A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 17 November
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 17 November?
- 1292 John Balliol is chosen to be King of Scots
After the death of Margaret, Maid of Norway, several people claimed the Scottish crown. - 1558 Elizabeth I becomes Queen of England
Elizabeth I became Queen of England and Ireland after the death of her half-sister, Mary I. The daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, she reigned for 44 years and was the last Tudor monarch. - 1810 Sweden declares a war on Britain that is never fought
Sweden and the United Kingdom had been allies against the French emperor Napoleon. - 1869 The Suez Canal opens, joining two seas
The Suez Canal in Egypt officially opened after ten years of building work. - 1887 Born: Bernard Montgomery
Bernard Montgomery was a senior British Army officer who served in both world wars. - 1950 The 15-year-old Dalai Lama is given power to rule Tibet
The 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, was given full power to rule Tibet at the age of 15. - 1968 BEA starts flying passengers in the BAC One-Eleven jet
British European Airways (BEA) began using the BAC One-Eleven to carry passengers. - 1989 Disney's The Little Mermaid arrives in cinemas
Walt Disney Pictures released the animated film The Little Mermaid in American cinemas.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1292 | John Balliol is chosen to be King of Scots | 2026 − 1292 = | |
| 1810 | Sweden declares a war on Britain that is never fought | 2026 − 1810 = | |
| 1887 | Born: Bernard Montgomery | 2026 − 1887 = | |
| 1968 | BEA starts flying passengers in the BAC One-Eleven jet | 2026 − 1968 = |
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!
- Sweden declares a war on Britain that is never fought
- Elizabeth I becomes Queen of England
- John Balliol is chosen to be King of Scots
- The Suez Canal opens, joining two seas
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Elizabeth I becomes Queen of England”?
- A. 1558
- B. 1511
- C. 1887
In which year did this happen: “John Balliol is chosen to be King of Scots”?
- A. 1511
- B. 1950
- C. 1292
Which of these happened first?
- A. Elizabeth I becomes Queen of England
- B. John Balliol is chosen to be King of Scots
- C. BEA starts flying passengers in the BAC One-Eleven jet
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 17 November. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1292 → 734 years; 1810 → 216 years; 1887 → 139 years; 1968 → 58 years.
Order: 1 = John Balliol is chosen to be King of Scots (1292), 2 = Elizabeth I becomes Queen of England (1558), 3 = Sweden declares a war on Britain that is never fought (1810), 4 = The Suez Canal opens, joining two seas (1869).
Quiz: 1. A (1558); 2. C (1292); 3. B (John Balliol is chosen to be King of Scots).