A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 20 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 20 December?
- 1192 Richard the Lionheart is captured on his way home from the Crusade
King Richard I of England was captured by Leopold V, Duke of Austria, while travelling home after the Third Crusade. - 1940 Captain America appears in his first comic book
The superhero Captain America first appeared in the comic book Captain America Comics #1. - 1946 The film It's a Wonderful Life has its premiere
It's a Wonderful Life, an American Christmas film directed by Frank Capra, had its premiere at the Globe Theatre in New York. - 1951 Nuclear power lights up four light bulbs in Idaho
Experimental Breeder Reactor I, in the desert near Arco in Idaho, USA, made enough electricity to light four 200-watt light bulbs. - 1955 Cardiff is named the capital city of Wales
The government announced that Cardiff would be regarded as the capital city of Wales. - 1957 The Boeing 707 jet airliner makes its first flight
The first production version of the Boeing 707, called the 707-120, made its first flight. - 1999 Portugal hands Macau over to China
At midnight, Portugal handed control of Macau to the People's Republic of China. - 2007 Elizabeth II becomes the oldest monarch in British history
Queen Elizabeth II became the oldest monarch in the history of the United Kingdom.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1192 | Richard the Lionheart is captured on his way home from the Crusade | 2026 − 1192 = | |
| 1946 | The film It's a Wonderful Life has its premiere | 2026 − 1946 = | |
| 1955 | Cardiff is named the capital city of Wales | 2026 − 1955 = | |
| 1999 | Portugal hands Macau over to China | 2026 − 1999 = |
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 film It's a Wonderful Life has its premiere
- Nuclear power lights up four light bulbs in Idaho
- Richard the Lionheart is captured on his way home from the Crusade
- Captain America appears in his first comic book
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Cardiff is named the capital city of Wales”?
- A. 1955
- B. 1860
- C. 1192
In which year did this happen: “Elizabeth II becomes the oldest monarch in British history”?
- A. 1192
- B. 1951
- C. 2007
Which of these happened first?
- A. Richard the Lionheart is captured on his way home from the Crusade
- B. Elizabeth II becomes the oldest monarch in British history
- C. Cardiff is named the capital city of Wales
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 20 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1192 → 834 years; 1946 → 80 years; 1955 → 71 years; 1999 → 27 years.
Order: 1 = Richard the Lionheart is captured on his way home from the Crusade (1192), 2 = Captain America appears in his first comic book (1940), 3 = The film It's a Wonderful Life has its premiere (1946), 4 = Nuclear power lights up four light bulbs in Idaho (1951).
Quiz: 1. A (1955); 2. C (2007); 3. A (Richard the Lionheart is captured on his way home from the Crusade).