Mini-Lesson

Build a Time Line

Mini-Lesson: Grades 2-3

Objective: Students will build a time line of Nelson Mandela's experiences and accomplishments.

1. Tell students that Nelson Mandela, the famous South African leader who has dedicated his life to the struggle for equality, just turned 90. Explain that a birthday is a good time to reflect on, or think about, one's experiences and accomplishments.

2. Pass out the timeforkids.com story, A Modern Hero. Explain that one way to organize information about a person's life is to create a time line. As you read the article aloud, have students find and underline important information about Mandela's life. Point out that one way to spot information to include in a time line is to look for dates and years in the text. Then, together as a class, organize the information into a time line. For extra support, provide students with copies of the worksheet The Life of a Leader, which features a time line of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life.

3. Discuss Mandela's rule to "remember to smile." Ask: Why is smiling important? How can smiling help others?