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Decision Making
Lesson Plan
Social Studies
7
Apartheid Era
90+ Minutes
Shalisa Gee

Instructional Unit Content

Standard(s)/Element(s)
Content Area Standard
SS7H1 The student will analyze continuity and change in Africa leading to the 21st century
c. Explain the creation and end of apartheid in South Africa and the roles of Nelson Mandela
and F.W.de Klerk
TAG Standard
Higher Order Critical Thinking Skills

3. The student conducts comparisons using criteria.

4. The student makes and evaluates decisions using criteria.
Summary/Overview
The focus of the lesson is to use decision making skills to develop, defend, and evaluate the
criteria that make a good leader who can influence change.
Enduring Understanding(s)
At the end of this lesson the student will understand that
a. Students will be able to apply decision making to determine the effectiveness of Nelson
Mandela to end apartheid.
Essential Question(s)
Why is it important for a good leader to be willing to make sacrifices? How did Nelson
Mandela shape the history of South Africa? Was Nelson Mandela a good leader?
Concept(s) to Maintain
Power, Governance, and Authority (European Partition)

Revised April 2009

Social and Political Interactions (Independence, Apartheid, Pan-African Movement)

Evidence of Learning
What students should know:
a. There are advantages and disadvantages to every decision.
b. Criteria can help us consider the multitude of factors involve in a complex decision.
c. Nelson Mandelas influence on the ending of Apartheid in South Africa.
What students should be able to do:
Use their decision making criteria to determine if Nelson Mandela was a good leader. They
should not use the fact that he helped to end apartheid in their decision.

Suggested Vocabulary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Independence
Apartheid
Nelson Mandela
F. W. De Klerk
Nationalism
Pan-African Movement
Civil War in Africa
Artificial Political Boundaries

Procedure(s)
Phase 1: Hook
You find yourself in a situation that is really difficulty. You are suffering, treated unfairly,
and you are tired. How do you change your circumstances? What characteristics should you
have that can make things better and change your situation? How can you make things better
and fairer? Everyone is leaning towards like you are the only one who can make change or is
there someone else in your group who will have to initiate it?
What makes a good leader? At your table create a list of characteristics and qualities that you
know person must have to be a good leader and will create change. Choose the 4 best
qualities among your group members.
Phase 2: Examine the Content
1. Divide the students up into 2 groups. Group one will go to the computer and visit the
website http://www.history.com/topics/apartheid and read information about Nelson

Revised April 2009

Mandela and the Apartheid. Students will used the Apartheid notebook (Handout 1)
to gather information relating to Nelson Mandela. Group 2 will complete Mydecision making style. (Handout 2) After 15 minutes students will switch and to the
computers and vice versa.
2. After all have completed the Notes and My-decision making style. Place students in
groups of 4 and distribute Decision-Making Matrix Grid (Handout 3). Instruct
students to complete the matrix with their choices for the 4 necessary qualities of a
leader.
3. Decide as a group if Nelson Mandela was a good leader or not.
Phase 3: Decision Making
1. Place around the classroom in three corners a smiley face, a sad face and a
question mark. Instruct students to go to one of three corners (good leader, not
good leader, unsure).
2. Have the groups discuss why they chose their corners and instruct them to pick a
spokesperson for the group.
3. Using the criteria established, have the spokesperson defend their groups
decision and persuade others to join their group.
Phase 4: Synthesis Activity
4. Communicate the Decision: Students will write a persuasive letter to the people
of Africa explaining their decision as why Nelson Mandela was a good leader, or
not. Based on the criteria that have been discussed.
Summarizing Activity
Have students complete the following questions: How can you apply the learning from
todays lesson to other areas of your life?
Resource(s)
http://www.history.com/topics/apartheid
Anchor Text(s):
Technology:
Computers
Handouts:
Handout 1: Apartheid Notebook
Handout 2: My Decision-Making Style Inventory

Revised April 2009

Handout 3: Decision-Making Matrix Grid

Revised April 2009