Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Thousands of Teacher-reviewed Resources!

Celebrating Mandela Day: Lessons in Service and Change

Nelson Mandela Day, observed each year on July 18, invites educators around the world to bring Mandela's legacy of resilience, reconciliation, and service into their classrooms. Beyond marking his birthday, the day encourages students to reflect on how ordinary actions—big or small—can contribute to positive change in their communities, echoing Mandela's own call to "take action, inspire change." Below are resources to help you introduce students to Mandela's life, values, and enduring impact on the world.

Grades K-8

Mandela Day: 67 Minutes of Service

Introduce your students to Nelson Mandela Day and encourage them to honor Nelson Mandela's legacy through acts of service and kindness. The article explains the significance of dedicating 67 minutes to helping others and offers many service suggestions.

Grades K-12

Inspire My Kids

Featuring real stories of kids and leaders who showed perseverance, courage, and service, this site echoes the call to take action and inspire change by showing students that everyday actions can create a real impact.

Grades 3-6

The Life of Nelson Mandela

This kid-friendly biography from National Geographic Kids covers Mandela's childhood, his fight against apartheid, his 27-year imprisonment, and his role as South Africa's first Black president—complete with fun facts, illustrations, and reader comments.

Grades 7-12

Teaching Nelson Mandela: Learning Experiences and Lessons to Support Grades 7–12 Classrooms

Explore this free curriculum that uses an Ubuntu-based learning framework to cover apartheid, human rights, and Mandela's life. Discover lesson plans, classroom activities, discussion questions, and primary source materials for educators.

Grades 9-12

Strangers In Their Own Country: A Curriculum Guide on South Africa

Peruse the lessons in this curriculum guide on apartheid in South Africa that include readings, role-plays, and a dedicated study of Nelson Mandela's Rivonia Trial speech, where he defended his fight against racial injustice.

Grades 2-12

Nelson Mandela

Read all about Mandela's fight against apartheid, his nearly 30 years in prison, and his role as South Africa's first Black president. This text is differentiated into three reading levels—kids, students, and scholars. Click your choice on the top right.

Grades K-12

What Can I Do?- Nelson Mandela Day

Promote the idea that everyone can make a difference by dedicating time to helping others and improving their communities. Explore ideas for volunteering, community service projects, environmental initiatives, and other acts of kindness for all ages.

Grades 6-12

Remembering Nelson Mandela

Learn about the life, leadership, and legacy of Nelson Mandela through videos and other materials that help students understand his role in ending apartheid, leading reconciliation in South Africa, and his commitment to justice and peaceful change.

Grades 6-9

Apartheid Museum

This unique site features free e-books, workbooks, and comic books on the history of South African apartheid, offering context for Mandela's decades-long resistance and imprisonment, as well as the movement that led to his release and presidency.

Grades 3-6

The Nelson Mandela Story for Kids

This age-appropriate video shows students how Mandela challenged unfair laws, endured many years in prison for his beliefs, and eventually became South Africa's first Black president. Themes include perseverance, courage, leadership, justice, and more.

Grades 7-12

DoSomething

Explore this platform that connects young people with volunteer campaigns on causes like climate action, hunger, and mental health. Discover toolkits and real projects that teach students that service creates measurable community impact.

Grades 5-12

Nelson Mandela: 33 Years of Freedom

This interactive exhibit from Google Arts & Culture explores the life, legacy, and impact of Nelson Mandela. Learn about his role in shaping a democratic South Africa through photographs, videos, personal letters, historical documents, and timelines.

This Week at TeachersFirst

We’re excited to invite you to attend a variety of virtual workshops this week! Join us for one session or all six. We’re also sharing a related blog post and a curated collection packed with even more resources about Nelson Mandela.