A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 6 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 6 December?
- 1421 Born: Henry VI
Henry VI became King of England when he was just nine months old, after his father, Henry V, died. - 1492 Christopher Columbus lands on Hispaniola
Christopher Columbus landed on an island in the Caribbean that he named Hispaniola. - 1648 Pride's Purge removes MPs so King Charles I can be tried
During the English Civil War, soldiers stopped some Members of Parliament from entering the House of Commons. - 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie's army begins to retreat
The Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, began to retreat. - 1921 The Anglo-Irish Treaty is signed in London
British and Irish representatives signed the Anglo-Irish Treaty in London. - 1941 Britain sets up Camp X, a secret school for spies
During the Second World War, the British set up Camp X in Ontario, Canada. - 1956 Fourteen-year-old Sandra Morgan wins Olympic gold
At the Melbourne Olympics, 14-year-old swimmer Sandra Morgan won a gold medal as part of Australia's 4×100 metres freestyle relay team. - 1958 Born: Nick Park
Nick Park is an English animator and filmmaker.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1421 | Born: Henry VI | 2026 − 1421 = | |
| 1648 | Pride's Purge removes MPs so King Charles I can be tried | 2026 − 1648 = | |
| 1921 | The Anglo-Irish Treaty is signed in London | 2026 − 1921 = | |
| 1956 | Fourteen-year-old Sandra Morgan wins Olympic gold | 2026 − 1956 = |
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!
- Pride's Purge removes MPs so King Charles I can be tried
- Bonnie Prince Charlie's army begins to retreat
- The Anglo-Irish Treaty is signed in London
- Christopher Columbus lands on Hispaniola
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Britain sets up Camp X, a secret school for spies”?
- A. 1958
- B. 1941
- C. 1884
In which year did this happen: “The Anglo-Irish Treaty is signed in London”?
- A. 1421
- B. 1921
- C. 1648
Which of these happened first?
- A. Bonnie Prince Charlie's army begins to retreat
- B. Britain sets up Camp X, a secret school for spies
- C. The Anglo-Irish Treaty is signed in London
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 6 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1421 → 605 years; 1648 → 378 years; 1921 → 105 years; 1956 → 70 years.
Order: 1 = Christopher Columbus lands on Hispaniola (1492), 2 = Pride's Purge removes MPs so King Charles I can be tried (1648), 3 = Bonnie Prince Charlie's army begins to retreat (1745), 4 = The Anglo-Irish Treaty is signed in London (1921).
Quiz: 1. B (1941); 2. B (1921); 3. A (Bonnie Prince Charlie's army begins to retreat).