Women’s History Month Teaching Resources

By Paul Hobday / March 15, 2023

March is Women’s History Month and presents a terrific opportunity to teach your kids more about the impact women have on history. Today we’re providing a variety of online resources you can use to build educational lessons in women’s history as well as highlighting children’s books by women authors.

The History

Women’s History Month began in the US in 1978 as a weeklong celebration in California, driven by the Education Task Force in Sonoma County. Two years later, President Carter made Women’s History Week officially the week of March 8th.

It would be another seven years of growing celebrations in March before the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to make March Women’s History Month. During that same era, the United Nations recognized March 8th as International Women’s Day. As of 2014, over 100 countries around the world recognize March 8th as International Women’s Day, celebrating women’s achievements and taking action against inequality.  

Teaching Women’s History

The first step in teaching your kids about Women’s History Month is to gather your own resources. There is a lot of history you could cover, but fortunately, there are also a variety of organizations that offer overviews and targeted details.

One resource, Womenshistory.org, provides historical information, biographies, and online galleries to supplement learning. Their resources page also includes a toolkit for helping you kick off Women’s History Month with daily learning activities.

The 2023 theme for Women’s History Month is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.” The National Women’s History Alliance features more information about this theme on their website. 

“Throughout 2023, the NWHA will encourage recognition of women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling, including print, radio, TV, stage, screen, blogs, podcasts, and more. The timely theme honors women in every community who have devoted their lives and talents to producing art, pursuing truth, and reflecting the human condition decade after decade.” - NWHA

The US government’s Women’s History page also features a long list of resources for teachers.

Additional Resources

While women impact modern history daily, we reserve the month of March to step back and learn a little (or a little more) about the history that has brought us to this place. These additional resources offer unique insight and teaching opportunities about the create women storytellers who have (and continue) to shape culture.

Read. Write. Think.

A part of the International Literacy Association, Read Write Think is a terrific resource for all kinds of learning. Their page dedicated to Women’s History Month includes plenty of classroom activities, more links to sites loaded with resources, and even some great grade-specific assignments.

Particularly if you’re teaching from home, the lesson plans on this page can be really helpful.

Lakeshore Learning

If you’re more interested in developing your own lesson plan, Lakeshore Learning’s free resources page is for you. Download calendars, lesson planners, flashcard templates, and more all for free. 

You can use these free templates to help craft your own teaching plan for Women’s History Month. This is the perfect way to structure a lesson around a specific individual or event that resonates with you, but doesn’t already have a place in existing teaching resources.

History Timeline

This one resource comes from history.com and provides a thorough timeline of modern women’s history, including important dates and figures for Women’s History Month. This timeline makes a good jumping-off point for learning more about historical events and figures.

President’s Report - Women In America

While this report is a few years old now (published originally in 2011), it’s an amazing look at data gathered by the US government about women and their role in America. While the report is a little dense for younger learners, using this report as a study guide or reading material for older students is a great idea.

Books For Kids 

A great way to celebrate Women’s History Month with your kids is reading books by women authors!

Super Mom: A Children's Story About The Litter Monster

ALL MOMS ARE HEALERS, TEACHERS, AND SUPERHEROES Jimmy and Lily have a Super Mom, and every day with her is wonderful! She cooks pancakes, cures brain freezes, and makes sure they feel safe. But what happens when Lily makes a bad decision, and it comes back in the form of a giant, magical monster? SUPER MOM tells the story of a small family full of love and superheroes. It’s a kid’s adventure book, a story about growing up with everyday lessons. On a regular day out around town, Lily litters without thinking anything of it, and her actions have consequences. The next day, Lily’s birthday, Super Mom will have to defeat the Litter Monster to get everyone home safe and sound – just in time to have birthday cake! This book will inspire children while teaching them to pay attention to the world around them! It highlights the strengths of all moms out there and asks important questions to teach kids about what is right and wrong.

Shop Now

Mommy as a Leader

This children's book teaches children about what it means to be a leader. Parents/guardians/loved ones are encouraged to read this book with children to discuss positive role models, leadership goals, and what it means to be a leader in a child's future.

Shop Now

Positively Me!

Encourage your young girls with this beautiful coloring book! Remind them of all the reasons they're special while they color. This book features different affirmations that can be traced, written and colored. Your child can practice their handwriting while they build their self-confidence!

Shop Now

Women’s History Beyond March

Finally, it’s important that we all acknowledge and honor the women who make the world a better place every day. March is a terrific opportunity to study and learn more, but that learning has to continue. 

The most valuable thing to instill in your students as you work through Women’s History Month is that national days and months are designed to call attention. But it’s on each of us to maintain that attention all year long.