March is Women's History Month!

Women’s History Month

Celebrated each March, this year’s theme is “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives"

Did You Know?

• Hatshepsut (1550-1076 BC) became KING of Egypt and ruled for 22 years.
• Artemisia (the Warrior queen) commanded several ships during the second Persian Wars!
• Lucy Hobbs was the first woman to graduate from dental school, in 1866.
• Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross, in 1881.
• In 1916, Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to Congress(the US. House of Representatives from Montana)
• Jane Addams was the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1931.
• Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Bessie Coleman was the first African American female pilot in the USA  and the first American to receive an international pilot’s license.
• Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, in  1932.
• The first woman to fly in space was Valentina Tereshkova, for the Russians, in 1963.
• Lt. Col. Eileen Collins was the first American woman to pilot a Space Shuttle, in 1995
• In 1997, Madeleine K.Albright became the first woman Secretary of State.
• In 2007,  Nancy Pelosi became the first woman to become Speaker of the House!

Discussion Questions:
1. Which famous woman in history might you like to meet?What would be three questions you would ask?

2. Why do you think that more woman and their accomplishments throughout history have not been highlighted in history books?

3. Do you think that a woman will be elected president in your lifetime? Why, why not?

4. Do you think there is a need for a "month" to highlight different groups of people? Why do you think such an  idea was first started?

Resources:
1.  http://www.infoplease.com/quizzes/whmadventurers/1.html   Quiz your women’s history knowledge(women adventurers)
2.   http://www.infoplease.com/quizzes/womenleaders/1.html   Quiz your women’s history knowledge (women leaders)
3.   http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies Learn about the First Ladies of the White House
4.  http://www.historyswomen.com/1stwomen.html Another great source of women past and present
5. http://www.gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?brooklynbridge.html  Read about Emily Roebling, the woman who helped build the Brooklyn Bridge:

* Research a famous woman in history. Draw a picture and write 5 facts learned about the woman you researched.

Webquest
There are many women who have made contributions that have shaped our world. This is a fun and informative webquest to learn about a few of these fascinating women.

1. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first female doctor in the United States. It certainly wasn’t easy for her. Why did Geneva Medical School in New York accept Elizabeth for medical school?________ Medical school was very difficult for the first female student. What was she forbidden to attend?__________When she completed her medical training, what two problems did she face when she returned to practice in New York?________Eventually, Elizabeth opened a women’s medical college in 1868. What two things did she emphasize to her students?___________________Find the answers at this link: http://www.historyswomen.com/1stWomen/ElizabethBlackwell.html

2. Sally Ride was the first American woman in space and the youngest to go into space.Two elementary schools in the USA are named in her honor. In which year did she make history?_______________What was the name of the space vehicle?________________  How long was she in space?______________What was a sport she excelled in playing?______________After her death in 2012,  the crash area where Ebb and Flow, two spacecrafts that hit the moon, were named in her honor.
Find the answers at this link: http://www.ducksters.com/biography/women_leaders/sally_ride.php

3. Amelia Earhart was a famous women aviator,She was the first woman to be a passenger in an airplane crossing which ocean?__________________What was the name of the airplane and in which year was this done?____________The following year she flew herself across the same ocean, in a flight that took 13 hours. 30 minutes. Which president gave her a medal for her achievement?____________________She went to become the first woman to fly from California to _____________. In 1937, she went missing while trying to become the first woman to fly around the world. Who was her navigator for the journey?_____________Find the answers at this link:http://www.pitara.com/magazine/people/online.asp?story=47

Check out the entire 10 question webquest(highlighted women include: Elizabeth Blackwell, Clara Barton, Amelia Earhart, Susan B. Anthony, Sally Ride, Rosa Parks, Jane Goodall, Eleanor Roosevelt, Marie Curie and Sacagwea)

http://edworldexchange.com/?q=node/469

Gail

http://www.gailhennessey.com