Women's History Month is a time to honor the achievements of women throughout history and empower students to explore their own potential by learning about influential women in various fields. Engage your students this Women's History Month by increasing their awareness of significant events, broadening their cultural awareness, and exposing them to their potential with these classroom activities.

March is a time to recognize women's remarkable contributions throughout history and empower young learners to explore their own potential. It began as a week-long celebration in a California school district in 1978, where students participated in a “real woman” essay contest. The event drew a lot of attention, which inspired more school districts and organizations across the United States to participate. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a presidential proclamation that declared the week of March 8th as Women's History Week.

Six years later, the event became a month-long celebration after the National Women's History Project petitioned Congress to make the change. We also celebrate International Women's Day, which first took place on March 8, 1911. Many countries participate in celebrations and host activities to recognize the contributions of women. This year, for Women's History Month, the theme is "Women Educating and Inspiring Generations," which perfectly highlights the power of mentoring and the impact of women who have helped to shape our world. It is focused on the “collective strength, equality, and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership, shaping the minds and futures of all generations.”

To help our students become more aware of these important events and broaden their cultural awareness, we must find resources to help students explore authentically and meaningfully. Once students have time to explore and learn, they need opportunities to create and share that learning with classmates and beyond their school community. 

In our classrooms, we can celebrate the month through a variety of activities and select some women who have been impactful in STEM and other fields. For example, students in science could learn about Marie Curie, whose groundbreaking work in radioactivity earned her two Nobel Prizes and also paved the way for further advancements in medicine and physics. Another possibility is for students to learn more about Katherine Johnson, the "human computer" whose impact was depicted in the film “Hidden Figures.” Johnson made calculations that were critical to NASA's space missions. In English and writing classes, students could learn about the work of Maya Angelou, a celebrated African American poet and activist.

In my Spanish classes, students learn about Dr. Ellen Ochoa, a former astronaut, engineer, and administrator who made history as the first Hispanic woman in space as a crew member aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1993. She has since been an advocate for STEM education. Ada Lovelace, a mathematician and writer, often considered the world's first computer programmer, wrote an algorithm intended to be carried out by a machine because of her vision for the potential of computing. She did this in the 1840s! These women, and countless others, serve as powerful role models, demonstrating the incredible things women can achieve in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It is important to showcase the diversity of these role models so that students see themselves reflected in the stories of successful and impactful women in a variety of careers and also see the impact of women in STEM careers.

6 Ideas for Celebrating Women's History Month

"A Women Who Inspires Me" Projects:

Students could conduct research and present on a woman who inspires them, whether it's a historical figure, a family member, or a community leader. Options such as creating digital presentations, writing biographies, or even producing short documentaries would engage students and provide opportunities to build a variety of essential skills.

Community Interviews:

Encourage students to interview women in their community – scientists, teachers, entrepreneurs – to learn about their experiences and gain insights into different career paths. These interviews could be recorded and shared with the class.

Interactive Timelines:

Students can create interactive timelines highlighting key moments in women's history, including milestones like women's suffrage (1920) or to represent the achievements of women in various fields. A timeline could feature a variety of historical figures and also contemporary STEM leaders.

Quote Analysis & Interpretation:

Students can select a few powerful quotes from influential women, such as "The most effective way to do it, is to do it" by Amelia Earhart, and discuss their meaning and relevance to their own lives. They could then create visual representations of these quotes, perhaps through artwork or graphic design, and share them with the school community to inform others.

STEM Career Exploration:

Focus on women in STEM careers, showcasing their contributions and inspiring students to pursue similar paths. Students could research women like Rosalind Franklin, whose work was crucial to understanding the structure of DNA, or Grace Hopper, a pioneer in computer programming.

Learning Together:

There are many different ways to inspire students during Women’s History Month, and a lot of benefits to using these activities to learn more. Having students share their creations and learn from their classmates builds social awareness and understanding of different perspectives. Here are some ideas to foster collaboration and communication skills:

• Class Presentations and Discussions: Provide opportunities for students to share their research and creations with their classmates, fostering a collaborative learning environment. Teachers can also use some tools to create presentations and activities for students. Using Brisk Teaching is a great option, and with Brisk Boost, teachers can also create an activity for students based on a video or article shown in class. 
• Bulletin Boards and Display Cases: Create spaces where students can publicly display their work in school or with the school community. Students can create brochures, artwork, and PSAs to highlight what they are learning and to teach others about Women’s History Month.
• Digital Storytelling: Encourage students to use digital tools to create stories about the women they've researched. In addition to learning about these impactful women, students can leverage technology to bring their stories to life through images, videos, and audio. Using Book Creator or Canva would be great options for this, and with Book Creator, students can collaborate within one book to share with the class, including each woman’s story. Another fun option would be to use CoSpaces Edu to bring in augmented and virtual reality and bring the story to life!

Whether students decide to focus on a specific area of work or impact someone made in the arts, medicine, history, science, or other field, it also promotes student choice and voice in learning. Connecting their own interests with learning about a person who made a difference in that area will boost engagement and foster creativity in learning.

About Rachelle Dené Poth

Dr.. Rachelle Dené Poth is an ed-tech consultant, presenter, attorney, author, and teacher. Rachelle teaches Spanish and STEAM: What’s Next in Emerging Technology. Rachelle has a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law and a Doctorate in Instructional Technology. She is a Consultant Speaker and owner of ThriveinEDU LLC Consulting. She is an ISTE Certified Educator. At ISTE19, she received the Making IT Happen Award and several Presidential Gold Awards for volunteer service to education.  

Rachelle is the author of nine books and is a blogger for Edutopia, Getting  Smart, and Defined. Follow Rachelle on Twitter/X and Instagram. Click here to listen to Rachelle's podcast, ThriveinEDU. Contact Rachelle for PD and keynotes!