A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 24 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 24 December?
- 1777 Captain James Cook visits Christmas Island on Christmas Eve
On his third voyage of exploration, Captain James Cook visited an island in the Pacific Ocean on Christmas Eve. - 1814 Britain and the USA sign a treaty to end the War of 1812
The United Kingdom and the United States signed the Treaty of Ghent in the city of Ghent, in what is now Belgium. - 1818 Born: James Prescott Joule
James Prescott Joule was an English physicist who studied heat. - 1818 The carol Silent Night is sung for the first time
The Christmas carol 'Silent Night' was first performed in a church in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. - 1871 Verdi's opera Aida is performed for the first time in Cairo
Aida, an opera by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, had its first performance at the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo, Egypt. - 1914 Soldiers stop fighting to celebrate in the Christmas truce
During the First World War, British and German soldiers began unofficial ceasefires along parts of the Western Front to celebrate Christmas. - 1925 Winnie-the-Pooh appears by name for the first time
Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared by name in a children's story written for London's Evening News newspaper on Christmas Eve. - 1968 Apollo 8 becomes the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon
Apollo 8 became the first human spaceflight to reach the Moon and go into orbit around it.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1777 | Captain James Cook visits Christmas Island on Christmas Eve | 2026 − 1777 = | |
| 1818 | Born: James Prescott Joule | 2026 − 1818 = | |
| 1871 | Verdi's opera Aida is performed for the first time in Cairo | 2026 − 1871 = | |
| 1925 | Winnie-the-Pooh appears by name for the first time | 2026 − 1925 = |
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!
- Britain and the USA sign a treaty to end the War of 1812
- Captain James Cook visits Christmas Island on Christmas Eve
- Verdi's opera Aida is performed for the first time in Cairo
- The carol Silent Night is sung for the first time
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Winnie-the-Pooh appears by name for the first time”?
- A. 1871
- B. 1166
- C. 1925
In which year did this happen: “Soldiers stop fighting to celebrate in the Christmas truce”?
- A. 1166
- B. 1914
- C. 1777
Which of these happened first?
- A. Soldiers stop fighting to celebrate in the Christmas truce
- B. Captain James Cook visits Christmas Island on Christmas Eve
- C. Winnie-the-Pooh appears by name for the first time
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 24 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1777 → 249 years; 1818 → 208 years; 1871 → 155 years; 1925 → 101 years.
Order: 1 = Captain James Cook visits Christmas Island on Christmas Eve (1777), 2 = Britain and the USA sign a treaty to end the War of 1812 (1814), 3 = The carol Silent Night is sung for the first time (1818), 4 = Verdi's opera Aida is performed for the first time in Cairo (1871).
Quiz: 1. C (1925); 2. B (1914); 3. B (Captain James Cook visits Christmas Island on Christmas Eve).