A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 30 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 30 December?
- AD 534 Emperor Justinian's code of Roman law comes into effect
The final edition of the Code of Justinian came into effect in the Byzantine, or Eastern Roman, Empire. - 1845 New university colleges are founded in Belfast, Cork and Galway
Three new university colleges were founded in Ireland, in Belfast, Cork and Galway, as part of the Queen's University of Ireland. - 1865 Born: Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling was an English writer and poet, born in Bombay in British India. - 1896 Ernie McLea scores the first hat-trick in Stanley Cup history
Canadian ice hockey player Ernie McLea scored the first hat-trick in Stanley Cup play, which means three goals in one game. - 1902 Scott, Wilson and Shackleton reach a new Farthest South
Robert Falcon Scott, Edward Wilson and Ernest Shackleton reached 82°17′S in Antarctica, a new record for the farthest south. - 1937 Born: Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks was an English footballer, born in Sheffield, who is seen as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. - 2005 Tropical Storm Zeta forms after the hurricane season has ended
A tropical depression formed in the central Atlantic Ocean and grew into Tropical Storm Zeta the next day. - 2020 The Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is approved in the UK
The UK's medicines regulator approved the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine for use in the national vaccination programme.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| AD 534 | Emperor Justinian's code of Roman law comes into effect | 2026 − 534 = | |
| 1865 | Born: Rudyard Kipling | 2026 − 1865 = | |
| 1902 | Scott, Wilson and Shackleton reach a new Farthest South | 2026 − 1902 = | |
| 2005 | Tropical Storm Zeta forms after the hurricane season has ended | 2026 − 2005 = |
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!
- Scott, Wilson and Shackleton reach a new Farthest South
- Emperor Justinian's code of Roman law comes into effect
- New university colleges are founded in Belfast, Cork and Galway
- Ernie McLea scores the first hat-trick in Stanley Cup history
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “New university colleges are founded in Belfast, Cork and Galway”?
- A. 1937
- B. 1845
- C. 1902
In which year did this happen: “Scott, Wilson and Shackleton reach a new Farthest South”?
- A. 1922
- B. 1902
- C. 1937
Which of these happened first?
- A. Scott, Wilson and Shackleton reach a new Farthest South
- B. New university colleges are founded in Belfast, Cork and Galway
- C. The Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is approved in the UK
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 30 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 534 → 1,492 years; 1865 → 161 years; 1902 → 124 years; 2005 → 21 years.
Order: 1 = Emperor Justinian's code of Roman law comes into effect (AD 534), 2 = New university colleges are founded in Belfast, Cork and Galway (1845), 3 = Ernie McLea scores the first hat-trick in Stanley Cup history (1896), 4 = Scott, Wilson and Shackleton reach a new Farthest South (1902).
Quiz: 1. B (1845); 2. B (1902); 3. B (New university colleges are founded in Belfast, Cork and Galway).