Curriculum - Lesson Plans
Curriculum Resources: lesson plans and assistance with ideas and methods in teaching women's history from elementary school through middle school and high school or for rounding out a homeschooling curriculum.
Women's History Videos
Video presentations on women's history -- biographies of famous feminists and historical women, plus events and trends. There's a variety here in time and place, useful in classes, for personal enlightenment, or for discussion groups.
Video presentations on women's history -- biographies of famous feminists and historical women, plus events and trends. There's a variety here in time and place, useful in classes, for personal enlightenment, or for discussion groups.
Aborted Funds
In this lesson plan (grades 6-12) from the New York Times, students learn about the United Nations Population fund and the U.S. government's attitudes towards funding family planning and abortion services overseas.
In this lesson plan (grades 6-12) from the New York Times, students learn about the United Nations Population fund and the U.S. government's attitudes towards funding family planning and abortion services overseas.
All American Girl
Using the American Girl historical novels to teach women's history and American history in the middle school. Excellent bibliographies, too.
Using the American Girl historical novels to teach women's history and American history in the middle school. Excellent bibliographies, too.
American Girls Through Time and Trial
Study of girls in American history, for middle school study, especially in the inner city. Good reading lists for children and general info too.
Study of girls in American history, for middle school study, especially in the inner city. Good reading lists for children and general info too.
American Women's History in 10 Weeks
A discussion thread from a women's studies email list, on what to cover in a 10-week overview course.
A discussion thread from a women's studies email list, on what to cover in a 10-week overview course.
Cast in Stone?
In this lesson plan for grades 6-12, students focus on the position of women in lower castes in the context of the Indian caste system.
In this lesson plan for grades 6-12, students focus on the position of women in lower castes in the context of the Indian caste system.
Cultural Change
A lesson to think about how the women's rights movement rewrote and rethought its goals between the 1848 Delcaration of Sentiments, at Seneca Falls, New York, and later woman suffrage arguments.
A lesson to think about how the women's rights movement rewrote and rethought its goals between the 1848 Delcaration of Sentiments, at Seneca Falls, New York, and later woman suffrage arguments.
Forum on Women's History
Archives of an online class with Gelda Lerner on teaching women's history: theoretical and practical discussions among active history teachers.
Archives of an online class with Gelda Lerner on teaching women's history: theoretical and practical discussions among active history teachers.
Fly Girls - Teacher's Guide
Part of an online feature at PBS accompanying a film, this unit focuses on the women of the WASPS in World War II.
Part of an online feature at PBS accompanying a film, this unit focuses on the women of the WASPS in World War II.
History in Quilts
Women's role was often in the home, and making quilts was a homemaker's art form. This unit examines how quilts reflected cultural history, and thus examines the complex role of women in history.
Women's role was often in the home, and making quilts was a homemaker's art form. This unit examines how quilts reflected cultural history, and thus examines the complex role of women in history.
Hypercards: Women's Suffrage Movement
Downloadable hypercard stack, designed for a graduate level course and used in a high school course.
Downloadable hypercard stack, designed for a graduate level course and used in a high school course.
Kicking It Around
In this New York Times lesson plan (grades 6-12), students look at changing views on and the interest in women's sports, focusing attention on women's soccer in particular.
In this New York Times lesson plan (grades 6-12), students look at changing views on and the interest in women's sports, focusing attention on women's soccer in particular.
Ladies First: Women as Leaders in Politics and Business
In this lesson plan for grades 6-12, students look at what makes someone a leader, and whether women can meet those criteria. Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Dole are examples of women political leaders, and students interview a woman leader as part of the assignment.
In this lesson plan for grades 6-12, students look at what makes someone a leader, and whether women can meet those criteria. Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Dole are examples of women political leaders, and students interview a woman leader as part of the assignment.
Ladies Taking Over the Labs
In this lesson plan for grades 6-12, students look at women who've accomplished much in the scientific realm.
In this lesson plan for grades 6-12, students look at women who've accomplished much in the scientific realm.
Leading Ladies: Roles and Successes
This New York Times lesson plan for grades 6-12 focuses on the lives of U.S. First Ladies.
This New York Times lesson plan for grades 6-12 focuses on the lives of U.S. First Ladies.
Leading Ladies: Women and Leadership Around the World
This lesson plan (grades 6-12) focuses on Sirimavo Bandaraike, the world's first woman prime minister, and then has students research other women leaders.
This lesson plan (grades 6-12) focuses on Sirimavo Bandaraike, the world's first woman prime minister, and then has students research other women leaders.
Lesson Plans: Women in the World
A series of lesson plans from the New York Times Learning Network Lesson Plan Unit. Many are for current women's issues, but some touch on women's history or are about significant events in women's history.
A series of lesson plans from the New York Times Learning Network Lesson Plan Unit. Many are for current women's issues, but some touch on women's history or are about significant events in women's history.
Leveling the Gender Playing Field
In this lesson plan for grades 6-12, students look at changing attitudes about women and men, including some historical perspective.
In this lesson plan for grades 6-12, students look at changing attitudes about women and men, including some historical perspective.
Mother's Nature
In this New York Times lesson plan for grades 6-12, students look at the Million Mom March of 2000 and also at other women's movements in history -- essentially asking "What is a women's issue?"
In this New York Times lesson plan for grades 6-12, students look at the Million Mom March of 2000 and also at other women's movements in history -- essentially asking "What is a women's issue?"
Princess Diana and Mother Teresa
A bridge to women's history research, through the recent news: classroom exercise to explore humanitarianism and charity work done by these two women.
A bridge to women's history research, through the recent news: classroom exercise to explore humanitarianism and charity work done by these two women.
Remember the Ladies: The First Ladies
Influential on the political history of their day, but indirectly, first ladies provide an interesting case study to look at the way women wielded power even within roles that supposedly restricted them to the private sphere.
Influential on the political history of their day, but indirectly, first ladies provide an interesting case study to look at the way women wielded power even within roles that supposedly restricted them to the private sphere.
Stitch a Quilt
Grade school level online learning project about quilts and quilt history.
Grade school level online learning project about quilts and quilt history.
Scripting the Past: Exploring Women's History Through Film
Using print biographies and autobiographies of some key women -- ordinary and famous -- in history, this unit helps students visualize their lives and the social and cultural history of their times to a film treatment, considering some key issues in history as they work.
Using print biographies and autobiographies of some key women -- ordinary and famous -- in history, this unit helps students visualize their lives and the social and cultural history of their times to a film treatment, considering some key issues in history as they work.
Stand Up for Her Rights
In this lesson plan from the New York Times for grades 6-12, students look at philosophies in different nations about the education of girls. The lesson has a special focus on girls in Afghanistan.
In this lesson plan from the New York Times for grades 6-12, students look at philosophies in different nations about the education of girls. The lesson has a special focus on girls in Afghanistan.
Straight to the Source: Learning Through Primary Sources
While this New York Times lesson plan does not directly relate to women's history, it could easily be adapted to a look at the Emma Goldman papers controversy or other similar topics.
While this New York Times lesson plan does not directly relate to women's history, it could easily be adapted to a look at the Emma Goldman papers controversy or other similar topics.
Stories in Quilt
This lesson plan uses story quilts to examine how traditions and history are passed along through the handicrafts of women.
This lesson plan uses story quilts to examine how traditions and history are passed along through the handicrafts of women.
Teaching Women's History with the Web
A discussion thread from a women's studies email list, on how to use the web in teaching women's history.
A discussion thread from a women's studies email list, on how to use the web in teaching women's history.
Teacher Tips: Women of the Century
A guide to using the DiscoverySchool "Women of the Century" project as a grade 5-8 curriculum unit. Includes tips on using the project in the classroom and correlations with national U.S. history standards.
A guide to using the DiscoverySchool "Women of the Century" project as a grade 5-8 curriculum unit. Includes tips on using the project in the classroom and correlations with national U.S. history standards.
A Very American Journey
Teaching women's history through dramatizing six lives: Phillis Wheatley, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Sacagawea (Sacajawea), Catherine Haun, and Ethel Waxham.
Teaching women's history through dramatizing six lives: Phillis Wheatley, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Sacagawea (Sacajawea), Catherine Haun, and Ethel Waxham.
Woman on a Mission
In this web scavenger hunt for grades 6-12, students look at the July 1999 space shuttle mission where a woman commanded an American space flight for the first time. The underlying lesson is learning how to cite Web sites correctly in MLA format.
In this web scavenger hunt for grades 6-12, students look at the July 1999 space shuttle mission where a woman commanded an American space flight for the first time. The underlying lesson is learning how to cite Web sites correctly in MLA format.
Women Artists of the American West
An internet course for undergraduate, graduate students, or continuing education. The graphics are beautiful, and the articles informative, even if you don't take the course.
An internet course for undergraduate, graduate students, or continuing education. The graphics are beautiful, and the articles informative, even if you don't take the course.
Women in Rural India
Photos and reading to help students understand women's lives in rural India, about 1970.
Photos and reading to help students understand women's lives in rural India, about 1970.
Women in Science
A unit to explore the web for information, researching women scientists, in order to understand the contributions that women have made to the field.
A unit to explore the web for information, researching women scientists, in order to understand the contributions that women have made to the field.
Women in the White House
This lesson plan looks at recent First Ladies and examines their impact on American political issues: what issues she was concerned with and what influence she wielded. Students interview family members for their opinions on the impact of the former First Ladies, and also consider gender issues by thinking about what a male "First Lady" equivalent might be like.
This lesson plan looks at recent First Ladies and examines their impact on American political issues: what issues she was concerned with and what influence she wielded. Students interview family members for their opinions on the impact of the former First Ladies, and also consider gender issues by thinking about what a male "First Lady" equivalent might be like.
Women's Rights-Minded
In this New York Times lesson plan for grades 6-8, the focus is on violence and abuse against women and the role of cultural attitudes about the role of women.
In this New York Times lesson plan for grades 6-8, the focus is on violence and abuse against women and the role of cultural attitudes about the role of women.