Nelson Mandela KS1 Outdoor Ideas — Inspiring, Active, and Sustainable Learning
Bring history to life and inspire young minds with our Nelson Mandela KS1 Outdoor Ideas pack. Designed for teachers and educators working with Key Stage 1, this resource helps children explore the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela through engaging, hands-on activities in the natural environment.
This unique pack is built around the Muddy Puddle Teacher approach, encouraging child-led, active, and sustainable learning outside the classroom. By using simple, natural, and reusable materials such as bamboo sticks, clay, ropes, and sports equipment, children develop a deep and meaningful connection to Mandela’s key messages of fairness, perseverance, and unity.
What’s included:
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Three detailed outdoor lesson ideas linked to the KS1 history curriculum
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Activities such as obstacle courses, clay peace sculptures, model village building, message sticks, and more
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Clear learning objectives and step-by-step instructions
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Suggestions for reflection and discussion to build empathy and critical thinking
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Tips for using sustainable materials and encouraging environmental awareness
Key benefits:
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Encourages active, collaborative learning
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Supports emotional and social development
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Connects historical concepts to children’s real-world experiences
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Promotes environmental responsibility through nature-based activities
Perfect for teachers, forest school leaders, and home educators looking to offer creative, memorable learning experiences. Inspire children to explore big ideas about kindness, fairness, and courage — all while developing a love for learning outdoors.
Teaching Nelson Mandela to KS1: The Power of Outdoor and Sustainable Learning
When we think of history lessons, we often imagine children sitting at desks, reading from textbooks or watching videos. But what if we took this learning outdoors, into nature, using natural and sustainable materials? Teaching KS1 children about inspiring figures like Nelson Mandela offers a perfect opportunity to do just that — creating memorable, meaningful learning experiences that stay with them for life.
Who was Nelson Mandela?
Nelson Mandela was a courageous leader who fought against apartheid in South Africa — a system of unfair laws that kept people apart based on race. He spent 27 years in prison because he stood up for equality and fairness. After his release, he became South Africa’s first Black president and worked to bring people together peacefully.
Although this is a big and complex topic, even young children can understand his key messages: kindness, fairness, and standing up for what is right.
Why take learning outdoors?
Outdoor learning is much more than simply spending time outside. It encourages children to explore big ideas through movement, creativity, and teamwork. When children build, run, sculpt, and create using natural materials, they form deeper, more personal connections to historical topics.
Outdoor learning also supports:
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Physical health and well-being through active play and movement
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Curiosity and creativity by allowing children to investigate and experiment
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Social skills through teamwork and problem-solving
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Improved understanding and memory, as hands-on experiences help embed learning
The Muddy Puddle Teacher approach, for example, is designed to help teachers take lessons outdoors in a purposeful, curriculum-focused way. You can learn more about this approach on the Muddy Puddle Teacher website.
The importance of sustainability
Using natural and recycled materials helps teach children to respect and care for the environment — a value that connects closely to Mandela’s lifelong commitment to fairness and responsibility. Simple resources such as bamboo sticks, clay, ropes, and fallen leaves can become powerful tools for storytelling and exploration.
Teaching sustainability alongside Mandela’s story helps children understand that taking care of each other and the world around us are both essential parts of building a fairer, kinder society.
Examples of Mandela-inspired outdoor activities
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Create obstacle courses to represent Mandela’s long journey and struggles, showing children how perseverance leads to change.
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Build village huts using bamboo and clay to learn about Mandela’s childhood home in Qunu.
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Make clay sculptures to represent peace and freedom, allowing children to express what these ideas mean to them.
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Design “message sticks” using natural materials, encouraging children to share their hopes for a kinder, more equal world.
Planting seeds of kindness and courage
Nelson Mandela’s life shows us that even the smallest actions can lead to great change. Teaching his story outdoors using sustainable materials helps children learn about kindness, resilience, and respect for others and the environment.
For more background on Nelson Mandela’s life, visit the Nelson Mandela Foundation website.
Next time you plan a history topic, consider stepping outside the classroom. Encourage children to explore, create, and reflect in nature — and watch as they develop not only knowledge of history, but also a lifelong love of learning and care for the world around them.
