A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 27 November
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 27 November?
- 1095 Pope Urban II calls for the First Crusade
At the Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II declared the First Crusade. - 1703 The Great Storm of 1703 sweeps away the first Eddystone Lighthouse
The Great Storm of 1703 was one of the most severe storms ever to hit southern Britain. - 1857 Born: Charles Scott Sherrington
Sir Charles Scott Sherrington was a British scientist who studied how the nervous system works. - 1895 Alfred Nobel signs the will that creates the Nobel Prizes
The Swedish chemist and inventor Alfred Nobel signed his last will. - 1971 A Soviet probe becomes the first human-made object to reach Mars
The Soviet Union's Mars 2 spacecraft released a landing module as it reached Mars. - 1985 Rodolfo Neri Vela becomes the first Mexican astronaut
The Space Shuttle Atlantis launched on mission STS-61-B. On board was Rodolfo Neri Vela, who became the first astronaut from Mexico. - 1999 Helen Clark becomes New Zealand's first elected woman prime minister
The Labour Party defeated the governing National Party in New Zealand's general election. - 2001 Astronomers detect an atmosphere on a planet beyond our Solar System
Astronomers announced that they had detected sodium in the atmosphere of HD 209458 b, a planet orbiting a distant star.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1095 | Pope Urban II calls for the First Crusade | 2026 − 1095 = | |
| 1857 | Born: Charles Scott Sherrington | 2026 − 1857 = | |
| 1971 | A Soviet probe becomes the first human-made object to reach Mars | 2026 − 1971 = | |
| 1999 | Helen Clark becomes New Zealand's first elected woman prime minister | 2026 − 1999 = |
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 Great Storm of 1703 sweeps away the first Eddystone Lighthouse
- Pope Urban II calls for the First Crusade
- A Soviet probe becomes the first human-made object to reach Mars
- Alfred Nobel signs the will that creates the Nobel Prizes
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “The Great Storm of 1703 sweeps away the first Eddystone Lighthouse”?
- A. 1999
- B. 1703
- C. 1971
In which year was Charles Scott Sherrington born?
- A. 1985
- B. 1924
- C. 1857
Which of these happened first?
- A. Alfred Nobel signs the will that creates the Nobel Prizes
- B. Astronomers detect an atmosphere on a planet beyond our Solar System
- C. The Great Storm of 1703 sweeps away the first Eddystone Lighthouse
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 27 November. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1095 → 931 years; 1857 → 169 years; 1971 → 55 years; 1999 → 27 years.
Order: 1 = Pope Urban II calls for the First Crusade (1095), 2 = The Great Storm of 1703 sweeps away the first Eddystone Lighthouse (1703), 3 = Alfred Nobel signs the will that creates the Nobel Prizes (1895), 4 = A Soviet probe becomes the first human-made object to reach Mars (1971).
Quiz: 1. B (1703); 2. C (1857); 3. C (The Great Storm of 1703 sweeps away the first Eddystone Lighthouse).