A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 27 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 27 December?
- AD 537 The great church of Hagia Sophia opens in Constantinople
The rebuilt Hagia Sophia was opened in Constantinople, the city now called Istanbul in Turkey. - 1773 Born: George Cayley
George Cayley was an English engineer and inventor, sometimes called 'the father of aviation'. - 1831 HMS Beagle sets sail from Plymouth with Charles Darwin aboard
HMS Beagle, a Royal Navy ship, sailed from Plymouth, England, on a survey voyage that lasted until October 1836. - 1904 J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan opens in London
J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan opened at the Duke of York's Theatre in London and was an instant success. - 1922 Japan's Hōshō becomes the first purpose-built aircraft carrier
The Imperial Japanese Navy put Hōshō into service. - 1932 Radio City Music Hall opens in New York
Radio City Music Hall opened in New York City with the largest auditorium in the world at the time. - 1968 Apollo 8 splashes down after the first crewed trip to the Moon
The Apollo 8 spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, ending the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon. - 2004 A record-breaking blast from a distant magnetar reaches Earth
Radiation from a huge explosion on a magnetar called SGR 1806−20 reached Earth.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| AD 537 | The great church of Hagia Sophia opens in Constantinople | 2026 − 537 = | |
| 1831 | HMS Beagle sets sail from Plymouth with Charles Darwin aboard | 2026 − 1831 = | |
| 1922 | Japan's Hōshō becomes the first purpose-built aircraft carrier | 2026 − 1922 = | |
| 1968 | Apollo 8 splashes down after the first crewed trip to the Moon | 2026 − 1968 = |
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!
- J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan opens in London
- Japan's Hōshō becomes the first purpose-built aircraft carrier
- HMS Beagle sets sail from Plymouth with Charles Darwin aboard
- The great church of Hagia Sophia opens in Constantinople
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “HMS Beagle sets sail from Plymouth with Charles Darwin aboard”?
- A. AD 537
- B. 2004
- C. 1831
In which year did this happen: “J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan opens in London”?
- A. 1922
- B. AD 537
- C. 1904
Which of these happened first?
- A. J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan opens in London
- B. The great church of Hagia Sophia opens in Constantinople
- C. HMS Beagle sets sail from Plymouth with Charles Darwin aboard
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 27 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 537 → 1,489 years; 1831 → 195 years; 1922 → 104 years; 1968 → 58 years.
Order: 1 = The great church of Hagia Sophia opens in Constantinople (AD 537), 2 = HMS Beagle sets sail from Plymouth with Charles Darwin aboard (1831), 3 = J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan opens in London (1904), 4 = Japan's Hōshō becomes the first purpose-built aircraft carrier (1922).
Quiz: 1. C (1831); 2. C (1904); 3. B (The great church of Hagia Sophia opens in Constantinople).