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Name: Gr4
History Workbook
Grade 4
Term 2

Mahatma Gandhi 1869 – 1948

Compiled by: Hannelie van der Merwe
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Contents
History : Learning from Leaders
Grade 4
Term 2
UNIT CONTENT PAGE NO.
UNIT 1 What makes a good leader? 2–5

UNIT 2 Life Stories of two good leaders. 6 - 15

UNIT 3 What can we learn from

Mandela and Gandhi? 16 - 17

Nelson Mandela was the president of South Africa. He was Mahatma Gandhi was from India and believed that
also an activist who fought against apartheid. Apartheid change would be brought about in non-violent ways.
was a system of segregation laws in South Africa that His methods encouraged civil rights leaders Martin
required white and black people to be separated. Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela
Mandela was awarded numerous honours for his efforts.
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TERM 2
LEARNING FROM LEADERS
Unit 1: What makes a good leader?

What will I learn in this chapter?

In this chapter you will:

• List points that good leaders should have.

• Describe leaders you know.
• Discuss the qualities of a good leader.
• Learn about the lives of two great world leaders:

 The life story of Nelson Mandela

 The life story of Mahatma Gandhi
 Think about what we could learn from these leaders.

1. Good leaders

The children in a Grade 4 class

think Joshua is a good leader.
They wrote their reasons around
a picture of Joshua. The four
words in the drawing describe
Joshua's qualities. Joshua's
qualities tell us more about what
Joshua is like.
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ACTIVITY 1 : Talk about leaders
1. Talk about each of the qualities around the drawing of Josua. What does each
word mean?
2. Do you think all leaders should have these qualities?
3. Copy the drawing of Josua. Add two other qualities you think a good leader
should have.
4. Write down two qualities you think a leader should NOT have. Explain why
these qualities are not good.

2. What are the qualities of a good leader?

2.1 Good leaders listen to people. Good leaders do not only do what they think is
right. They listen to the people around them. They try to understand what their
people want before they make a decision.
2.2 Good leaders work for the good of the people. They will rather do what is good
for everyone and not only what is good for them.
2.3 Good leaders work with a team. They work for everyone in the group and not
only for some people.
2.4 Good leaders have courage. A good leader will try something new. They are not
afraid to take a risk.
2.5 Good leaders are brave. Good leaders are willing to face danger. They are not
afraid to do the right thing, even when other people threaten them.
2.6 Good leaders are dedicated to their beliefs. Good leaders keep on working for
what they think is right. They do not change their mind about what they believe
in. They will defend what they believe in.
2.7 Good leaders are dedicated to others. Good leaders do things that will be good
for other people. They always make sure that other people are taken care of
before they look after themselves.
2.8 Good leaders will give up something for others. Good leaders are willing to suffer
so that the group can benefit.
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Summary: The qualities of a good leader
Good leaders:
1. listen to people.
2. work for the good of the people.
3. work with a team.
4. have courage.
5. are brave.
6. are dedicated to their beliefs.
7. are dedicated to others.
8. will give up something for others.
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ACTIVITY 2 : Talk about the qualities of a good leader

Look at the picture above and answer the questions below:
1. Mr. Themba is the coach of the under 10 soccer team. Do you think that
makes him a leader? Why?

2. What leadership qualities do you think Mr. Themba should have?

3. Do you think Mr. Themba is a bad coach/leader if he takes someone off

the team for not attending soccer practice? Why?

4. If Mr. Themba refuses to listen to what the group feels, does that make
him a bad coach/leader? Why?

5. What do you think a good leader/coach will do if there are too many
players on the team to play soccer matches.

6. List what you think are the three most important qualities Mr. Themba
should have.
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Unit 2: Life stories of two good leaders

In this unit we will read about two great leaders of two different countries
- Nelson Mandela of our own country, South Africa and Mahatma Ghandi of
India. They are both examples of good leaders and we can learn a lot about
leadership from them.
Mandela and Gandhi led their people to fight injustice and conflict. This
helped their countries to achieve peace, justice and a better life for all
their people.
The life of a great leader : Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was the first president of South Africa
who was chosen by all the people of the country. This
happened in 1994. He is well known all over the world for
his good leadership and kindness to others.
Childhood
Nelson Mandela was born on 18 July 1918 in the Transkei.
Even when he was very young it was clear that Mandela
was going to be a leader. He had a wonderful

personality. He made
people want to follow
him without even
knowing it.
As a young boy Nelson
Mandela spent his
days herding cattle.
His father died when
he was 12 and he was sent to live with the chief of the Tembu tribe. He
impressed his elders because he was mature and intelligent. Many thought
that he would be a chief someday. But he didn’t want to be a chief. He
rather went to school and to University and became a lawyer in 1942.
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When Nelson Mandela was 22, he left his rural home and
went to live in Johannesburg. There he first experienced
racism.
Activity 3: Answer questions about Nelson
Mandela as a young boy
1. When and where was Nelson Mandela born?
2. What did Mandela do as a young boy?
3. Who did he live with when his father died?
4. What leadership qualities did he have that impressed
his elders?
5. Nelson Mandela went to University and became a
____________________________________.
Mandela joined the ANC (African National Congress)
The new government made many laws separating white people from black, coloured
and Indian people. In 1944, Nelson Mandela joined the ANC. The ANC was against
the apartheid laws.
Mandela soon became a leader in the ANC. The ANC organised marches and
campaigns against apartheid laws. Mandela made speeches across the country
about the unfair laws. He believed that all people must be treated fairly. The
government said he was a troublemaker and an enemy of South Africa.
In 1960 the ANC was banned. This was because they resisted apartheid. But
Mandela continued his fight against the government and apartheid laws. In 1964,
Mandela was sentenced to prison for the rest of his life. He was sent to the
prison on Robben Island, an island close to Cape Town.

banned: not
allowed
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Mandela sacrifices his freedom
The apartheid government eventually said that they would free Nelson Mandela.
They would only do this if he agreed to move back to the Transkei, live quietly and
not be involved in politics at all.
He refused to choose his freedom. He felt that this would only benefit himself and
no one else. He was willing to sacrifice his own freedom for others. Nelson Mandela
stayed in prison for 27 years! People gave Nelson Mandela the name of Madiba as
a sign of respect.

Mandela becomes President of South Africa

Eventually Mandela was released on February 11, 1990. After his release, he worked
very hard to reach his goals for a free South Africa. In 1991 he became the
President of the ANC. In 1994; South Africans voted for him to be the President
of the new South Africa. Apartheid came to an end in 1994.

Mandela as South Africa’s leader

As the President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela continued to show New word:
great leadership. For example, he worked very hard for reconciliation Reconciliation:
between the people of South Africa. He made the ex-president FW bringing
De Klerk the Deputy President of South Africa. He tried to make people
everyone get on with each other instead of being angry about the together
past.

In 1999 Mandela handed over leadership of the ANC to Thabo Mbeki

who became the next President of South Africa.
Nelson Mandela was a good leader because:
☺ He was always willing to listen to everyone.
☺ He put the needs of others first.
☺ He had courage because he gave up his freedom for
others.
☺ He was brave because he went to prison to help others.
☺ He put the needs of other people before his own needs.
☺ He spent his life working for the good of others.
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Activity 4: Answer questions about Nelson Mandela as an adult
1. Why did Nelson Mandela join the ANC?
2. What did the ANC do to show that they did not agree with the government
and the apartheid laws?
3. Why was the ANC banned?
4. For how long was Mandela sent to prison?
5. Where was the prison that he was sent to?
6. Say whether the following statement is true or false:
Nelson Mandela chose his freedom because he chose to do what was best
for him.
7. How long did Nelson Mandela stay in prison?
8. What name did the people give Mandela as a sign of respect?
9. Why do you think Mandela was a good leader?
10. In what year did apartheid come to an end?
11. What does democracy mean?
The life of a great leader : Mahatma Gandhi
Another famous great leader is Mohandas Gandhi. Most people know him as
Mahatma which means great soul. People gave Gandhi the name Mahatma as a
sign of respect.
Mahatma Gandhi was similar to Nelson Mandela in lots of ways. Here are some
of the similarities:
They were both lawyers.
They both fought against injustice.
They both helped their countries to become democracies.
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Gandhi’s early life
Gandhi was born in 1869 in India. He was a Hindu.
He went to London to study law and returned
to India in 1891 to work as a lawyer.

In 1893, he came to South Africa to do legal

work. He lived in South Africa for 21 years. But
in South Africa, Gandhi was faced with the
racism against Indian people.
Mahatma Gandhi as a young lawyer

Gandhi as a young man Gandhi at his law office Gandhi and his wife

Activity 5: Answer questions about Gandhi

1. In what year was Gandhi born?
2. Where was he born?
3. What does the word “Mahatma” mean?
4. Why did Gandhi come to South Africa?
5. How many years did Gandhi live in South Africa?
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Look at the following cartoon which shows an important event in Gandhi’s life. This
happened soon after he came to South Africa in 1893.

Activity 6: Find information in a comic strip

Read the comic above and answer the questions.
1. Why did the conductor want to move Gandhi?
2. How did Gandhi react to this?
3. How would you have felt if you had been thrown off the train
even though you had a ticket?
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Gandhi stays in South Africa
After his bad experience on the train, Gandhi wanted to go back to New words:
India. But he felt he had a duty to stay and fight against the unfair
human rights – the
laws which were based on skin colour. When Gandhi lived in South basic things that
Africa, most black and Indian people were not allowed to vote or every person
should have.
live in the same areas as white people. First class coaches on laws – the rules of a
trains were only for white people. Indians and black people had country.
protests – actions
to travel on crowded, uncomfortable Third Class coaches. The that show you are
cartoon above shows how Gandhi was pushed off a train for angry or that you
travelling in the “whites only” section. The laws in South Africa disagree with
something.
did not give Indians human rights. Violence – using
force to get what
Gandhi decided to fight the laws that treated Indians and black you want.
people unfairly because these laws separated the people of South
Africa. But he did not believe in using violence to get what you want. He taught
people how to fight for their rights and make their point peacefully. He said that
protestors should not damage property, hurt people or shout and use bad
language. This new way of fighting (peaceful protests) was given the Hindu name
Satyagraha which means “quiet or peaceful protest” in English This new way to
protest/fight became famous in the world.
Ghandi said:
“Non-violence is the greatest force. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon.”

Gandhi’s house where he lived in Troyeville in Gandhi in prison

Johannesburg. Some of the neighbours tried
to stop Gandhi from living here. They said that
Troyeville was only for white people.
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The great march
One of the ways Gandhi and his people protested was by marching in a very
long march from Natal to Transvaal. Thousands of women, men and children
walked with him in this Great March. Gandhi was arrested many times during
the Great March. Each time he paid the fine and rejoined the marches. Some
of the unfair laws were changed because of the march.

These men, women and children, led by Gandhi, marched peacefully in the Great March to
protest against unfair laws.

Gandhi goes back to India

When Gandhi returned to India he was the most famous person outside India.
He continued to protest against the British laws back in India. Gandhi was
sent to prison many times in India. In 1948 he was assassinated for wanting
fairness and equality in his country.
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Activity 7 : Show understanding of content
1. What did Gandhi do to show that he did not agree with the unfair laws
against Indians and black people in South Africa?
2. Name two of the unfair laws that existed while Gandhi was in South Africa.
3. Write a sentence to explain what a “quiet protest” is. Start your sentence
like this: A Quiet protest is ….
4. Give examples from Gandhi’s time in South Africa that show Gandhi had
these leadership qualities:
(a) He had courage and was brave.
(b) Wholehearted commitment to his beliefs.
5. People called Gandhi “Great Soul”. Do you think this means that he was
perfect?
6. Give an example of something that shows Gandhi was humane and made
mistakes.
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Important events in Gandhi’s life
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Activity 8: Place information in the correct order
1. Put these events in Gandhi’s life in the correct order:
☺ Mahatma Gandhi is born.
☺ Gandhi leaves South Africa.
☺ Gandhi opened a law office in Johannesburg.
☺ Gandhi is sent to prison for breaking the law in India.
☺ Gandhi goes to study law in London.
☺ Gandhi gets married.

Unit 3: What can we learn from Mandela and Gandhi?

We learn that:
☺ Leaders have certain qualities. Some of the qualities both Mandela and Gandhi had are
listed below:

New words
Courage – to be brave and not show
fear
Threaten– tell someone that you
are going to do something bad to
him/her

☺ We also learn that leaders are not always perfect.

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What will we remember about Mandela and Gandhi?+

☺ Both Mandela and Gandhi are remembered for their strong belief in truth and fairness
☺ They are also remembered for their efforts to achieve unity and harmony among
conflicting parties. Both treated their political opponents with kindness and politeness.
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