evolution debate at the Oxford University Museum of Natural… (1860), 4 = Tower Bridge, a combined bascule and suspension bridge over the River Thames… (1894).
Quiz: 1. A (1894); 2. C (1598); 3. B (Anglo-Spanish War: After a 15-day siege Spanish troops in San Juan, modern-day).