This Year 5 reading comprehension unit centres on the original non-fiction text Equality, Freedom and Peace – The Life of Nelson Mandela by children’s author Dan Smith.
The resource includes both illustrated and plain versions of the text, available as PDFs and PowerPoint presentations. There are options that highlight key sections or present the text plainly to suit different teaching needs.
An annotated version of the text provides teachers with detailed notes for close reading. This highlights opportunities for drama, discussion or visualisation to deepen pupils’ understanding.
Vocabulary-focused lessons
The pack features a carefully structured three-part teaching sequence that includes vocabulary-focused lessons looking at the words ‘disobedience,’ ‘transfer,’ and ‘founded.’
Each vocabulary lesson uses engaging PowerPoint slides to help pupils understand word meanings, usage, synonyms and antonyms.
Alongside vocabulary, the resource offers additional activities and worksheets designed to develop key comprehension skills such as retrieval, sequencing, prediction and inference.
These activities also encourage children to connect with the text personally, express opinions and link the story of Nelson Mandela to wider themes and other texts.
You'll receive full teaching notes to guide delivery and adapt lessons to your class’s needs. The resource also incorporates “Big Questions” and role-play opportunities, such as hot seating and conscience alley, to promote critical thinking and empathy.
This comprehensive pack fits seamlessly into our Real Comprehension whole-school programme. This provides thematic units covering fiction, nonfiction and poetry to support reading comprehension from Year 1 to Year 6.
Included resources:
- Original text PDFs: illustrated, plain and annotated versions
- PowerPoint presentations of the original text: with and without highlighted sections
- Three vocabulary focus PowerPoints and related worksheets
- Big Questions PowerPoints and worksheets
- Images of ANC peaceful protests for role-play activities
- Question stems for hot seating exercises
- Transcript of Mandela’s presidency acceptance speech
- Writing in role worksheets and guidance
- Revisiting the text worksheets
- Detailed teaching notes with suggested reading sequences, drama ideas and comprehension support