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Lesson 6 of 6
  • Year 2

Nelson Mandela, the man who forgave

I can explain how Nelson Mandela worked to change unfair laws and chose forgiveness instead of anger.

Lesson 6 of 6
New
New
  • Year 2

Nelson Mandela, the man who forgave

I can explain how Nelson Mandela worked to change unfair laws and chose forgiveness instead of anger.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Mandela fought against unfair laws called apartheid.
  2. He worked with others and protested against the unfair laws.
  3. He was imprisoned for many years.
  4. He forgave his enemies and became president.
  5. His ideas inspired peace around the world.

Keywords

  • Law - rules people must follow

  • Apartheid - unfair laws in South Africa that separated people and treated black people badly

  • Protest - showing you think something is wrong

  • Peace - when people live without fighting

  • Forgiveness - choosing not to hate someone when they have wronged you

Common misconception

Pupils may think that Mandela ended apartheid on his own.

Remind pupils that he worked with many others to change the laws.


To help you plan your year 2 history lesson on: Nelson Mandela, the man who forgave, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You could tell part of Mandela’s story through drama and empathy. Give each group a short role: the protestors, the prisoners, the people celebrating his release. After acting, ask: “How did Mandela’s choices help people live together again?”
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Why was Sophia Duleep Singh standing outside Buckingham Palace in 1911?

Correct answer: she was fighting for “Votes for Women”
she was meeting Queen Victoria for tea
she was welcoming visitors to the palace

Q2.
Sophia’s family originally came from ...

Correct Answer: India, Punjab, Punjab in India

Q3.
What made Sophia begin questioning fairness after her trip to India?

losing her bicycle
missing life in England
Correct answer: seeing people being treated unfairly

Q4.
Match each word to its correct meaning.

Correct Answer:fairness,treating people equally and making sure everyone has the same chances

treating people equally and making sure everyone has the same chances

Correct Answer:Suffragettes,group of people who wanted women to have the right to vote in Britain

group of people who wanted women to have the right to vote in Britain

Correct Answer:vote,to choose the leaders who make a country’s rules by marking a paper

to choose the leaders who make a country’s rules by marking a paper

Q5.
How did Sophia help the Suffragettes?

by building a new palace
Correct answer: by selling their newspapers
by stopping people from marching

Q6.
What happened years after Sophia and the Suffragettes marched and campaigned?

only princesses were given the vote
voting stopped in Britain
Correct answer: women won the right to vote

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
The unfair laws in South Africa were called ...

Correct Answer: apartheid

Q2.
What job did Nelson Mandela train to do in the 1940s?

doctor
farmer
Correct answer: lawyer

Q3.
Match the word to its meaning.

Correct Answer:forgiveness,choosing not to hate someone when they have wronged you

choosing not to hate someone when they have wronged you

Correct Answer:peace,living without fighting

living without fighting

Correct Answer:protest,showing you think something is wrong

showing you think something is wrong

Q4.
Some people think Nelson Mandela ended apartheid all by himself. Why is this not true?

he made the laws on his own
he was the only person who wanted change
Correct answer: he worked with many other people to change the laws

Q5.
Which of these things happened while Mandela was in prison?

he became president
Correct answer: he broke stones with a hammer
Correct answer: he decided anger would cause more pain
Correct answer: he missed family celebrations

Q6.
What happened in 1994?

apartheid laws were created
Correct answer: Mandela became president
Mandela was arrested