Women’s History Month
Elementary Resources
Lesson Plans & Resources
Women’s History Month for Teachers
Put the power of primary sources to work in the classroom. Browse ready-to-use lesson plans,
student activities, collection guides and research aids.
The Library of Congress
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Women's History
Exhibitions, special presentations, lesson plans and other materials gathered from
throughout the Library of Congress on the topic of Women's History.
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Women Pioneers in American Memory
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Women's Suffrage
This primary source set includes images, sound files, song sheets, political cartoons and
maps and charts to help teach about women's suffrage in America.
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Women's Words of Wisdom
National Archives
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Petition of Amelia Bloomer Regarding Suffrage in the West
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Little House in the Census - Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder
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Woman Suffrage and the 19th Amendment
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An Act of Courage, The Arrest Records of Rosa Parks
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The Constitution: The 19th Amendment
National Endowment for the Humanities
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Eleanor Roosevelt and the Rise of Social Reform in the 1930’s
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Remember the Ladies: The First Ladies
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Zora Neale Hurston
National Gallery of Art
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Inside Scoop: Georgia O'Keeffe (PDF)
“When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the
moment. I want to give that world to someone else.” -Georgia O'Keeffe American artist
Georgia O'Keeffe (1887–1986) is known for her paintings of flowers, bones, shells,
stones, leaves, trees, mountains, and other natural forms.
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Inside Scoop: Mary Cassatt (PDF)
“I have had a joy from which no one can rob me —I have been able to touch some people
with my art.” -Mary Cassatt
Mary Cassatt (1844 – 1926) is best known for her portrayals of mothers and children. She
became a successful professional artist at a time when it was very difficult for a woman
to do so.
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Inside Scoop: Elisabeth Vigée-LeBrun (PDF)
Vigée-LeBrun was one of late-eighteenth-century France’s most successful portrait
painters—often she had a waiting list! Why was she so popular? Because Vigée-LeBrun
pleased her clients by making them look attractive, with graceful poses and happy
expressions.
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Louise Bourgeois, Spider, “Lizzy & Gordon Visit the Sculpture Garden”
Louise Bourgeois created this giant spider sculpture to represent her mother (who died
when she was 21). That might seem weird (if you love your mother and are afraid of
spiders), but to Louise, a spider represents a powerful, yet delicate protectress. Also, her
mother ran a tapestry repair business where she wove fabric like a spider spinning a web.
National Park Service
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Teaching with Historic Places: Women's History
Women's History Month Lesson Plans and Ideas
Mini-unit on Women's History (4th – 5th Grade)
Assessing Women's Past Through Art (4th – 5th Grade)
An Interpretation Activity
Women's Suffrage powerpoint
Suffrage - When, Where, and Obstacles to Overcome (4th – 5th Grade)
Using Women's Words (3rd – 5th Grade)
Women's Rights - Ancient Egypt and the United States (3rd – 5th Grade)
Women in Alaska's History (3rd – 5th Grade)
A webquest with crafts, activities, and a lot of useful information. Developed especially for
students.
A Mini Unit on Rosa Parks (3rd – 4th Grade)
A Mini Unit on Sojourner Truth (4th – 5th Grade)
A Mini Unit on Harriet Tubman (4th – 5th Grade)
WOMEN'S HISTORY LESSONS FROM SCHOLASTIC
Women's History Activities (Grades K–6)
Women's History Activities (Grades 7–12)
Moment in History: A Writing Project (Grades 3–8)
Women During World War II (Grades 5–12)
Women in Television (Grades 5–12)
Women in the News (Grades 5–12)
Uncommon Soldiers: Women During the Civil War (Grades 5–12)
Women's History Month Cyberhunt (Grades 3–8)
CLASSROOM PLAYS
All-American Girls: A Play About Baseball (3rd – 5th Grade)
Alice Paul: We Want to Vote (3rd – 5th Grade)
Lucy Stone: Crusader for Freedom (3rd – 5th Grade)
Dr. Mary Walker's War: An American History Play (3rd – 5th Grade)
Women's History Month Internet Resources
1917 - Votes for Women - Suffrage (Grades K–5)
Women's History Web Links by Time Period
Women's History Month Printouts
Women's History Month at abcteach (Grades K–5)
This is a site that charges a membership fee, but does have a few resources for free.
Women in History (1st – 8th Grade)
Resources and printables from eduplace.
Academy of Achievement
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Achievement TV
Achievement TV is a revolutionary education resource - a library of unique video
programs that can bring the greatest achievers of our age into your classroom. Students,
from at-risk to advanced placement, can discover new role models through Achievement
Television.
Each Achievement TV program is accompanied by support materials such as teachers'
guides and student handouts.
Interviews include: Maya Angelou, Whoopi Goldberg, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks
and Oprah Winfrey
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Achievement *Net Curriculum
Most curriculum materials are prepared for the following grade levels: 4-6, 7-9, 10-12,
and post 12th grade. Please check the specific titles for availability.
History and Timelines
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The History of Women's History
Timeline: U.S. Women's Rights Movement
Famous Firsts by American Women
The Wage Gap: A History
The Best and Worst State Economies for Women
Timeline: Women in Sports
Women's Suffrage Granted, by Country
Landmark Supreme Court Cases in Women's Rights
International Women's Day (March 8)
Five Women's Museums to Know
Notable Speeches by U.S. Women
Places Where Women Made History
Slideshow: Places Where Women Made History
Women in World History
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Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America's Women Physicians
The National Women's History Project
Women Leaders
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Biographies of Notable Women
Most Powerful Women in the World
The First Ladies Portrait Gallery
Women Political Leaders Throughout History
Facts About Women in the House and the Senate
Women in Congress
Top Female CEOs
Women in Sports
Quotations by Women
Award Winners
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Women's Hall of Fame
Women Nobel Prize Winners
Slideshow: Women Nobel Prize Winners for Literature
Slideshow: Women Nobel Peace Prize Winners
Slideshow: Women Nobel Prize Winners in Science
Women Pulitzer Prize Winners for Letters, Drama, and Music
Women Pulitzer Prize Winners in Journalism
Fun Features for Kids
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Women on Pedestals
Guide to Worldwide Goddesses
Female Ingenuity
Like Mother, Like Daughter
Follow in Their Footsteps
Mothers of Invention
Children of Invention
Women and Work
Women Who Left Their "Stamps" on History
Quizzes and Crosswords
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Quiz: Famous Women World Rulers
Quiz: Oscar Women
Quiz: Women's History Month
Quiz: Women Adventurers
Quiz: Famous Quotations by Women
Quiz: Notable African-American Women
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Quiz: First Ladies
Quiz: Female Writers and Performers
Quiz: Groundbreaking Women
Quiz: Women of the Ancient World
Quiz: Women in History
Quiz: Suffrage Movement
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Crossword: Women Songwriters
Crossword: Women in Sports
Crossword: First Ladies & Kids
Crossword: "Her-Story"
Women's is History Month
22 Videos
6 Photo Galleries
History.com
Growing out of a small-town school event in California, Women's History Month is a celebration
of women's contributions to history, culture and society. The United States observes it annually
throughout the month of March.
More to Explore
PEOPLE AND GROUPS
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Alice Paul
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Lucretia Mott
Carrie Chapman Catt
Lucy Stone
Ida B. Wells-Barnett
THEMES
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The Fight for Women's Suffrage
Women Who Fought for the Vote
Famous Firsts in American Women's History
EVENTS
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American Civil War
World War I
Related Topics
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Women's Movement
Black History Month
Get to know the women who've changed our world
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2009 National Women's History Project honors women in the environmental movement.
New biographies on Rachel Carson, Julia Hill, Jane Goodall and Alice Waters
In 2008, women took center stage on the campaign trail. Look for new biographies of
Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Michelle Obama
Our HISTORY is Our Strength
March is celebrated as National Women’s History Month in thousands of schools,
communities and workplaces across the nation as well as on military bases throughout the world.
This celebration, designated by Joint Resolutions of the House and Senate and Proclamations by
six American Presidents, is an opportunity to honor and celebrate women's historic
achievements. Each year National Women’s History Month employs a unifying theme and
honors women around the country whose work and lives testify to that theme. For 2011, the
theme is Our History is Our Strength. To date, we have recognized National Honorees, but this
year local communities, organizations and institutions are invited to honor women within their
own communities or organizations. Our History is Our Strength pays tribute to the millions of
women who helped create a better world for the times in which they lived as well as for future
generations. Knowing the challenges these women faced, grappled with, and over-came can be
an enormous source of strength to all of us. During today’s difficult times, Our History is Our
Strength can serve as an important reminder to our nation that adversity can be overcome.
Women have played and continue to play a crucial role in several important movements
throughout U.S. history: ∗ The Labor Movement which began as early as 1765 when women
formed the first society of working women. ∗ The Women’s Suffrage Movement which was
launched in 1848 at the first women’s right conference held at Seneca Falls, NY. ∗ The Civil
Rights Movement in which women held a variety of roles from leader-ship to organizers to
participants. ∗ The Women’s Rights Movement which was re-energized in the 20th Century
with what is called the Second Wave. ∗ The Environmental Movement in which women
played a key role from the early 19th century and which was officially launched on Earth Day,
April 22, 1970.
Teacher Vision
Women's History – Teacher Resources
Recognize Women's History Month (March), by exploring the many important contributions of
women, with our printables, lesson plans, and more. Find biographies and worksheets about
accomplished women in American history, including Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt,
Sacajawea, Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Toni Morrison, Hillary
Rodham Clinton, Anne Frank, Helen Keller, Maya Angelou, Sojourner Truth, Pocahontas,
Wilma Rudolph, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Abigail Adams, Charlotte Brontë, and many more!
Slideshows
Reading, Language Arts, & Women's History Connected
Mathematics & Women's History Connected
Science & Women's History Connected
Art & Women's History Connected
Health, Physical Education, & Women's History Connected
Music & Women's History Connected
Women's Rights & Suffrage
Lesson Plans
Printables
Printable Quizzes
References
First But Not the Last: Women Who Ran for President
First But Not the Last: Women Who Ran for President highlights the campaigns of twelve
women who announced their intention to contend for America’s top office. Each attempt
created a stepping stone for those who followed. Representative Patricia Schroeder and
one-time presidential candidate said many years ago that more women would run for office
if they only knew their history and could make realistic use of these stepping stones. It is
the hope of NHWM leadership that this exhibit will inspire a truly democratic future, one
in which every girl can grow up aspiring to be president.
Claiming Their Citizenship: African American Women From 1624-2009
The following seeks to present these women collectively and exceptionally throughout American
history. Starting with Isabel in 1624 and climaxing with the United States of America’s First
Lady Michelle Obama in 2008, African American women have contributed to the warp and woof
of American history, culture and character.