A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 14 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 14 December?
- 1542 Mary, Queen of Scots, becomes queen at just one week old
Mary Stuart became Queen of Scotland when she was only a week old, after her father, King James V, died. - 1640 Born: Aphra Behn
Aphra Behn was an English playwright, poet and writer. - 1895 Born: George VI
George VI was King of the United Kingdom from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. - 1896 The Glasgow Subway opens in Scotland
The Glasgow District Subway opened beneath the city of Glasgow. - 1900 Max Planck presents the idea that began quantum theory
German scientist Max Planck explained his law about the energy given off by hot objects to the Physical Society in Berlin. - 1911 Roald Amundsen's team becomes the first to reach the South Pole
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and four companions became the first people to reach the South Pole. - 1918 Women vote in a UK general election for the first time
A general election was held across the United Kingdom soon after the First World War ended. - 1962 Mariner 2 becomes the first spacecraft to fly past Venus
NASA's space probe Mariner 2 flew past Venus at a distance of about 34,854 kilometres.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1542 | Mary, Queen of Scots, becomes queen at just one week old | 2026 − 1542 = | |
| 1895 | Born: George VI | 2026 − 1895 = | |
| 1900 | Max Planck presents the idea that began quantum theory | 2026 − 1900 = | |
| 1918 | Women vote in a UK general election for the first time | 2026 − 1918 = |
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!
- Mary, Queen of Scots, becomes queen at just one week old
- The Glasgow Subway opens in Scotland
- Max Planck presents the idea that began quantum theory
- Roald Amundsen's team becomes the first to reach the South Pole
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Mary, Queen of Scots, becomes queen at just one week old”?
- A. 1542
- B. 1900
- C. 1960
In which year was George VI born?
- A. 1895
- B. 1900
- C. 1948
Which of these happened first?
- A. Women vote in a UK general election for the first time
- B. The Glasgow Subway opens in Scotland
- C. Mary, Queen of Scots, becomes queen at just one week old
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 14 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1542 → 484 years; 1895 → 131 years; 1900 → 126 years; 1918 → 108 years.
Order: 1 = Mary, Queen of Scots, becomes queen at just one week old (1542), 2 = The Glasgow Subway opens in Scotland (1896), 3 = Max Planck presents the idea that began quantum theory (1900), 4 = Roald Amundsen's team becomes the first to reach the South Pole (1911).
Quiz: 1. A (1542); 2. A (1895); 3. C (Mary, Queen of Scots, becomes queen at just one week old).