A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 16 November
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 16 November?
- 1272 Edward I becomes King of England while far from home
When King Henry III died, his eldest son, Prince Edward, became King Edward I. Edward was on his way back from a crusade, a military expedition to the Holy Land, and did not reach England for nearly two years. - 1855 David Livingstone sees the mighty Victoria Falls
Scottish explorer David Livingstone became the first European to see a huge waterfall on the Zambezi River in southern Africa. - 1904 John Ambrose Fleming patents the thermionic valve
English engineer John Ambrose Fleming was granted a patent for the thermionic valve, also known as a vacuum tube. - 1945 UNESCO is founded to build peace through learning
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was founded. - 1959 The Sound of Music opens on Broadway
The Sound of Music, a musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, opened on Broadway in New York. - 1973 The last crew blasts off for the Skylab space station
NASA launched Skylab 4, the third and final crew to live on Skylab, America's first space station. - 1988 Benazir Bhutto is elected Prime Minister of Pakistan
In Pakistan's first open election for more than ten years, voters chose Benazir Bhutto to be Prime Minister. - 1992 A metal detectorist finds the Hoxne Hoard of Roman treasure
Eric Lawes was using a metal detector in the village of Hoxne in Suffolk.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1272 | Edward I becomes King of England while far from home | 2026 − 1272 = | |
| 1904 | John Ambrose Fleming patents the thermionic valve | 2026 − 1904 = | |
| 1959 | The Sound of Music opens on Broadway | 2026 − 1959 = | |
| 1988 | Benazir Bhutto is elected Prime Minister of Pakistan | 2026 − 1988 = |
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!
- Edward I becomes King of England while far from home
- John Ambrose Fleming patents the thermionic valve
- UNESCO is founded to build peace through learning
- David Livingstone sees the mighty Victoria Falls
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “A metal detectorist finds the Hoxne Hoard of Roman treasure”?
- A. 1992
- B. 1974
- C. 1904
In which year did this happen: “David Livingstone sees the mighty Victoria Falls”?
- A. 1855
- B. 1959
- C. 1776
Which of these happened first?
- A. A metal detectorist finds the Hoxne Hoard of Roman treasure
- B. Edward I becomes King of England while far from home
- C. David Livingstone sees the mighty Victoria Falls
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 16 November. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1272 → 754 years; 1904 → 122 years; 1959 → 67 years; 1988 → 38 years.
Order: 1 = Edward I becomes King of England while far from home (1272), 2 = David Livingstone sees the mighty Victoria Falls (1855), 3 = John Ambrose Fleming patents the thermionic valve (1904), 4 = UNESCO is founded to build peace through learning (1945).
Quiz: 1. A (1992); 2. A (1855); 3. B (Edward I becomes King of England while far from home).