A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 20 November
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 20 November?
- 1805 Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, is first performed
Fidelio, the only opera by the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, was first performed at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna. - 1815 The Second Treaty of Paris is signed after Waterloo
The Second Treaty of Paris was signed after Napoleon Bonaparte's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. - 1917 British tanks lead an attack at the Battle of Cambrai
During the First World War, the British Army began the Battle of Cambrai in northern France. - 1947 Princess Elizabeth marries Philip Mountbatten
Princess Elizabeth, the elder daughter of King George VI, married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey in London. - 1977 Anwar Sadat becomes the first Arab leader to visit Israel
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat became the first Arab leader to make an official visit to Israel. - 1985 Microsoft releases Windows 1.0
Microsoft released Windows 1.0 in the United States, the first version of its Windows software for personal computers. - 1992 Fire badly damages Windsor Castle
A major fire broke out at Windsor Castle, the largest lived-in castle in the world and a home of the British monarch. - 2022 The FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar
The 22nd FIFA World Cup began in Qatar.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1805 | Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, is first performed | 2026 − 1805 = | |
| 1917 | British tanks lead an attack at the Battle of Cambrai | 2026 − 1917 = | |
| 1977 | Anwar Sadat becomes the first Arab leader to visit Israel | 2026 − 1977 = | |
| 1992 | Fire badly damages Windsor Castle | 2026 − 1992 = |
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!
- Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, is first performed
- The Second Treaty of Paris is signed after Waterloo
- British tanks lead an attack at the Battle of Cambrai
- Princess Elizabeth marries Philip Mountbatten
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Princess Elizabeth marries Philip Mountbatten”?
- A. 1947
- B. 1985
- C. 1776
In which year did this happen: “British tanks lead an attack at the Battle of Cambrai”?
- A. 1917
- B. 1985
- C. 1776
Which of these happened first?
- A. Princess Elizabeth marries Philip Mountbatten
- B. British tanks lead an attack at the Battle of Cambrai
- C. The Second Treaty of Paris is signed after Waterloo
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 20 November. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1805 → 221 years; 1917 → 109 years; 1977 → 49 years; 1992 → 34 years.
Order: 1 = Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, is first performed (1805), 2 = The Second Treaty of Paris is signed after Waterloo (1815), 3 = British tanks lead an attack at the Battle of Cambrai (1917), 4 = Princess Elizabeth marries Philip Mountbatten (1947).
Quiz: 1. A (1947); 2. A (1917); 3. C (The Second Treaty of Paris is signed after Waterloo).