Women’s History Month in March provides an opportunity to discuss and reflect on the role women have played in shaping the United States. The resources below will help you teach about the continuing contributions of women to our nation’s shared history.
Elementary teachers! Be sure to check out our More to Explore section to find resource for your students.
We made our Women’s History Month weekly planners with flexibility and choice in mind! Each planner focuses on a civic theme that places women at the forefront.
Download the planners to incorporate the activity suggestions for the week, or pick and choose the learning moments that fit best with your schedule. Share the activities as do-nows, in-class activities, discussion starters, homework assignments, extra credit, and more.
Below is a preview of the first week of activities!
An easy way to work in lessons about women in U.S. history is with our short videos! All of our animated videos are two minutes or less in length and include a Teacher’s Guide with resources to support discussion and further learning. These videos were made in partnership with Makematic.
As the second Black woman to be a member of the White House Press Corps, Ethel Payne asked the questions others didn’t and brought civil rights issues to a national audience. Her coverage brought Black people’s experiences to the front page.
Perhaps Patsy Takemoto Mink’s greatest legacy as the first woman of color elected to Congress was co-authoring Title IX, the landmark legislation that prohibits sex discrimination in educational programs that receive federal money.
A writer and marine biologist, Rachel Carson educated people about nature’s ecosystems and warned against the overuse of chemical pesticides. She urged society to consider its impact on nature and called on the government to protect the environment.
As the first African American woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court, be elected to the New York state senate, and be appointed a federal judge, Constance Baker Motley broke racial and gender barriers throughout her career while fighting for the civil rights of all Americans.
In 1951, Barbara Johns organized more than 400 students to protest in support of better conditions at their segregated high school. Their actions would lead to a lawsuit that became one of the five cases represented in the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education.
When Autherine Lucy and Pollie Ann Myers were denied admission to the University of Alabama because of the color of their skin, they fought back. Their actions were important steps toward the racial integration of colleges in the United States.
Looking for more ways to highlight women’s contributions in your classroom? Here are more resources we recommend.