A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 11 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 11 December?
- 1282 Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, dies in battle
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, known as Llywelyn the Last, died at Cilmeri, near Builth Wells, during the Battle of Orewin Bridge. - 1688 James II throws the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames
King James II threw the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames as he tried to flee to France. - 1781 Born: David Brewster
Sir David Brewster was a Scottish scientist and inventor who studied light. - 1886 Arsenal, then called Dial Square, plays its first football match
The football club now known as Arsenal played its very first match, on the Isle of Dogs in London. - 1913 The stolen Mona Lisa is found in Florence
Leonardo da Vinci's painting the Mona Lisa was found in Florence, Italy. - 1931 The Statute of Westminster gives the Dominions equal law-making power
The British Parliament made the Statute of Westminster 1931 law. - 1936 King Edward VIII's abdication becomes official
King Edward VIII's abdication became official. - 1972 Apollo 17, the last Apollo mission, lands on the Moon
Apollo 17, the final mission of NASA's Apollo program, landed on the Moon.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1282 | Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, dies in battle | 2026 − 1282 = | |
| 1781 | Born: David Brewster | 2026 − 1781 = | |
| 1913 | The stolen Mona Lisa is found in Florence | 2026 − 1913 = | |
| 1936 | King Edward VIII's abdication becomes official | 2026 − 1936 = |
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!
- James II throws the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames
- Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, dies in battle
- The stolen Mona Lisa is found in Florence
- Arsenal, then called Dial Square, plays its first football match
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Arsenal, then called Dial Square, plays its first football match”?
- A. 1282
- B. 1972
- C. 1886
In which year did this happen: “James II throws the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames”?
- A. 1899
- B. 1913
- C. 1688
Which of these happened first?
- A. The Statute of Westminster gives the Dominions equal law-making power
- B. Arsenal, then called Dial Square, plays its first football match
- C. James II throws the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 11 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1282 → 744 years; 1781 → 245 years; 1913 → 113 years; 1936 → 90 years.
Order: 1 = Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, dies in battle (1282), 2 = James II throws the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames (1688), 3 = Arsenal, then called Dial Square, plays its first football match (1886), 4 = The stolen Mona Lisa is found in Florence (1913).
Quiz: 1. C (1886); 2. C (1688); 3. C (James II throws the Great Seal of the Realm into the River Thames).