A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 28 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 28 December?
- 1065 Westminster Abbey is consecrated
Westminster Abbey in London, built by King Edward the Confessor, was consecrated, which means it was officially blessed as a church. - 1612 Galileo becomes the first person to see Neptune
The Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei became the first person to observe the planet Neptune, although he mistook it for a star. - 1836 South Australia and its capital, Adelaide, are founded
The colony of South Australia was founded, along with its capital city, Adelaide. - 1882 Born: Arthur Eddington
Arthur Eddington was an English astrophysicist and mathematician. - 1895 Wilhelm Röntgen publishes his discovery of X-rays
The German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen published a paper describing a new kind of radiation that he had discovered. - 1907 The last confirmed sighting of New Zealand's huia bird
The last confirmed sighting of a huia took place in the Tararua Range on New Zealand's North Island. - 1918 Constance Markievicz becomes the first woman elected as an MP
Election results showed that Constance Markievicz had become the first woman ever elected to the House of Commons. - 1934 Born: Maggie Smith
Maggie Smith was a British actress whose career on stage and screen lasted eight decades.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1065 | Westminster Abbey is consecrated | 2026 − 1065 = | |
| 1836 | South Australia and its capital, Adelaide, are founded | 2026 − 1836 = | |
| 1895 | Wilhelm Röntgen publishes his discovery of X-rays | 2026 − 1895 = | |
| 1918 | Constance Markievicz becomes the first woman elected as an MP | 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!
- Westminster Abbey is consecrated
- Galileo becomes the first person to see Neptune
- South Australia and its capital, Adelaide, are founded
- Wilhelm Röntgen publishes his discovery of X-rays
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Westminster Abbey is consecrated”?
- A. 1065
- B. 1973
- C. 1885
In which year did this happen: “Constance Markievicz becomes the first woman elected as an MP”?
- A. 1918
- B. 1907
- C. 1882
Which of these happened first?
- A. Galileo becomes the first person to see Neptune
- B. Constance Markievicz becomes the first woman elected as an MP
- C. Westminster Abbey is consecrated
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 28 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1065 → 961 years; 1836 → 190 years; 1895 → 131 years; 1918 → 108 years.
Order: 1 = Westminster Abbey is consecrated (1065), 2 = Galileo becomes the first person to see Neptune (1612), 3 = South Australia and its capital, Adelaide, are founded (1836), 4 = Wilhelm Röntgen publishes his discovery of X-rays (1895).
Quiz: 1. A (1065); 2. A (1918); 3. C (Westminster Abbey is consecrated).