A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 28 August
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 28 August?
- 1290 The second treaty of Birgham is ratified in which Margaret, Maid of Norway and…
- 1609 Henry Hudson discovers Delaware Bay
- 1640 Bishops' Wars: Scottish Covenanter forces led by Alexander Leslie defeated the…
- 1789 With the first use of his 1.2-metre (3.9 ft) telescope, then the largest in…
- 1810 Napoleonic Wars: The French Navy accepts the surrender of a British Royal Navy…
- 1833 The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 receives royal assent
- 1879 Anglo-Zulu War: Cetshwayo, last king of the Zulus, is captured by the British
- 1914 World War I: The Royal Navy defeats the German fleet in 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1290 | The second treaty of Birgham is ratified in which Margaret, Maid of Norway and… | 2026 − 1290 = | |
| 1640 | Bishops' Wars: Scottish Covenanter forces led by Alexander Leslie defeated the… | 2026 − 1640 = | |
| 1810 | Napoleonic Wars: The French Navy accepts the surrender of a British Royal Navy… | 2026 − 1810 = | |
| 1879 | Anglo-Zulu War: Cetshwayo, last king of the Zulus, is captured by the British | 2026 − 1879 = |
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!
- Bishops' Wars: Scottish Covenanter forces led by Alexander Leslie defeated the…
- Henry Hudson discovers Delaware Bay
- The second treaty of Birgham is ratified in which Margaret, Maid of Norway and…
- With the first use of his 1.2-metre (3.9 ft) telescope, then the largest in…
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “With the first use of his 1.2-metre (3.9 ft) telescope, then the largest in”?
- A. 1789
- B. 1609
- C. 1879
In which year did this happen: “Bishops' Wars: Scottish Covenanter forces led by Alexander Leslie defeated the”?
- A. 1640
- B. 1290
- C. 1609
Which of these happened first?
- A. With the first use of his 1.2-metre (3.9 ft) telescope, then the largest in
- B. Napoleonic Wars: The French Navy accepts the surrender of a British Royal Navy
- C. Bishops' Wars: Scottish Covenanter forces led by Alexander Leslie defeated the
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 28 August. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1290 → 736 years; 1640 → 386 years; 1810 → 216 years; 1879 → 147 years.
Order: 1 = The second treaty of Birgham is ratified in which Margaret, Maid of Norway and… (1290), 2 = Henry Hudson discovers Delaware Bay (1609), 3 = Bishops' Wars: Scottish Covenanter forces led by Alexander Leslie defeated the… (1640), 4 = With the first use of his 1.2-metre (3.9 ft) telescope, then the largest in… (1789).
Quiz: 1. A (1789); 2. A (1640); 3. C (Bishops' Wars: Scottish Covenanter forces led by Alexander Leslie defeated the).