A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 4 October
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 4 October?
- 1535 The Coverdale Bible is printed, the first complete Bible in English
The Coverdale Bible was printed, using translations into English by William Tyndale and Myles Coverdale. - 1582 The Gregorian calendar begins and ten days are skipped
Pope Gregory XIII brought in a new calendar to replace the old Julian calendar. - 1626 Born: Richard Cromwell
Richard Cromwell was the son of Oliver Cromwell. - 1853 The Crimean War begins as the Ottoman Empire declares war on Russia
The Ottoman Empire declared war on the Russian Empire, starting the Crimean War. - 1883 The Boys' Brigade holds its first meeting in Glasgow
The Boys' Brigade, started by Scottish businessman Sir William Alexander Smith, held its first meeting in Glasgow. - 1927 Work begins on carving Mount Rushmore
Sculptor Gutzon Borglum and around 400 workers began carving Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA. The giant sculpture shows the heads of four US presidents: George Washington, Thom… - 1936 Crowds block a fascist march at the Battle of Cable Street
Large crowds gathered in the East End of London to stop a march by the British Union of Fascists, led by Oswald Mosley. - 1983 Richard Noble sets a new land speed record in Thrust2
Scottish businessman Richard Noble set a new world land speed record of 633.468 miles per hour (1,019.468 km/h).
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1535 | The Coverdale Bible is printed, the first complete Bible in English | 2026 − 1535 = | |
| 1626 | Born: Richard Cromwell | 2026 − 1626 = | |
| 1883 | The Boys' Brigade holds its first meeting in Glasgow | 2026 − 1883 = | |
| 1936 | Crowds block a fascist march at the Battle of Cable Street | 2026 − 1936 = |
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 Coverdale Bible is printed, the first complete Bible in English
- The Boys' Brigade holds its first meeting in Glasgow
- The Crimean War begins as the Ottoman Empire declares war on Russia
- The Gregorian calendar begins and ten days are skipped
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Crowds block a fascist march at the Battle of Cable Street”?
- A. 1936
- B. 1582
- C. 1983
In which year did this happen: “The Boys' Brigade holds its first meeting in Glasgow”?
- A. 1983
- B. 1582
- C. 1883
Which of these happened first?
- A. The Coverdale Bible is printed, the first complete Bible in English
- B. The Boys' Brigade holds its first meeting in Glasgow
- C. Crowds block a fascist march at the Battle of Cable Street
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 4 October. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1535 → 491 years; 1626 → 400 years; 1883 → 143 years; 1936 → 90 years.
Order: 1 = The Coverdale Bible is printed, the first complete Bible in English (1535), 2 = The Gregorian calendar begins and ten days are skipped (1582), 3 = The Crimean War begins as the Ottoman Empire declares war on Russia (1853), 4 = The Boys' Brigade holds its first meeting in Glasgow (1883).
Quiz: 1. A (1936); 2. C (1883); 3. A (The Coverdale Bible is printed, the first complete Bible in English).