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Weekly Online LessonOnline Lesson ArchivesGrade Level: 6-12
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The Contributions of Women
March is Women's History month, a time to
remember and appreciate the important historical
contributions of women, as well as recognize their
continued influence in our society today. Literally and
figuratively, we wouldn't be here without them.
If you have questions about women's history, the Internet is a great place to find answers—maybe too great, as the amount of information is overwhelming. This week's lesson, then, will be the first in a two-part lesson series centered around the history of our nation's great women.
National Women's History Project
Before you begin learning about important women and events in history, it's worth taking a few minutes to learn about Women's History Month. Visit the National Women's History Project Web site, where you can read the Presidential Proclamation of National Women's History Month, the Congressional Resolution declaring National Women's History Month, and The History of "The Month."
While you're at this
site, find out how you can nominate
women for new U.S. postage stamps. This page
includes a criteria guide, an address where you can send
nominations, and a list of suggested classroom activities.
Also at the site, check out the Nationwide
List of over 1000 Women's History programs and
events. You may find an event near you that you'd like to
attend.
Timeline of Women's History
To help put women's history into
perspective, visit the Women's
History Resource Center, featured on The Gale
Group site. There you will find a timeline
of key events in women's history from the Ancient Era
through the 20th Century. 
Following the timeline you will find women
rulers, warriors, artists and authors, athletes,
astronauts, and leaders.
The Women's History Resource Center also features more than 80 Women's History Biographies. Most are quite extensive; if your time is limited you may only be able to read a few in depth, and perhaps skim a few others.
Teachers, you may want to look over the Women's History Activities and incorporate some of these ideas into your classroom lessons.
The National Women's Hall of Fame
A great place to
learn about great women is The National Women's
Hall of Fame site. If you'd like to first learn
about The Hall and its mission, click on the Our
History link. Why is The Hall located in Seneca
Falls, New York? It has something to do with the year
1848—read it to find the connection.
The most important information on the
site, of course, is The Women
of The Hall, a list of the 160 inductees,
including portraits and short biographies. There are a
few names you will undoubtedly recognize: Oprah
Winfrey,
Secretary of
State Madeleine Korbel Albright, Helen Keller, and author Louisa May Alcott (to name just a few). Among the
less famous but certainly influential women are
astronomer Maria Mitchell, Attorney Myra Bradwell, the Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt, and Joan Ganz Cooney, founder of the Children's
Television Workshop and creator of Sesame Street. All are
fascinating, noteworthy women. Read as many of these
short biographies as you can.
When you've done enough reading, visit The Learning Center where you can play The Name Game, a test of your knowledge of women's contributions. Teachers visiting The Learning Center will find a link to Classroom Ideas for Teaching Women's History.
Before you leave, consider entering the 1999 Poster and Essay Contests. The theme for 1999 is "Women Putting Our Stamp On America." Entries must be postmarked by March 31, 1999, so get started right away.
Women Pioneers
Women trailblazers and pioneers have added to human knowledge and skill in every field, from the arts and humanities to aviation, sports, science, education, and government. To learn about many of these women, visit the World Book Special Report: Women Pioneers.
The women featured in the report
are grouped according to the field or discipline to which
they have contributed. The biographies are brief,
focusing primarily on these women's accomplishments. For
most of the woman featured in the special report, you
will find a link to a more extensive biography page.
After you have studied the biographies, you can again test your knowledge of women trailblazers and pioneers by taking the World Book quiz.
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