A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 28 September
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 28 September?
- 1066 William of Normandy lands at Pevensey to invade England
William, Duke of Normandy, landed at Pevensey in Sussex with a fleet of around 600 ships. - 1106 Henry I captures his brother Robert at the Battle of Tinchebray
King Henry I of England invaded Normandy and fought the army of his older brother, Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy. - 1746 Born: William Jones
Sir William Jones was a British scholar of languages and a judge. - 1781 The Siege of Yorktown begins in the American War of Independence
American and French forces, backed by a French fleet, began a siege of British troops at Yorktown. - 1912 Nearly half a million people sign the Ulster Covenant
The Ulster Covenant was a solemn promise signed by nearly 500,000 people in Ulster, on and before this day. - 1928 Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming noticed that a mould growing in his laboratory was killing bacteria. - 1972 Canada beats the Soviet Union in ice hockey's Summit Series
Canada's ice hockey team beat the team from the Soviet Union to win the Summit Series. - 2023 The famous Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian's Wall is cut down
The Sycamore Gap tree grew in a dip beside Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1066 | William of Normandy lands at Pevensey to invade England | 2026 − 1066 = | |
| 1746 | Born: William Jones | 2026 − 1746 = | |
| 1912 | Nearly half a million people sign the Ulster Covenant | 2026 − 1912 = | |
| 1972 | Canada beats the Soviet Union in ice hockey's Summit Series | 2026 − 1972 = |
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!
- The Siege of Yorktown begins in the American War of Independence
- Nearly half a million people sign the Ulster Covenant
- Henry I captures his brother Robert at the Battle of Tinchebray
- William of Normandy lands at Pevensey to invade England
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin”?
- A. 1963
- B. 1928
- C. 1781
In which year did this happen: “William of Normandy lands at Pevensey to invade England”?
- A. 1106
- B. 1066
- C. 1746
Which of these happened first?
- A. The famous Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian's Wall is cut down
- B. Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
- C. William of Normandy lands at Pevensey to invade England
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 28 September. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1066 → 960 years; 1746 → 280 years; 1912 → 114 years; 1972 → 54 years.
Order: 1 = William of Normandy lands at Pevensey to invade England (1066), 2 = Henry I captures his brother Robert at the Battle of Tinchebray (1106), 3 = The Siege of Yorktown begins in the American War of Independence (1781), 4 = Nearly half a million people sign the Ulster Covenant (1912).
Quiz: 1. B (1928); 2. B (1066); 3. C (William of Normandy lands at Pevensey to invade England).