The life of Nelson Mandela
A lesson plan inspired by the work of South African comic book company Umlando Wezithombe
National Curriculum: Primary History.
This lesson plan supports the KS1 requirement: Pupils should be taught about:
the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements.
KS1 English National Curriculum: English Key Stage 1 and 2 English. Years 1 to 6 – Spoken language
Pupils should be taught to:
• articulate and justify answers, arguments and opinions
• use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating and hypothesising • debates
Pupils will gain knowledge and understanding of the apartheid era of South Africa’s past and the importance of Nelson Mandala in the fight to make South Africa a multiracial democracy.
Suggested Classroom Activity
We have chosen six key episodes from the life of Nelson Mandela as depicted by the South African comic book artists of Umlando Wezithombe.
Show the pupils the six videos featuring episodes from Mandela’s life.
There are group discussion suggestions relating to each clip and additional facts and quotes that are downloadable from the bottom of this page.
1. The birth of Mandela in Umbezo and the move to Qunu.
Watch clip 1 and then ask the class:
• Where was Nelson Mandela born? • Could his parents read and write?
• Why did they decide to send him to school?
• How do you think Mandela felt about being given a new name at school. • How would you feel if you were given a new name by your teacher?
2. Growing up in Qunu and running away to Johannesburg
Watch clip 2 and then ask the class:
• What sort of things did Mandela spend his time doing in the country?
• What did he learn from the Regent?
What does being ‘politically aware’ mean? Are the group aware of any current political issue in the UK?
3. Living conditions for black people in South Africa under apartheid
Watch clip 3 and then ask the class:
• Why did black people have to travel long distances to work?
• Did white people have to carry a Pass Book?
Get the group to discuss why the African Government of the time were controlling the free movement of black people.
4. The Pass Book burning protests and the Sharpville massacre
Watch clip 4 and then ask the class:
• What was the black African response to the Sharpville massacre?
When Nelson Mandela burned his Pass Book he knew that by doing so he was breaking the law...get the group to discuss whether breaking the law is ever the right thing to do?
5. Arrest and trials
Watch clip 5 and then ask the class:
What does ‘evading the authorities’ mean?
• Nelson Mandela defended himself in court wearing the traditional dress of an African chief...ask the group to discuss what messages Mandela was trying to send out with this action.
6. Imprisonment on Robben Island
Watch clip 6 and then ask the class:
• How old will you be in 27 years and what do you think you might be doing? • Can you imagine what it would be like to not see your family for 27 years?
When Nelson Mandela was finally released from prison, how do you think he would have felt? Would the group be as forgiving as Mandela to the people who locked him away for such a long time.
Here are some practical activities you might want to try with your class alongside the Life of Nelson Mandela video clips.
Role Play: Names
Resources: prepare 2 boxes containing slips with african names - boys and girls. Download the sheet of names here.
Ask the children to think about their own first day at school and the kinds of feelings they had. Line the class up and ask them to take a new name from the appropriate box, help them to read it out and give their reaction to it.
Traditional Xhosa names have meanings. Further discussion can take place around the meanings of the names - Mandela had no idea what the name Nelson represented.
In small groups, ask the class to identify an issue within the school that is important to them. Examples might include: school dinners, uniform, break times etc.
Give each group a large piece of card on which to design a placard about this issue using a choice of materials - they could cut out or draw letters and decorate with appropriate images. Discussion can take place around how to run a peaceful campaign and why it is important to be heard!
Role Play: Pass Books
Resources: exercise books.
Individually, ask pupils to think about where they have been during the past week and to list these in their own ‘pass book’ page in their exercise book.
Discuss whether they think that black South Africans would have been allowed to go to these places
Using SuperActionComicMaker ask the pupils to develop their own story or to make suggestions for a whole class story involving themes of bullying and peaceful protest.
This activity can be linked to curriculum areas of IT and literacy.