Celebrate the incredible accomplishments of women during March! Women's History Month is an opportunity to learn about and commemorate the impact of women throughout history. Every year during March, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia are recognizing and honoring the countless contributions of women from different fields and periods of history. Join us in reflecting and celebrating the multitude of ways women have shaped our world and continue to inspire us.

President Jimmy Carter said it best, "From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung, and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well. I urge libraries, schools, and community organizations to focus their observances on the leaders who struggled for equality: Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Lucy Stone, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman, and Alice Paul. Understanding the true history of our country will help us to comprehend the need for full equality under the law for all our people."

In honor of all women around the world, our Women's History Bundle is a perfect classroom companion. Here are the women of character, courage, and commitment that it celebrates:

• Harriet Tubman
• Susan B. Anthony
• Malala Yousafzai
• Clara Barton
• Helen Keller
• Sojourner Truth

1. Read the Short Passages & Complete the Organizers

Are you ready to meet six amazing and inspiring women who demonstrated courage, character, and commitment? Through reading two different formats of their life stories, you will learn about their struggles, their successes, and how they overcame the difficulties they faced. After reading about these incredible women, use the two-page biography organizers to check your understanding and evaluate your learning. Get ready for an empowering journey of discovery!

2. Build a Character Mini-booklet

Introducing the Biography Mini-booklets: a fun and engaging way to learn about important women in history! Students will be able to craft their own mini-booklets by writing three facts, cutting and sorting five life events, and coloring the character on the front cover. Not only will they be able to store their mini-booklets in their notebooks, but they will also gain a better understanding of the famous women they read about.

3. Dig Deeper into Character Traits

One of the most important traits that all these women have in common is their strength of character. It was this inner strength that led each of them to accomplish impossible goals. For example, Harriet Tubman was incredibly brave when she risked her life time and time again to rescue more and more slaves and lead them to freedom. When Malala Yousafzai didn't give up on the right for all girls to receive an education despite almost dying, she showed great determination. Have students give examples from the readings to prove their character traits. Then have them take it a step further to compare those traits to themselves or someone they know well.

4. Create a Women of Character Scrapbook

With so many inspiring women in our world today, why not celebrate them in an artistic way? What better way to honor these incredible women than by creating a Women of Character Scrapbook? It can be fun to use reading passages to complete the fill-in the blanks, answer Who Am I? questions, and even to color the cover of the scrapbook. With this project, students will be able to build their Women of Character Scrapbook page by page and learn more about the heroines of our time.

5. Short Response Questions

Each unit in the bundle includes a short quiz with response questions to evaluate learning. The short response questions can be used as a writing exercise or an end of the unit review.

6. Project: One of a Kind Trading Cards

Take a step back in time and explore the history of some of the world's most influential and inspiring women. From groundbreaking scientists to social justice activists, your students will get the chance to learn all about the remarkable lives of women who shaped the course of history. This fun activity is sure to captivate your students as they read all about these famous women, answer comprehension questions, and create trading cards for each one.

I recommend buying library card pockets if you plan to have students collect trading cards. For best results, print the cards on cardstock. The cards will last longer and be more sturdy. Remember to set the printer on the best quality setting. There are labels in this pack to glue on the front of the pockets or you can write the names using a sharpie, if desired. I hope your students love this project as much as mine do!

Suggestions for Using Trading Cards:

• Make them at stations to introduce these influential people
• Use this at the end of the unit as a review activity

Students will love creating and collecting trading cards for all my social studies units. You can also have students create a few to trade with other students. 

Limited Time Available:

If you have limited time to spend on this unit, then I recommend reading the passages and then completing the Women of Character Scrapbook. This will introduce the six famous women and create a fun scrapbook in a short period.

Women's History Month Bundles:

 Women's History Month Bundle #1

This bundle has a variety of activities to celebrate and learn about six women of courage, character, and commitment including:

• Sojourner Truth
• Harriet Tubman
• Helen Keller
• Malala Yousafzai
• Clara Barton
• Susan B. Anthony

Women's History Month Bundle #2

This BUNDLE has a variety of activities to celebrate and learn about six women of courage, character, and commitment including:

• Jane Goodall
• Marie Curie
• Florence Nightingale
• Wilma Rudolph
• Sally Ride
• Eleanor Roosevelt