Nelson Mandela, 95, statesman, activist has died. Mandela,of South Africa, worked to end apartheid in his country(laws that separated whites and black races) and spent 27 years in prison. He went on to become president of the country of the Republic of South Africa. He also won the Nobel Peace Prize(in 1993).  Mandela once said,"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."  Such a wonderful statement by a remarkable man!

Other words spoken by Nelson Mandela:

"No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated."

"A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination."

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."

"It always seems impossible until its done."

"Where you stand depends on where you sit."

"May your choices reflect your HOPES, not your fears."

"There is no passion to be found in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."

Extension activities:

Ask students to explain what they think one of the quotes mean.

Illustrate one of the quotes of Mandela.

http://www.ducksters.com/biography/nelson_mandela.php -Short bio for kids on Nelson Mandela  Have students read the bio and write 4 facts learned from the reading.

http://www.gardenofpraise.com/ibdmandela.htm -lots of information and video clips
Find 4 facts about what it was like living under apartheid.  WHY was Mandela arrested and put into prison?  Find three facts about what it was like in Robben Island prison for all those years?  Write a paragraph pretending to be Nelson Mandela and explain a day of your life in prison.(what did you do? what do you think about?  etc.)

* Photograph from Huffingtonpost.com