Who Runs the World? Girls!
March is Women’s History Month in which we celebrate the multitudinous ways that women across the globe have contributed to our world. There are so many ways to raise these women up. In a previous post, I wrote about how to use reading passages to teach about amazing women, in particular Jane Goodall. Check out the post and Youtube video here:
Celebrating Women’s History Month in the Classroom
In addition to these wonderful resources, let’s chat about other ideas to celebrate Women’s History Month in the classroom.
Nothing Boring To See Here!
We’ve talked about the importance of engagement and relevance in several posts. For our kiddos to learn best they need to be interested. The relevance of the topic goes right along with engagement. As we are picking our reading passages (integrated subjects, anyone?), we have to be sure that we are not limiting ourselves to the past. Today’s current events will be in tomorrow’s history books. We need to be sure we are including research and learning about the women who are making history right now. Think Kamala Harris, Emma Watson, Katalin Kariko, Amanda Gorman, or Selin Ozunaldim. Haven’t heard of some of these women? That’s exactly the point! This will also deepen students’ understanding of history as a fluid construct. People are rising above barriers and changing the world every day.
Of course, that’s not to say that we should ignore the women of our past. They made us and the world who we are today. Florence Nightingale, Marie Curie, and Jane Goodall are just as important. As teachers, we must be sure to give multiple perspectives and lean into the interests of our students, as well as the world evolving around them.
Need some ideas? Here are some links to a few of my resources:
Standards and Celebration
There is something magical about being able to allow students to learn through autonomy and choice while teaching to the full intent of the standards. This research project allows you to do just that. Students will teach each other about a different woman in history every day for the month of March through a series of 5 minute presentations.
Each student does some research to decide on two women they find inspiring or interesting. You can curate this a little further by giving students a list of possible women, if you wish. The reports themselves will look different at each level. It could be a book-buddy project with older students who help the little ones with their research. It could be a take-home template that each child decorates. Older students could record themselves doing a news segment about their women and play it for the class. The possibilities and opportunities for creativity are endless.
Take it a little farther: Have your reading or lessons for the day themed on the woman your student presented that day.
Quality Text, Quality Learning
No doubt you’ve heard of author Brad Meltzer. He is both an author for children and grown-ups! He is the author of the high quality “I Am” series. He has a ton of books in this series highlighting important and influential women and girls, such as Malala Yousafzai, Dolly Parton, Anne Frank, Amelia Earhardt, and Oprah Winfrey. I personally utilize his books in the resources I listed above that center on Jane Goodall and Rosa Parks. He also has a book called Heroes for My Daughter which would be an excellent resource to recommend to parents.
To build your audio library, you may want to ask teachers, volunteers, parents, or other community members to read and record these books. The recordings could be shared with families or on the school news report. If students have created art around the women in the books, perhaps create an art show for your school to create opportunities to include the school community.
Here are the links to his books and a YouTube video featuring the author reading and talking about his book on Amelia Earhardt.
https://www.ordinarypeoplechangetheworld.com/Books/
All Heroes Welcome Here
Each year, the National Women’s History Alliance selects a theme for Women’s History Month. 2022’s theme is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope”. This theme is specifically to uplift women who are or were caregivers and on the front line during this continuing pandemic. Not to exclude, they state they want to focus on the women around the globe and throughout history that have been tireless healers and inspire hope in those who have lost it. Women in history such as Clara Barton, Mary Eliza Mahoney, Harriet Tubman, Mona Hatta-Attisha, Malala Yousafzai, and many others would be perfect focuses for instruction and research. This theme could even be combined with the Woman of the Day project. In a direct connection to students, those whose parents work in the healthcare field could do reports on their parents.
Supporting Positive Change
While this idea might require getting permission from your administration or district, this is a excellent opportunity to allow students to give back and learn the virtues of generosity and altruism . Do a little Googling to find some non-profits that are sponsoring change or giving help to and for women. Bonus points if you are able to locate some in your community. If you find a few that you want to support, let your students decide which one they think is the most helpful. From there, send notes home to families and hold a fundraiser or collect donations for that charity. If your administration likes the idea, you could even make it a school-wide fundraiser with your students driving the reason for giving. Once you have your funds, you’ll make a donation on behalf of your class or your school.
One suggestion I would give you is the Malala Fund. Especially after giving students the chance to learn about Malala, being able to help her cause would make a great impact. Her fund is working to make sure that all girls have access to a quality education.
