Lesson Plan

• Describe the development and key features of apartheid legislation from 1948 to 1994.
• Explain the major forms of resistance and their impact on South African society.
• Analyse the role of key political figures in the transition to democracy.
• Evaluate the social and economic legacies of apartheid in contemporary South Africa.

• Projector and screen
• Printed timeline handout
• Map of South Africa
• Primary source excerpts (Freedom Charter, Sharpeville photos)
• Worksheet for timeline activity
• Short video clip on the Soweto Uprising
• Markers and sticky notes

Begin with a provocative question: “What would daily life be like if the government decided where you could live, work, or even speak?” Connect this to students’ prior knowledge of civil‑rights movements. Outline the success criteria – students will be able to trace apartheid’s rise, identify resistance strategies, and assess its lasting impact.

1. Do‑now (5'): Quick quiz on pre‑1948 South African demographics.
2. Mini‑lecture with timeline (10'): Use projector to present key legislation and events.
3. Primary‑source analysis (15'): Small groups examine excerpts and answer guiding questions.
4. Whole‑class discussion (10'): Share findings, highlight resistance movements.
5. Timeline creation activity (15'): Groups construct a visual timeline on poster paper.
6. Exit ticket (5'): One‑sentence summary of how apartheid ended and its legacy.

Recap the major legislation, resistance actions, and the 1994 democratic transition. Students complete an exit ticket reflecting on one lasting effect of apartheid today. For homework, assign a brief reflective paragraph linking the South African experience to another global struggle for equality.