Follow the extraordinary life of Nelson Mandela, from his early fight against apartheid to his role in leading South Africa into a new era of democracy and reconciliation. Students will explore how Mandela stood up against injustice, endured years of imprisonment, and helped unite a divided nation through courage, perseverance, and forgiveness.
This Kahoot examines key moments in Mandela’s journey, including the struggle against apartheid, his 27 years in prison, his release in 1990, and his election as South Africa’s first Black president. Students will discover how his leadership, resilience, and commitment to equality continue to influence Black history and inspire people around the world today.
Watch the related BBC videos, The Remarkable Life of Nelson Mandela and Nelson Mandela Walks Free, then invite your Grade 6–12 students to test their knowledge and deepen their understanding of this iconic global leader.
Meet Seven Women Leaders From All Around the World Who Broke Barriers.
They navigated crisis, criticism, and political pressure. They were pioneers, reformers, and power brokers — but they were also complex figures shaped by culture, controversy, and the eras in which they governed. In honor of Women’s History Month, this video playlist explores influential leaders from around the globe through BBC clips featuring Hillary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Michelle Bachelet, and more.
From national parliaments to international financial institutions, these women led in vastly different political systems and cultural landscapes. Some championed social reform. Others advanced market-driven policies. All faced intense scrutiny — not only for their decisions, but for their leadership styles, identities, and the expectations placed upon women in power.
This thoughtful playlist invites students to examine leadership with nuance: How do gender and politics intersect? How do public expectations shape women leaders differently? And what can we learn from both their accomplishments and their controversies?
In Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of Lithuania, learn how Grybauskaitė rose to leadership in a country shaped by Soviet control and conflict. Although she never planned to become a leader, she accepted the responsibility and later defended Lithuania’s independence with confidence, even when facing powerful leaders who expected her to be afraid. This video is excerpted from BBC's Her Story: The Female Revolution, which explores the history and impact of women’s rights movements and achievements of women.
In Michelle Bachelet, Chile's First Woman President, learn how Michelle Bachelet challenged traditional expectations in a conservative country. As an atheist and a divorced single mother, she promoted gender equality by appointing an equal number of men and women to her cabinet, reshaping leadership norms. This video is excerpted from BBC's Her Story: The Female Revolution, which explores the history and impact of women’s rights movements and achievements of women.
In Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, learn how President Abraham Lincoln issued a bold declaration during the third year of the Civil War that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories were to be free. While limited in immediate effect, the proclamation allowed Black men to join the Union Army and became one of the greatest documents of human freedom in U.S. history.
In Abraham Lincoln, the Road to the Confederacy, and the Civil War , learn how growing sectional divisions over slavery and politics led southern states to secede from the Union. After Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860, seven states left the Union before he even took office, forming the Confederate States of America with Jefferson Davis as their president. Tensions erupted on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, officially beginning the Civil War.
In Andrew Jackson and the Age of the Common Man, learn how Andrew Jackson became a national hero and the seventh president of the United States. His military victories, including the Battle of New Orleans, earned him the nickname “Old Hickory.” Jackson’s presidency marked a turning point in American politics, increasing voter participation and promoting reforms that empowered ordinary citizens, though his policies did not extend to Native Americans, resulting in the Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears.
In Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, learn how the colonies made the case for independence from Britain during the Revolutionary War. A Committee of Five, including Thomas Jefferson, drafted the document, drawing on ideas from the Virginia Declaration of Rights and John Locke. The Declaration outlined reasons for independence, the philosophy behind it, the king’s offenses, and concluded with the resolution for freedom. It was approved on July 4, 1776, and its original draft is now on permanent display in Washington, D.C.
In James K. Polk and the Push West, learn how President James K. Polk pursued the goal of expanding the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Polk oversaw the annexation of Texas, negotiated the Oregon Territory with Britain, and led the country through the Mexican-American War, securing California and other western lands. His presidency was marked by rapid territorial growth and national ambition, though it came with significant casualties and controversy.
In James Monroe, the Monroe Doctrine, and a Growing Nation, learn how President James Monroe led the United States during a period of rising national pride and optimism after the War of 1812. His administration obtained Florida from Spain, and in 1823, Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine, declaring the Western Hemisphere closed to new European colonies while pledging U.S. neutrality in European conflicts. These actions helped establish the United States as a full-fledged nation, though the "Era of Good Feelings" would eventually come to a bitter end as political and sectional tensions resurfaced.
In Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, learn how Theodore Roosevelt resigned his government position to lead a volunteer cavalry unit in the Spanish-American War. The Rough Riders, a diverse group of cowboys, Native Americans, and regular citizens, fought on foot in Cuba and captured San Juan Hill under Roosevelt’s leadership, earning him national fame and a hero’s welcome. This victory became one of Roosevelt’s most celebrated moments and helped pave his path to the presidency.
In Thomas Jefferson Takes Power, learn how Thomas Jefferson became the first president inaugurated in Washington, D.C., and promoted freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. He significantly reduced the national debt, reformed taxes, and faced early foreign challenges, including confrontations with Barbary pirates. Jefferson also oversaw the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the United States, and commissioned exploration of the Mississippi River.
Follow the extraordinary life of Nelson Mandela, from his early fight against apartheid to his role in leading South Africa into a new era of democracy and reconciliation. Students will explore how Mandela stood up against injustice, endured years of imprisonment, and helped unite a divided nation through courage, perseverance, and forgiveness.
This Kahoot examines key moments in Mandela’s journey, including the struggle against apartheid, his 27 years in prison, his release in 1990, and his election as South Africa’s first Black president. Students will discover how his leadership, resilience, and commitment to equality continue to influence Black history and inspire people around the world today.
Watch the related BBC videos, The Remarkable Life of Nelson Mandela and Nelson Mandela Walks Free, then invite your Grade 6–12 students to test their knowledge and deepen their understanding of this iconic global leader.
Meet Seven Women Leaders From All Around the World Who Broke Barriers.
They navigated crisis, criticism, and political pressure. They were pioneers, reformers, and power brokers — but they were also complex figures shaped by culture, controversy, and the eras in which they governed. In honor of Women’s History Month, this video playlist explores influential leaders from around the globe through BBC clips featuring Hillary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Michelle Bachelet, and more.
From national parliaments to international financial institutions, these women led in vastly different political systems and cultural landscapes. Some championed social reform. Others advanced market-driven policies. All faced intense scrutiny — not only for their decisions, but for their leadership styles, identities, and the expectations placed upon women in power.
This thoughtful playlist invites students to examine leadership with nuance: How do gender and politics intersect? How do public expectations shape women leaders differently? And what can we learn from both their accomplishments and their controversies?
In Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of Lithuania, learn how Grybauskaitė rose to leadership in a country shaped by Soviet control and conflict. Although she never planned to become a leader, she accepted the responsibility and later defended Lithuania’s independence with confidence, even when facing powerful leaders who expected her to be afraid. This video is excerpted from BBC's Her Story: The Female Revolution, which explores the history and impact of women’s rights movements and achievements of women.
In Michelle Bachelet, Chile's First Woman President, learn how Michelle Bachelet challenged traditional expectations in a conservative country. As an atheist and a divorced single mother, she promoted gender equality by appointing an equal number of men and women to her cabinet, reshaping leadership norms. This video is excerpted from BBC's Her Story: The Female Revolution, which explores the history and impact of women’s rights movements and achievements of women.
In Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, learn how President Abraham Lincoln issued a bold declaration during the third year of the Civil War that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories were to be free. While limited in immediate effect, the proclamation allowed Black men to join the Union Army and became one of the greatest documents of human freedom in U.S. history.
In Abraham Lincoln, the Road to the Confederacy, and the Civil War , learn how growing sectional divisions over slavery and politics led southern states to secede from the Union. After Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860, seven states left the Union before he even took office, forming the Confederate States of America with Jefferson Davis as their president. Tensions erupted on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, officially beginning the Civil War.
In Andrew Jackson and the Age of the Common Man, learn how Andrew Jackson became a national hero and the seventh president of the United States. His military victories, including the Battle of New Orleans, earned him the nickname “Old Hickory.” Jackson’s presidency marked a turning point in American politics, increasing voter participation and promoting reforms that empowered ordinary citizens, though his policies did not extend to Native Americans, resulting in the Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears.
In Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, learn how the colonies made the case for independence from Britain during the Revolutionary War. A Committee of Five, including Thomas Jefferson, drafted the document, drawing on ideas from the Virginia Declaration of Rights and John Locke. The Declaration outlined reasons for independence, the philosophy behind it, the king’s offenses, and concluded with the resolution for freedom. It was approved on July 4, 1776, and its original draft is now on permanent display in Washington, D.C.
In James K. Polk and the Push West, learn how President James K. Polk pursued the goal of expanding the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Polk oversaw the annexation of Texas, negotiated the Oregon Territory with Britain, and led the country through the Mexican-American War, securing California and other western lands. His presidency was marked by rapid territorial growth and national ambition, though it came with significant casualties and controversy.
In James Monroe, the Monroe Doctrine, and a Growing Nation, learn how President James Monroe led the United States during a period of rising national pride and optimism after the War of 1812. His administration obtained Florida from Spain, and in 1823, Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine, declaring the Western Hemisphere closed to new European colonies while pledging U.S. neutrality in European conflicts. These actions helped establish the United States as a full-fledged nation, though the "Era of Good Feelings" would eventually come to a bitter end as political and sectional tensions resurfaced.
In Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, learn how Theodore Roosevelt resigned his government position to lead a volunteer cavalry unit in the Spanish-American War. The Rough Riders, a diverse group of cowboys, Native Americans, and regular citizens, fought on foot in Cuba and captured San Juan Hill under Roosevelt’s leadership, earning him national fame and a hero’s welcome. This victory became one of Roosevelt’s most celebrated moments and helped pave his path to the presidency.
In Thomas Jefferson Takes Power, learn how Thomas Jefferson became the first president inaugurated in Washington, D.C., and promoted freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. He significantly reduced the national debt, reformed taxes, and faced early foreign challenges, including confrontations with Barbary pirates. Jefferson also oversaw the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the United States, and commissioned exploration of the Mississippi River.