Women's History Month

Biography

Sylvia Earle

Marine biology expert Dr. Sylvia Earle holds the record for deepest walk on the sea floor, and was the first woman to lead the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

Lesson Plan

The Legacy of Zora Neale Hurston

Examine Zora Neale Hurston’s lifelong commitment to African American literature and cultural preservation.

Biography

Anna Arnold Hedgeman

Throughout her long life, Hedgeman advocated for civil rights, education, social justice, poverty relief, and women.

Biography

Cori Bush

As one of the newest members of Congress, Bush pushes for progressive legislative goals that will benefit her constituents—people just like her.

Biography

Sylvia Rivera

A veteran of the 1969 Stonewall Inn uprising, Sylvia Rivera was a tireless advocate for those silenced and disregarded by larger movements.

Lesson Plan

Gloria Steinem, Feminism and “Living the Revolution"

Students will use the words of Gloria Steinem, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Betty Friedan to better understand sexism in America. will Students will ultimately write a short piece evaluating the extent to which second-wave feminists were successful.

Biography

Selma Burke

Selma Burke discovered her love for sculpture as a young child and followed her passion to Harlem Renaissance New York, Parisian art studios, and even the White House.

Biography

Suzan-Lori Parks

Though a high school teacher discouraged her from writing because of her poor spelling, Suzan-Lori Parks went on to become one of the most successful playwrights in the United States.

Biography

Anne Spencer

Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer lived her entire life in Virginia, where she tended her garden, worked as a librarian and teacher, hosted luminaries of Black intellectual and cultural life, and fought for equal rights for African Americans.

Biography

Gertrude “Ma” Rainey

Often called the “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey was known for her deep-throated voice and mesmerizing stage presence that drew packed audiences and sold hit records in the early twentieth century.

Biography

Hazel Scott

Jazz pianist and singer Hazel Scott was not only the first African-American woman to host her own television show, but she also bravely stood up to the House Un-American Activities Committee and the Hollywood studio machine.

Lesson Plan

Fannie Lou Hamer and Social Activism

This lesson provides an insight into the rhetoric and social action of Fannie Lou Hamer. By focusing on three speeches through her career, students will better be able to understand how Hamer was an agent of change.

Biography

Kamala Harris

Kamala D. Harris became the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first person of Asian-American descent to become the Vice-President Elect of the United States of America.

Lesson Plan

Red Power Prevails : The Activism, Spirit, and Resistance of Native American Women

Explore the contributions of Native American women in the formation and activism of the American Indian Movement (AIM) and Women of All Red Nations (WARN)

Lesson Plan

Feminist Philosophers of the 20th Century

Students will explore the life and core philosophic contributions of three female philosophers: Simone De Beauvoir, Hannah Arendt, and Judith Butler. Students will grapple with the core questions and feminist-theoretical perspectives of each philosopher.

Lesson Plan