Every year, during the month of March, Scholastic is excited to observe Women’s History Month as an annual time to honor and reflect upon the achievements of women across the country and the globe. What once began as a week-long celebration in California in the 70’s, has now transformed into a global movement that is acknowledged every year on March 8th, otherwise known as International Women’s Day.
To help students, teachers, and families commemorate this special moment, Scholastic Magazines+ has made four special articles available for viewing at home or in the classroom. These articles recognize several historical and contemporary figures who have made extraordinary contributions to their communities, professions, and the future of women everywhere. Each article also comes with an assortment of activities, lesson plans, questions on the reading, and more.
Keep reading below to get a glimpse into the powerful lives of these exceptional women!
Scholastic Math, “Wins for Women,” (Grades 6-9)
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Check out this detailed chart to get a deeper understanding behind the beginnings of International Women’s Day and learn more about the women pioneers who have opened doors into male dominated industries.
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Read about the success of women such as Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in physics and chemistry, or Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, or Aretha Franklin, the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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Discover powerful statistics about gender disparities in professional careers, such as computer programming, teaching, or medical research.
Storyworks, “Malala the Powerful,” (Grades 4-6)
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Share the sobering story of Malala Yousafzai and the accompanying poem “Hope,” by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer.
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A deeply moving story, Malala was fatally wounded as a young girl for encouraging other girls in Pakistan to go to school. Malala miraculously survived her attack after several surgeries and lives to tell her story across the globe. She is a celebrated education activist, author, speaker, and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
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Rosemary’s poem compliments this story through the discussion of hope and how to hold onto a dream.
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Across the globe, nearly 250 million kids miss the opportunity to get an education – most of which are girls. Discover how these texts relate and reveal consistent themes that can uplift and encourage students, no matter what they may be experiencing.
Storyworks 2, “Kate and the Midnight Express,” (Grade 2)
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Introduce your students to Catherine “Kate” Carroll Shelley, who is famously known as being a railroad heroine from the midwest. Originally from Ireland, Kate and her family emigrated to the United States in hope of a better life.
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One night, after a terrible storm swept through Iowa and debilitated the railroad bridge crossing the Des Moines River, Kate heard the crash and quickly made her way to the site. Seeing that three men needed assistance, Kate crawled across the bridge with nothing but lightning to guide her path to help them. After, she walked two miles to the nearest station to sound the alarm for the coming train to stop and to gather a party to lend a hand.
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Her actions that night on July 6, 1881, saved roughly 200 people. After the event, Kate was celebrated widely and the bridge was renamed Kate Shelley High Bridge.
Scholastic Art, “Catching Waves,” (Grades 7-12)
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Take a dive into Sachi Cunningham’s point of view and learn more about how this journalist, photographer, and Emmy-awarded filmmaker captures the ocean up close.
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As a big wave photographer, Sachi surfs alongside athletes to capture their photos in the moment, often battling freezing waters, sharks, and strong currents.
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Sachi is often the only photographer out in the waters, yet because of her fierce love for the ocean, she maintains that girls are just as capable of chasing their athletic dreams.
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For the last several years, Sachi has been working alongside other women in the big surf community to release "SheChange," a documentary that explores the inequity of women in water sports.
To keep celebrating Women’s History Month all month long, check out @ScholasticEdu on X and @Scholastic on LinkedIn for more resources and be sure to use the hashtag #WomensHistoryMonth to show your support for International Women’s Day!
