A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 9 October
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 9 October?
- 1604 Kepler's Supernova appears in the night sky
A supernova – the huge explosion of a star – appeared in our galaxy, the Milky Way, in the constellation of Ophiuchus. - 1676 Leeuwenhoek tells the Royal Society about tiny 'animalcules'
The Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek wrote to the Royal Society in London about tiny creatures he called 'animalcules', or little animals. - 1888 The Washington Monument opens to the public
The Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., officially opened to the public. - 1933 Born: Peter Mansfield
Peter Mansfield was an English physicist and a professor at the University of Nottingham. - 1940 Born: John Lennon
John Lennon was an English musician and songwriter who founded the Beatles. - 1962 Nick Holonyak demonstrates the first visible-light LED
American engineer Nick Holonyak gave the first public demonstration of a light-emitting diode, or LED, that glowed with visible light. - 1984 Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends first appears on ITV
The children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends was shown for the first time on ITV. It was based on The Railway Series, a set of books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and Christopher Awdry. - 1986 The Phantom of the Opera opens in London's West End
The Phantom of the Opera, a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, opened in London's West End.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1604 | Kepler's Supernova appears in the night sky | 2026 − 1604 = | |
| 1888 | The Washington Monument opens to the public | 2026 − 1888 = | |
| 1940 | Born: John Lennon | 2026 − 1940 = | |
| 1984 | Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends first appears on ITV | 2026 − 1984 = |
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!
- Leeuwenhoek tells the Royal Society about tiny 'animalcules'
- Nick Holonyak demonstrates the first visible-light LED
- Kepler's Supernova appears in the night sky
- The Washington Monument opens to the public
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Leeuwenhoek tells the Royal Society about tiny 'animalcules'”?
- A. 1410
- B. 1676
- C. 1986
In which year did this happen: “The Phantom of the Opera opens in London's West End”?
- A. 1940
- B. 1986
- C. 1604
Which of these happened first?
- A. The Phantom of the Opera opens in London's West End
- B. Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends first appears on ITV
- C. Leeuwenhoek tells the Royal Society about tiny 'animalcules'
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 9 October. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1604 → 422 years; 1888 → 138 years; 1940 → 86 years; 1984 → 42 years.
Order: 1 = Kepler's Supernova appears in the night sky (1604), 2 = Leeuwenhoek tells the Royal Society about tiny 'animalcules' (1676), 3 = The Washington Monument opens to the public (1888), 4 = Nick Holonyak demonstrates the first visible-light LED (1962).
Quiz: 1. B (1676); 2. B (1986); 3. C (Leeuwenhoek tells the Royal Society about tiny 'animalcules').