A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 29 November
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 29 November?
- 1849 Born: John Ambrose Fleming
Sir John Ambrose Fleming was an English electrical engineer and physicist, born in Lancaster. - 1877 Thomas Edison demonstrates his phonograph for the first time
The American inventor Thomas Edison demonstrated his phonograph for the first time. - 1890 Japan's parliament, the National Diet, meets for the first time
The National Diet, Japan's parliament, met for the first time in Tokyo. - 1898 Born: C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis was a British author and scholar who taught English literature at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. - 1899 FC Barcelona football club is founded by Joan Gamper
The football club FC Barcelona was founded in Barcelona, Spain, by the Swiss football pioneer Joan Gamper. - 1963 The Beatles release 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' in the UK
The Beatles released their song 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' in the United Kingdom. - 1972 Atari announces Pong, one of the first popular video games
The company Atari announced the release of Pong, a simple table-tennis video game for arcades. - 1982 Michael Jackson's album Thriller is released
Michael Jackson's album Thriller was released.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1849 | Born: John Ambrose Fleming | 2026 − 1849 = | |
| 1890 | Japan's parliament, the National Diet, meets for the first time | 2026 − 1890 = | |
| 1899 | FC Barcelona football club is founded by Joan Gamper | 2026 − 1899 = | |
| 1972 | Atari announces Pong, one of the first popular video games | 2026 − 1972 = |
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!
- Thomas Edison demonstrates his phonograph for the first time
- FC Barcelona football club is founded by Joan Gamper
- Japan's parliament, the National Diet, meets for the first time
- The Beatles release 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' in the UK
4. Quick quiz
In which year was C. S. Lewis born?
- A. 1898
- B. 1972
- C. 1929
In which year did this happen: “The Beatles release 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' in the UK”?
- A. 1963
- B. 1982
- C. 1899
Which of these happened first?
- A. Michael Jackson's album Thriller is released
- B. FC Barcelona football club is founded by Joan Gamper
- C. The Beatles release 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' in the UK
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 29 November. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1849 → 177 years; 1890 → 136 years; 1899 → 127 years; 1972 → 54 years.
Order: 1 = Thomas Edison demonstrates his phonograph for the first time (1877), 2 = Japan's parliament, the National Diet, meets for the first time (1890), 3 = FC Barcelona football club is founded by Joan Gamper (1899), 4 = The Beatles release 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' in the UK (1963).
Quiz: 1. A (1898); 2. A (1963); 3. B (FC Barcelona football club is founded by Joan Gamper).