This character education mini-lesson is not intended to be a service learning lesson or to meet the K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice. The character education units will be most effective when taught in conjunction with a student-designed service project that provides a real world setting in which students can develop and practice good character and leadership skills.  For ideas and suggestions for organizing service events go to The League.

Anticipatory Set:

Remind the learners that in the last lesson you asked them to name a hero of their choice. Today you are going to share with them a story of a hero from South Africa. Ask if any of them can guess the name of that hero.

• Read a brief biography of Nelson Mandela to the learners or paraphrase his life accomplishments (see Materials and Bibliographical References).
• If the ability to display the Internet is available, also show the 4:24 minute video of Mandel found at

http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us&brand=msnbc&vid=973a4d9d-94b9-46fd-8b3d-3111c1d275c4

Teacher Note: There is a brief advertisement at the beginning of this video. To avoid showing it to the students, load the video before class begins and pause it just at the end of the advertisement for later viewing by the class.

• Ask the learners what incidents in Mandela's life are examples of courage. 
• Display this quote by Nelson Mandela:

"There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires."

• Ask the learners "What words or phrases in this quote by Nelson Mandela relate to courage? What other character traits, in addition to courage, might Mandela be referring to in the quote?"