A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 10 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 10 December?
- 1684 Halley shows the Royal Society Newton's work on gravity and orbits
Astronomer Edmond Halley presented a paper by Isaac Newton to the Royal Society in London. - 1768 The first Encyclopaedia Britannica comes out in Edinburgh
The first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica was released in Edinburgh, Scotland. - 1815 Born: Ada Lovelace
Ada Lovelace was an English mathematician and writer. - 1824 Born: George MacDonald
George MacDonald was a Scottish author, poet and church minister. - 1884 Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is published in Britain
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by the American author Mark Twain, was first published in the United Kingdom and Canada. - 1936 King Edward VIII signs his abdication
King Edward VIII signed a document to abdicate, which means give up the throne. - 1953 Winston Churchill receives the Nobel Prize in Literature
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill received the Nobel Prize in Literature. - 1993 County Durham's last coal mine, Wearmouth Colliery, closes
The last shift of miners left Wearmouth Colliery in Sunderland, and the pit closed.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1684 | Halley shows the Royal Society Newton's work on gravity and orbits | 2026 − 1684 = | |
| 1815 | Born: Ada Lovelace | 2026 − 1815 = | |
| 1884 | Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is published in Britain | 2026 − 1884 = | |
| 1953 | Winston Churchill receives the Nobel Prize in Literature | 2026 − 1953 = |
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 first Encyclopaedia Britannica comes out in Edinburgh
- Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is published in Britain
- King Edward VIII signs his abdication
- Halley shows the Royal Society Newton's work on gravity and orbits
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “King Edward VIII signs his abdication”?
- A. 1520
- B. 1824
- C. 1936
In which year did this happen: “Halley shows the Royal Society Newton's work on gravity and orbits”?
- A. 1520
- B. 1815
- C. 1684
Which of these happened first?
- A. Halley shows the Royal Society Newton's work on gravity and orbits
- B. Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is published in Britain
- C. King Edward VIII signs his abdication
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 10 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1684 → 342 years; 1815 → 211 years; 1884 → 142 years; 1953 → 73 years.
Order: 1 = Halley shows the Royal Society Newton's work on gravity and orbits (1684), 2 = The first Encyclopaedia Britannica comes out in Edinburgh (1768), 3 = Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is published in Britain (1884), 4 = King Edward VIII signs his abdication (1936).
Quiz: 1. C (1936); 2. C (1684); 3. A (Halley shows the Royal Society Newton's work on gravity and orbits).