Women’s Contributions

Trustee: Cathy Bonner

Subject: Humanities, History, Social Studies

Topic: Social Studies (Women’s Rights and Social Equality)

Grade Level: 10-12

Time: 50 minutes

View how this lesson plan fits state standards

View Cathy Bonner's video or read the transcript

Materials:

• Computer with internet access, external speakers, and a LCD projector OR access to a computer lab with Internet access and headphones for each student
• Updated Media Player recommended. Download QuickTime. Problems playing? Check our Media Help page.
• Overhead projector
• Flipchart & colored markers
• Several sets of 5-6 textbooks from history, government & humanities classes your school is currently using
• Students’ notebooks
• Student Worksheets (MS Word, PDF)
• Download Lesson Plan (MS Word, PDF)

Learning Objectives:

Students will:

1. identify key events in women’s history; and

2. assess textbooks’ presentation of history.

VIEWING & DISCUSSION (20 minutes)

NOTE: The lesson plans associated with Cathy Bonner (titled: “Networking for Nonprofits,” “Women’s Contributions,” and “The Value of a Museum”) can be sequenced or used independently.

1. As a class, watch the brief Cathy Bonner video, which can be accessed online at www.americantrusteesproject.org. If you have difficulties accessing the videos, please visit our Media Help page.

2. Brainstorm ideas for why it is necessary to have a museum dedicated to women’s history and women’s issues.

3. Ask students how confident they feel about their knowledge of women’s history. If your students are prepared for a challenge, ask them to place a list of several events in chronological order.

4. Distribute WORKSHEET 1 and explain the task. Ask your students make an educated guess and place the list of events on the page in chorological order from A-M. “A” will represent the earliest event (1789) in history and “M” the latest or most current event (1997).

5. Put students in pairs and set up a time limit for completion (5-7 minutes).

Answer key: 1789 – C, 1839 – I, 1868 – H, 1869 – E, 1890 – G, 1916 – L, 1918 – F, 1920 – B, 1938 – J, 1963 – K, 1973 – A, 1994 – D, 1997 – M

6. After the time expires, check the answers as a class. Identify the pairing that got the most answers correct. Next, ask students if they can name a major person active during the events on the timeline. Ask why it was difficult to name a person or why it was not. Encourage students to come up with explanations.

APPLICATION (30 minutes)

1. Suggest exploring currently-used textbooks from various disciplines to see how well women are represented.

NOTE: You would need several copies of 5-6 titles so that (ideally) each student has a book to examine.

2. Distribute textbooks and WORKSHEET 2. Ask students to examine their textbooks and fill in the worksheet.

3. Rearrange the class so that students looking at the same book get together to compare their notes and come to an agreement as a group. Call out the book title and let students pronounce their verdict on the book.

HOMEWORK

1. Ask students if they know women in their community/city/state/country that has made superior achievements in any of the areas mentioned.

2. Tell students to research one area and nominate two to three women from it for the women’s history museum. Discuss criteria for nomination and agree upon acceptable forms of final presentation (a poster, a mock exhibit, an essay, a textbook chapter)

3. Let students choose their areas and form groups. Alternatively, assign four to five students to work on each area.

ASSESSMENT POINTS

Students may be assessed on:

1. completion of the WORKSHEET;

2. presentation skills; and

3. participation in group discussion.

• Women's Contributions
  
  Trustee: Cathy Bonner
  Grade: 7-12
  Time: 85-90 minutes
  Description: Students will use textbooks to explore how women are presented in history.
  
  
• The Value of A Museum
  
  Trustee: Cathy Bonner
  Grade Level: 9-10
  Subjects: Humanities, History, Civics
  Time: 45-50 minutes
  Description: Students will explore the differences and similarities beween museums and other places of learning.
  
  
• Networking for Nonprofits
  
  Trustee: Cathy Bonner
  Grade Level: 7-8,9-12
  Subjects: Civic Education, Government
  Time: 85-90 minutes
  Description: Help students recognize the importance of networking and fundraising for businesses and non-profit organization.
  
  
• Involved for Change
  
  Trustee: Cathy Bonner, Barney Flores, or Barbara Brown
  Grade: 10-12
  Time: 90 minutes
  Description: Students will complete a biographical sketch of a local community leader.
  
  
• (Re) Presenting Women
  
  Trustee: Cathy Bonner
  Grade Level: 6-8
  Time: 50-60 minutes
  Description: Students will research a civil liberities issue in women's history and create a mock museum exhibit.
  
  

AND if desired,
Download plug-in to view MS Office content