Women's History Month 2024 Teaching Resources

Bring Women's History Month 2024 to life in the classroom with hundreds of printables, worksheets, activities, and more ways to bring the accomplishments of women into your classroom this March.

This collection of Women's History Month teaching resources was created by the teacher team at Teach Starter, with printable and digital options that have been designed to meet Common Core and state standards. The majority include editable options so you can easily differentiate them for your students, and each one has been reviewed by a member of our teaching team to ensure they're classroom-ready — so you can save time on your lesson planning.

Are you teaching about women's history for the first time this March, or simply looking for fresh ideas to bring this topic to life in the classroom? Explore this primer from our teacher team!

What Is Women's History Month?

First thing's first: What is the month all about?

The name may sound pretty obvious, but there are some important things to note for the kids in your classroom. Women's History Month is a time when we celebrate the achievements and contributions of women throughout history. It's usually observed in the month of March, and it's a time to reflect on the ways that women have shaped and continue to shape our world.

Let's be clear: Women's History Month is no Hallmark holiday. It's been officially recognized by the federal government since 1987 when Congress passed a law designating the month of March as a month devoted to women's history.

women's history month game on a table with two wooden blocks sitting on top

Before that there was a Women's History Week, also celebrated in March. It started in Santa Rosa, California in 1978 when the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women designated the week of March 8 as its Women's History Week to run in concert with International Women's Day. Two years later then-President Jimmy Carter gave Women's History Week federal recognition thanks to lobbying by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women's History Alliance).

During this month, your students may encounter events and exhibits organized to highlight the accomplishments of women, as well as educational programs and workshops to teach people about the history of women's rights and gender equality. It's also a time to celebrate the women in our own lives and to appreciate the ways that they have impacted us.

When Is Women's History Month 2023?

This tribute to women in history is traditionally celebrated during the month of March — from March 1-31. The month-long celebration includes International Women's Day — which is traditionally marked on March 8 — and includes the birthdays of some pretty significant women in US history, including:

  • Abolitionist Harriet Tubman — exact birthdate unknown
  • National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman — March 7
  • Race Car Driver Janet Guthrie (the first woman to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500) — March 7
  • Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg – March 15
  • Soccer Player Mia Hamm (the first woman to be inducted into the World Football Hall of Fame) — March 17
  • Ms. Magazine Co-founder Gloria Steinem — March 25
  • Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor — March 26

The International Day of the Girl Child, on the other hand, is not celebrated until October 11 — the birthday of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

two stacks of posters featuring quotes from famous women in history

What Is the Theme of Women's History Month 2024?

The 2024 theme has not yet been announced.

In 2023, the theme of Women's History Month was "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories." The theme paid tribute both to the countless women who have been involved in media and storytelling throughout our nation's history, be it the journalists in newspapers or on TV, actresses in film and on TV, and more.

What Do You Teach in Women's History Month?

As a teacher, you can use this month as an opportunity to teach about the struggles that women have faced and continue to face in terms of achieving equality and breaking down barriers. It's a time to remember that the fight for women's rights is ongoing and that there is still work to be done.

Some topics you may want to bring into your lesson planning include:

  • Women's suffrage and the fight for the right to vote
  • Women's rights and feminist movements throughout history
  • Women in STEM and other traditionally male-dominated fields
  • Women in politics and government
  • Women in the arts and literature
  • Women who have made significant contributions to social justice and civil rights
  • Women who have shattered the glass ceiling and broken through barriers in their careers.

It's also important to note that Women's History Month is not just about the past but also about recognizing the contributions of women today and the work that still needs to be done to achieve gender equality.

Why Should Kids Learn Women's History?

Not sure if this is worth adding to your lessons?

Learning about women's history is important for a host of reasons. It helps to promote gender equality in your classroom and society as a whole by highlighting the contributions and accomplishments of women throughout history. This can help to challenge traditional gender stereotypes and encourage the female students in your classroom to believe in their own abilities and potential while reminding male students that girls are their equals in every way.

What's more, studying women's history can also give the kids in your classroom a more complete and accurate understanding of the past. Many traditional historical narratives have been focused on the actions and perspectives of men, which can lead to a distorted view of history. By learning about the experiences and perspectives of women, children gain a more nuanced and complete understanding of the past.

And that's not where it ends. Take a look at some of the other benefits of teaching women's history to your students:

  1. Learning about women's history teaches kids the importance of social justice, as they can understand and learn the struggles of women in the past and apply that knowledge to the present and future. This can help them to be more empathetic and compassionate individuals, and to work towards creating a more equal and just society — an important part of social and emotional learning.
  2. Women have made a lot of contributions to society but they have often been overlooked. Studying women's history allows children to know about these contributions and make them aware of the role women have played in shaping society and the world we live in today.
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