Heritage and national symbols

Heritage, our national symbols, the anthem and coat of arms, and World Heritage Sites. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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Heritage sites

Site	Why it matters
Sterkfontein (Cradle of Humankind, near Krugersdorp)	Early human fossils
Robben Island	Nelson Mandela was a prisoner here
Mapungubwe	An early African kingdom
Drakensberg (KwaZulu-Natal)	Famous San rock art

Some sites stay ruins, because rebuilding would erase the evidence. Old buildings are restored because they tell the town’s story. Heritage Day (24 September) celebrates our diversity.

Heritage Day: we celebrate our cultures.

Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Preserve

A museum preserves and displays sources; the national archive keeps a country’s old documents.
An oral historian records spoken memories. When a language dies, knowledge and stories go with it.
An heirloom is an object passed down in a family. Tangible heritage: an old stone church.

Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary

Heritage is what we keep from the past; it belongs to all the people. Intangible: you cannot touch it (language, songs).
South Africa has twelve official languages; the anthem uses more than one language to reflect our diversity.
Since 1997 the anthem has joined parts of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika and Die Stem van Suid-Afrika. It is sung in five languages: isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English.
The coat of arms motto means “Diverse people unite” (unity in diversity).
Symbols: king protea, springbok, blue crane, galjoen, real yellowwood.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

Our coat of arms in three words: diverse people unite.

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

True or false?

Read the question and the answer. Is the answer right? Tap True or False.

Now the real quiz!

The quiz has many more questions on this topic. Every question shows straight away whether you are right and explains why.

Take the quiz: Heritage and national symbols

All Grade 6 History summaries

For parents

Read one part together and ask your child to tell it back in their own words.
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Follows CAPS for Grade 6 Social Sciences (History). Always check your teacher’s notes and textbook too.