A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 7 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 7 December?
- 1732 The Royal Opera House opens at Covent Garden
The Royal Opera House opened at Covent Garden in central London. - 1787 Delaware becomes the first state to approve the US Constitution
Delaware became the first state to ratify, or formally approve, the Constitution of the United States. - 1904 Oil-powered HMS Spiteful is tested against a coal-fired ship
The Royal Navy began trials to compare two warships, HMS Spiteful and HMS Peterel. - 1922 Northern Ireland's parliament votes to stay in the United Kingdom
The Parliament of Northern Ireland voted to remain part of the United Kingdom rather than join with the rest of Ireland. - 1936 Jack Fingleton scores centuries in four Test innings in a row
Australian cricketer Jack Fingleton became the first player to score centuries in four Test innings in a row. - 1947 Born: Anne Fine
Anne Fine is an English writer, best known for her children's books. - 2015 Japan's Akatsuki probe reaches orbit around Venus at last
The Japanese space probe Akatsuki went into orbit around Venus to study its atmosphere. - 2025 Lando Norris becomes Formula One world champion
British racing driver Lando Norris won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship, driving for the McLaren team.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1732 | The Royal Opera House opens at Covent Garden | 2026 − 1732 = | |
| 1904 | Oil-powered HMS Spiteful is tested against a coal-fired ship | 2026 − 1904 = | |
| 1936 | Jack Fingleton scores centuries in four Test innings in a row | 2026 − 1936 = | |
| 2015 | Japan's Akatsuki probe reaches orbit around Venus at last | 2026 − 2015 = |
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!
- Delaware becomes the first state to approve the US Constitution
- Northern Ireland's parliament votes to stay in the United Kingdom
- The Royal Opera House opens at Covent Garden
- Oil-powered HMS Spiteful is tested against a coal-fired ship
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Oil-powered HMS Spiteful is tested against a coal-fired ship”?
- A. 2025
- B. 1995
- C. 1904
In which year did this happen: “The Royal Opera House opens at Covent Garden”?
- A. 2015
- B. 1732
- C. 1922
Which of these happened first?
- A. Lando Norris becomes Formula One world champion
- B. Oil-powered HMS Spiteful is tested against a coal-fired ship
- C. The Royal Opera House opens at Covent Garden
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 7 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1732 → 294 years; 1904 → 122 years; 1936 → 90 years; 2015 → 11 years.
Order: 1 = The Royal Opera House opens at Covent Garden (1732), 2 = Delaware becomes the first state to approve the US Constitution (1787), 3 = Oil-powered HMS Spiteful is tested against a coal-fired ship (1904), 4 = Northern Ireland's parliament votes to stay in the United Kingdom (1922).
Quiz: 1. C (1904); 2. B (1732); 3. C (The Royal Opera House opens at Covent Garden).