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Women's History

by THSM

Have you ever taken one of your kids into the voting booth with you? Have you explained how and when women in the U.S. got the right to vote?

The Seneca Falls Convention in July 1848 planted the seeds for women's suffrage, a fancy Latinate term for the right to vote. Women worked to pass the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, but the amendment allowing women to vote in elections didn't take effect until 1920.

We have the resources to help you teach your kids about winning the right to vote and other important aspects of women's history!

National Women's Party demonstration in front of the White House in 1918.

Jump to:

Age Range Key
  • Y—Young (PreK-3rd)
  • M—Middle (4th-6th)
  • O—Older (7th-12th)
  • T—Teacher Resources

Women's Rights

That July 1848 gathering in Seneca Falls, New York, is widely considered the first women's rights convention in the U.S. The women of the convention issued a Report of the Woman's Rights Convention, declaring that women "have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of these United States."

In the 1800's, women:

  • could not vote
  • could not own property
  • could not make contracts
  • could not attend college
  • could not speak publicly

Married women did not even have a right to spend any money they might have been able to earn themselves! Historically, women were not recognized as artists, writers, scientists, or thought leaders. It wasn't until 1974 that women could legally open a credit card in their own name.

Today, thanks in part to the Seneca Falls Convention, women do have civil rights in the U.S., can work in all fields, and can participate in public life.

As homeschoolers, we can study women's history to learn more about women's progress and the recognition of women's accomplishments and contributions.

Women's work has benefited everyone!

Women's History Videos

Watch History.com's videos about famous women in history, such as Florence Nightingale, Marie Curie, and Susan B. Anthony.

Women in the 19th Century from John Green and Crash Course (below) covers some of the more interesting motivations for giving women the right to vote.

Women in the 19th Century: Crash Course US History #16 by Crash Course

Women's History Activities & Resources

Women's History Field Trips

You might take a field trip to a site that celebrates a woman in history, citizenship, science or the arts—such as Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Georgia O'Keefe, or the iconic everywoman: Rosie the Riveter of WWII fame.

Browse our homeschool field trips in your state for opportunities near you as well as virtual field trips you can enjoy from home.

Women's History Learning Activities

Your kids can learn about Women's History by

  • Reading books by and about women
  • Listening to podcasts about Women's History
  • Using Women's History writing prompts
  • Studying female poets, artists, mathematicians and scientists

We've found a roundup of 30 Women's History activities for students K-12 that includes these activities and more.

Check out these printables and activities as well:

Women's History Month Printables, Activities, and Resources for Kids  (Y,M)
Family Education hosts a large collection of resources to learn about Women's History. Use the search function to find articles, biographies, printables, activities, and more.

Teacher Planet's: Women's History Month  (Y)
Teacher's Planet hosts a collection of resources to students to learn about Women's History. The collection includes links to additional resources, activity ideas, lesson plans, printables, worksheets, and more.

Famous Women in History

The Untold History of Women in Science and Technology  (Y, M, O)
This article from Archives.gov profiles 21 women who made historic contributions to science and technology.

Women Rulers of the Ancient and Classical World  (M, O)
This article from ThoughtCo. profiles 13 powerful women leaders from ancient history.

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The 10 Most Revolutionary Women in Music  (M, O)
This BBC article profiles 10 women pioneers from the music industry, from the 'The Godmother of Rock 'n' Roll' to the inventor of British techno.

10 Native Women You Should Have Learned About in History Class  (Y, M, O)
This article from Hello Giggle profiles 10 Native American women who were trailblazers in health, science, arts, and human rights.

Women in World History  (Y, M, O)
This series from the Multicultural Kids Blog profiles 31 women from around the world and their contributions to history.

11 Remarkable Women We're Celebrating with Our Kids This Month (& Always)  (Y,M,O,T)
Eleven women trailblazing humanitarian, activism, and scientific history both in the past and present that your kids (and you!) should know. From Sheknows.com

The First Ladies  (Y,M)
Learn more about America's First Ladies and their contributions to the nation. From WhiteHouse.gov.

National Women's Hall of Fame  (Y,M,O,T)
It's Women's History Month all year long at the National Women's Hall of Fame. The website showcases great American Women through history.

Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business  (M,O,T)
The National Women's History Project honors 13 women both from the present and past that made significant impacts on women's rights in business and labor.

Women's History Lesson Plans and Websites

Women's History Month Teacher Resources  (Y,M,O,T)
The National Education Association offers a wealth of resources for teaching Women's History Month, including lesson plans, background resources, printables, and quizzes. For grades K through 12.

National Women's History Month Lesson Plans  (O, T)
Read, Write, Think offers multiple Women's History lesson plans, activities, and resources for grades 9 through 12.

Women's History in Music: Lesson Plans  (M, O, T)
TeachRock.org offers lesson plans for music-loving students to learn about Women's History through the music of women artists. Lesson plans include studies such as: "Women's Perspectives in Country and Tejano Music," "Women's Rights and Music in the 1990s," "Soul Music and the New Femininity," and more!

Women's History in Art  (M, O)
Explore women's historical and cultural contributions to art through exhibitions, virtual events, stories, videos, and podcasts with the online collection from the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Women's History with the NYT: Primary Source Activities  (O, T)
These Women's History activities from the NYT have students analyze both historical and recent writings about women and women's issues and include follow up activities like creating maps, art, arguments, and more.

WomensHistoryMonth.gov Primary Sources  (O, T)
WomensHistoryMonth.gov is a one-stop shop for learning about Women's History through primary sources. The site makes finding primary sources specific to various women's issues and topics easy on its exhibits/collections and audio/video tabs.

How Native American Women Inspired the Women’s Rights Movement  (M, O)
An article from the National Parks Service that details how women's rights activists drew inspiration from Native American cultures.

Women's History with Artifacts  (Y, M, O, T)
The Smithsonian Institute offers lesson plans based on primary sources and artifacts that focus on key moments in US Women's History. Available for grades K through 12.

History of the Women's Movement in the US  (M, O)
This article from History.com follows landmark moments in the women's rights movement in the US, as well as the women who contributed to the movement.

Interactive Timeline of the Women's Movement  (M, O)
This interactive timeline from United Nations Women covers significant milestones in women's rights from around the world. Available in English, Spanish, and French.

A More Complete Women’s History  (T)
This teacher's guide from Learning for Justice challenges educators to go beyond teaching "famous firsts" in Women's History and recognize the contributions of lesser-known but still significant women. The Learning Justice site offers searchable lesson plans for all age groups.

The National Women's History Museum Resources  (Y, M, O, T)
The National Women's History Museum itself is an excellent resource for primary sources and information about Women's History. Use the topical selection filters to find lesson plans, biographies, videos, and other resources for learning about women in activism, art, government, STEM, and more.

Women’s History Resources at the National Museum of American History  (O, T)
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History hosts a large Women's History collection that includes artifacts, primary sources, oral histories, lesson plans, and other educational resources for researching both famous and lesser-known women from history.

This Is How March Became Women's History Month  (Y,M,O)
An article from Time that looks into the history of the Women's Movement and how Women's History came to be recognized by the month of March.

Women's History Month Resources  (Y,M,O)
Info Please has a wealth of information for learning about famous women and women's issues, including bios, stats, quizzes, puzzles, and more.

National Women's History Project (NWHP)  (Y,M,O,T)
Recognizing the achievements of Multicultural American women making a positive difference in today's world.

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