March
Poem
Susan B. Anthony
Susan Speaks Out
Way back in Susan B. Anthony’s day,
Women were treated a much different way.
Famous American of the Month © Pamela Chanko, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Most could not work, and few went to school.
They did not get to vote. That was the rule.
But Susan B. Anthony put up a fight.
She wanted to vote. She said, “It’s my right!”
She told other women, “Let’s spread the word!
When women can vote, our ideas will be heard!”
The rules about voting are different today.
Thanks to Susan’s hard work, we all have a say!
March
Mini-Biography
Susan B. Anthony
Famous American of the Month © Pamela Chanko, Scholastic Teaching Resources
(Born: 1820; Died: 1906)
In Susan B. Anthony’s time, life
was very unfair to women. Women
could not own property. They
had to give their money to their
husbands. Women could not vote.
There were very few jobs for women, and women
were paid less than men. Most women could not go
to college.
Susan B. Anthony began her fight for women’s
rights when she met Elizabeth Cady Stanton. They
started a newspaper together and formed a group
to fight for the vote. If women could vote, they could
help change the other unfair laws.
Susan gave speeches all over the country about
women’s rights. She even tried to vote in an election!
This was against the law, and she was arrested. But
Susan kept working hard to change the law, and in
1920, women gained the right to vote.
Teaching Tips
A
ttheheartofeverygoodstoryisacompellingcharacter—
andthestoryofourcountryisnodifferent!This
featuresafascinating American woman—
Susan B. Anthony’staleistoldin
the contenteasytounderstand—and remember. As a companion to
poem,you’llfindashort,
morebackgroundinformation.
biographdomuchmore
reading,this
Famous American of the Month © Pamela Chanko, Scholastic Teaching Resources
It’stimetorhyme,America!Enjoy!
Before Reading
Print and distribute copies of the poem,or
interactive whiteboard.Makesurechildrencanseethetext,
whetherworkingwiththewholeclassorasmallgroup.
Beforeintroducingpoemtochildren,findoutwhatthey
mayalreadyknowaboutthesubject.Askquestionstospark
priorknowledge,forinstance:What do you know about George
Washington? Where can you see his face?Youmightthenpass
aroundadollarbillforchildrentoexamine.
Forfigureswhomaybelessfamiliartochildren,suchasDian
Fossey,youmightbeginamoregeneraldiscussion:What’s your
favorite wild animal? Do you think it’s important to protect animals
in the wild? Why?
Finally,readtheperson’snamealoudandhavechildrenlook
attheillustration.Ifappropriate,youmightexplaintheholidayor
occasionbehindyourreading.
During Reading
Thefirsttimeyoureadpoem,readitthewholewaythrough,
givingchildrenachancetoappreciatethelanguage,rhythm,
andrhyme.Useyourvoicetoaccentuatethenaturalbeatsofthe
language,aswellastoexpressmeaning.
Onasubsequentreading,youmighttrydoingaline-by-line
echoreadingofthepoem.Readalinealoud,thenhavechildren
echoitbacktoyou.
Whenchildrenhaveheardthepoemseveraltimes,trydoing
clozeactivitieswithpredictabletext.Youmightplaceastickynote
overthesecondwordinarhymingpair.Whenyoucometothat
pointinthepoem,pauseandhavechildrensupplytheword.
Readthepoemindifferentsharedreadingcombinations.
Partnerscanalternatelines.Groupscandochoralreadingsof
stanzas.Youmighteventryaround-robinversion!
Whenyouread
biography,gooveranyvocabularythatmaybe
difficultforchildren.Thenreadthepiecealoud,slowlyandclearly.
Ifyoulike,useapointeroryourfingertotrackthetext.
Youcanusechunksofthebiographytextforfluencypractice.
Modelpacing,tone,andexpression,andthenhavechildrenrepeat
thechunkafteryou.
After Reading
Invitechildrentosharetheirfeelingsaboutthesubjectand
hisorheraccomplishments.Whatdidtheylikebestaboutthis
person?Iftheycouldmeettheperson,whatquestionswouldthey
ask?Ifchildrenhavealotofquestionsaboutaparticularsubject,
do research to find out more!
Invitechildrentocreatetheirownillustrationsforthepoem.
Theycanshowasceneinthesubject’slifeandaddacaption.Bind
thepagestogetherforaclassbook!
Havechildrendramatizeascenefromtheperson’slifestory.
Theycanworkinsmallgroupstoimproviseactionanddialogue.
Givechildrenawritingprompt.Theycanwritealettertothe
person,orpretendtobethepersonandwriteajournalentry.
Youngerchildrenmightwriteapostcardordictateashortmessage.
Trythecomprehensionquestionsbelowtoassesshowwell
childrengraspedthebiographicalinformation.Youcanusethe
questionsashomework,inclass,orforanimpromptuquiz-showstylegame!
SeeHowWellYouKnow…
Susan B. Anthony
Name two ways life was unfair to women in Susan B. Anthony’s time.
What did Susan B. Anthony try to do that was against the law?