Susan B. Anthony
W
Using the Mini-Book
After introducing children
to Susan B. Anthony, have
them make the mini-book
(pages 62–63). Then read
the story together as a class,
encouraging children to
track the text with their
finger. (You might introduce
any new vocabulary before
reading.) Later, invite
children to reread their
books in small groups, with
partners, or individually.
Related Reading
(1820–1906)
omen’s History Month, recognized in March, offers a perfect
occasion to highlight Susan B. Anthony and her tireless efforts to
gain voting rights for women. Anthony was born into a Quaker family in
Adams, Massachusetts. She learned to read and write by the age of five and
was able to get a good education despite growing up during a time when
women were considered subordinate to men. Anthony became a teacher and
taught school in New York for more than ten years. When she spoke out
about her teaching salary being one-fifth that of her male colleagues, she
was fired.
Anthony worked most of her lifetime to elevate women to equal
status with men. She was also active in the temperance and anti-slavery
movements. Anthony’s goals for women’s rights included giving women the
right to own property, providing equal pay to that of men for the same job,
and allowing women to speak publicly. In 1872, she and 14 other women
voted in the presidential election. All 15 were arrested for voting illegally,
but only Anthony was tried, convicted, and fined for breaking the law. In
1920—fourteen years after Anthony’s death—the 19th Amendment of the
U.S. Constitution was passed, giving women the right to vote.
Anthony and her lifelong friend, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, published a
weekly newspaper called the Revolution, in which they wrote articles
urging women to vote.
Because she was a woman, Anthony was not permitted to speak on her
own behalf in court when she was brought to trial in 1872.
Anthony was fined $100 for voting. She declared that she would never
pay the fine—and she never did!
In 1979, Anthony was featured on a one-dollar coin to honor her work
for women’s rights.
Invite children to make four signs, each labeled in large print with V, O, T,
or E. Have them write the corresponding key word or phrase from the play
(pages 64–66) on the back of each sign: voting rights, opinions, trust, and equal.
When reading the play, children can hold up each letter as it is named in the
chant and then turn the sign to reveal its key word or phrase.
Anthony worked to change things for the better for women and others.
Challenge children to brainstorm things that need to be changed for the
better in their neighborhood, school, and classroom. You might list their
responses on chart paper. Then invite children to complete the activity on
page 67.
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
61
by
girls were.
They were taught more things than
In the 1840s, boys sat up front in school.
Working for
Women’s Rights
Susan B.
Anthony
2
3
1
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Susan thought this was unfair.
Men were paid more than women.
were not the same for everyone.
When Susan B. Anthony was little, things
4
5
6
7
for women’s rights!
right to vote! Thank you, Susan, for working
She asked people to treat women the
same as men.
After many years, women finally won the
She spoke out everywhere she went.
Only men could vote.
She voted! People said she broke the law.
Susan believed things would get better
if women could vote.
One day, Susan did a brave thing.
Men’s ideas were respected more.
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources • (page 63)
Susan B. Anthony
A Crime at the Time
Read-Aloud Play
Characters
Susan
Judge Hunt
Girls
Lawyer
Narrators 1 & 2
Boys
Susan:
Come on, ladies!
Let’s go vote.
Girls:
Women can’t vote.
It’s against the law!
Susan:
Judge Selden says women can vote.
I’m voting for president. Who’s with me?
Girls:
We’ll go! We’ll vote, too!
Narrator 1:
Susan and her friends voted.
A few days later they were arrested.
Narrator 2:
In the 1800s, women didn’t vote.
They could go to jail for voting.
But Susan was not one to give up.
Narrator 1:
She gave speeches about women’s
right to vote. She led rallies to
get the law changed.
Narrator 2:
Susan had to go to court because she voted.
64
A Crime at the Time
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Judge Hunt:
Order in the court!
Would the court please come to order?
Lawyer:
We are here for a trial.
Judge Hunt:
How does Miss Anthony plead?
Lawyer:
Not guilty, your honor.
Boys:
Not guilty?
Judge Hunt:
Is it true that she voted for president
on November 5, 1872?
Lawyer:
Yes, your honor.
Judge Hunt:
Isn’t she a woman?
Lawyer:
Yes, your honor.
Judge Hunt:
It’s a crime for women to vote!
She must go to jail.
Lawyer:
If her brother had voted, it would have been
a good thing. Right?
Judge Hunt:
You’re right. That would be good.
Lawyer:
Then why is it a crime for a woman to vote?
Judge Hunt:
The law does not let women vote.
The jury must find Miss Anthony guilty.
Boys:
They must find her guilty.
Judge Hunt:
Miss Anthony, you must pay a $100 fine.
You broke the law by voting.
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
A Crime at the Time
65
Susan:
I will never pay even a dollar.
Judge Hunt:
Miss Anthony, go home.
I will not put you in jail, but you cannot vote.
Narrator 1:
Susan worked all her life to help women
get the same rights as men.
Narrator 2:
Her ideas were new at that time.
Sometimes people were mean to her.
Narrator 1:
In her old age, people asked Susan
why she worked so hard and so long.
Narrator 2:
She just said, “I had to do my part.”
Narrator 1:
When Susan died in 1906, only four states
let women vote.
Narrator 2:
But in 1920, Congress gave all women
the right to vote.
Girls:
Thank you, Miss Anthony!
We’re glad you took a stand.
Boys:
V is for the voting rights
All citizens are due.
Girls:
O is for opinions
They differ, it is true.
Boys:
T is for the trust we place
in leaders that we choose.
Girls:
E means we are equal
Come on! Get out the news!
The End
66
A Crime at the Time
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Susan B. Anthony
Name:
Date:
Activity Page
Changing for the Better
Write about three problems you know of.
How would you make things better?
In My
m
Classroo
see is
I
m
ble
A pro
In My
School
A problem
I see is
to
e
t
o
Iv
In My
rhood
Neighbo
A
I vote to
see is
I
m
e
l
prob
o
t
e
t
o
Iv
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
67
How to Make the
Mini-Books
Materials
scissors
The mini-books require very few materials, and children can
complete them at their desk or at a learning center. To get
started, provide pre-trimmed copies of the mini-book pages—
you can use a paper cutter to cut along the dashed line on each
copy. Then demonstrate the steps below. (Or assemble the
books in advance.)
1.
Cut each reproducible
page in half along the
solid line. Then fold the
front cover/page 1 along
the dotted center line.
Keep the fold to the
right side.
2.
Repeat the folding
process for each of the
remaining page pairs:
pages 2/3, 4/5, and 6/7.
Stack the pages in order
with the cover on top
and all of the folds on
the right side.
crayons or markers
stapler
3.
Staple the pages
together along the
left edge.
Teaching Tips and Extensions
Creative Timing
With many of the Americans in this resource having ties to several seasonal observances, be
creative with the timing you choose for using these activities. For example, the unit on Susan B.
Anthony is suggested for use during Women’s History Month (March), but the activities are also
a perfect fit for pre-election days in October and November. The unit on Alexander Graham Bell
(July) might instead be used during National Inventors’ Month in August.
Multi-Use Mini-Books
Mix things up a bit with these suggestions for using the mini-books:
Mask the text of a mini-book and make a copy of the pages. Then cut out the text from
another copy. Laminate all the pieces, place them in a center, and encourage children to
match the corresponding text to each page.
6
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Have children glue the mini-book pages, in sequence, to a strip of accordion-folded bulletin
board paper. Children can then unfold the strip, one section at a time, to read the story.
Highlight selected words in a mini-book and place it in a literacy center. Invite children to
search other books, materials, and displays in the center to find words that match those
highlighted in the mini-book.
Play Props and Productions
After reading through a play a few times, invite children to suggest embellishments they might
add to make the production more interesting, such as an interesting prop, a musical link, or even
an announcer to provide oral credits at the conclusion of the play. By encouraging children to
contribute to the plans and preparations for the play, they will become more fully engaged.
All-in-One Activity Pages
A class set of completed activity pages makes an interesting read. For a quick way to compile
them, hole-punch the left side of the pages and put them in a slim binder. Place the book on your
classroom bookshelves for children to enjoy.
The graphic organizers (pages
Nam
e:
9–11) can be used individually
One Special American
American Pride
Mystery
American
or with any unit in this book
to help children respond to
what they learn. After children
complete the activities on pages
USA
9 and 10, you might compile
them into a notebook, then
I wonder . . .
invite children to read and enjoy
the pages on their own. To use
the organizer on page 11, have
children fill out the page, glue
it to a 9- by 12-inch envelope, and place objects and pictures related to that famous person inside the
envelope. If desired, punch holes along the left side of the envelopes, taking care not to puncture any items
inside, and bind them in a notebook. Place the notebook in your class library to introduce a unique and
interesting book format for children to enjoy.
To extend the use of any of these graphic organizers, invite children to select, research, and
complete the activity for another American with traits similar to a person featured in this book. For
example, after filling in a graphic organizer for Abraham Lincoln, ask children to complete the same
activity for another president. Similarly, you might have them use the graphic organizers to show what they
have learned about famous Americans that can be connected to a particular national observance (such as
Women’s History Month), topic (such as explorers or inventors), or month of the year.
Name:
Date:
Graphic Organizer
Name:
Date:
Graphic Organizer
Born:
Name:
Date:
Graphic Organizer
(date)
Name:
Lived:
Ways to
describe this
American:
(where)
Birth
Born:
Best
known for:
Date:
Hom
e Pla
ce:
(city,
state)
Occupation:
(date)
Draw the person.
Draw the person.
One thing this person did:
One special thing this person
did for our country:
Another thing this person did:
Things that
made this
person special:
How this person
inspires me:
1. Choose a famous person
to learn about.
2. Read and talk about
this person.
3. Complete this page.
4. Glue this page to an
envelope.
5. Put pictures and things
inside that give clues
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
9
10
about who the person is.
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
11
7
Name:
Date:
Graphic Organizer
American Pride
Name:
Ways to
describe this
American:
Born:
(date)
Draw the person.
One thing this person did:
Another thing this person did:
I wonder . . .
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
9
Name:
Date:
Graphic Organizer
One Special American
Born:
(date)
Lived:
(where)
Occupation:
Draw the person.
USA
One special thing this person
did for our country:
10
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
How this person
inspires me:
Name:
Date:
Graphic Organizer
Mystery
American
D
Birth
Best
known fo
r:
ate:
Hom
ce:
e Pla
stat
(city,
e)
Things that
made this
person special:
1. Choose a famous person
to learn about.
2. Read and talk about
this person.
3. Complete this page.
4. Glue this page to an
envelope.
5. Put pictures and things
inside that give clues
about who the person is.
Person of the Month: Famous Americans © 2011 by Karen Shelton, Scholastic Teaching Resources
11