A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 2 November
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 2 November?
- 1470 Born: Edward V
Edward V, who would briefly be King of England, was born. - 1815 Born: George Boole
The English mathematician and philosopher George Boole was born. - 1899 The Siege of Ladysmith begins in South Africa
During the Second Boer War, Boer forces surrounded the British-held town of Ladysmith in Natal, South Africa. - 1917 Britain issues the Balfour Declaration about Palestine
During the First World War, the British government announced its support for a ‘national home for the Jewish people’ in Palestine. - 1936 The BBC starts the world's first regular high-definition TV service
The BBC Television Service began its regular programmes. - 1959 The first section of the M1 motorway opens
The first stretch of the M1 opened to traffic, along with two shorter motorways, the M10 and the M45. - 1982 Channel 4 goes on air for the first time
Channel 4 started broadcasting as Britain's fourth television channel. - 2008 Lewis Hamilton wins the Formula One title by just one point
British racing driver Lewis Hamilton won the Formula One World Championship in dramatic style.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1470 | Born: Edward V | 2026 − 1470 = | |
| 1899 | The Siege of Ladysmith begins in South Africa | 2026 − 1899 = | |
| 1936 | The BBC starts the world's first regular high-definition TV service | 2026 − 1936 = | |
| 1982 | Channel 4 goes on air for the first time | 2026 − 1982 = |
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 Ladysmith begins in South Africa
- The BBC starts the world's first regular high-definition TV service
- The first section of the M1 motorway opens
- Britain issues the Balfour Declaration about Palestine
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Lewis Hamilton wins the Formula One title by just one point”?
- A. 2008
- B. 1959
- C. 1936
In which year did this happen: “Britain issues the Balfour Declaration about Palestine”?
- A. 1936
- B. 2008
- C. 1917
Which of these happened first?
- A. Lewis Hamilton wins the Formula One title by just one point
- B. Britain issues the Balfour Declaration about Palestine
- C. The Siege of Ladysmith begins in South Africa
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 2 November. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1470 → 556 years; 1899 → 127 years; 1936 → 90 years; 1982 → 44 years.
Order: 1 = The Siege of Ladysmith begins in South Africa (1899), 2 = Britain issues the Balfour Declaration about Palestine (1917), 3 = The BBC starts the world's first regular high-definition TV service (1936), 4 = The first section of the M1 motorway opens (1959).
Quiz: 1. A (2008); 2. C (1917); 3. C (The Siege of Ladysmith begins in South Africa).