Search
Library of Congress: Women's Suffrage
Details
Activity Description
In this activity, students learn about the history of Women’s Suffrage through the exploration of primary sources. The American Memory Collection’s Classroom Materials section features lesson plans, themed resources, primary source sets, presentations and activities, and collection connections. The Presentations & Activities section offers media-rich historical content or interactive opportunities for exploration to both teachers and students.
Preparation
- Make sure that the site is not blocked at your school.
- Preview the Example Web Site link to a Women's Sufferage lesson External Link Icon opens in new window or tab and get familiar with the Teachers Guide External Link Icon opens in new window or tab (pdf) offered and the many resources available.
- Under the Preparation External Link Icon opens in new window or tab link, you will find directions for creating primary source packets and Resources to be used in class discussions and projects.
- Look over the Procedure External Link Icon opens in new window or tab section for more help on the "How to".
- Go to the Primary Source Analysis Tool External Link Icon opens in new window or tab and print it.
How-To
- Read and discuss the Historical Background (found in the Teacher's Guide) with your students.
- Show some of the primary sources available from the site.
- Distribute the Primary Source Analysis Tool handout to your students.
- Discuss the primary sources and use this form to record your responses.
- Guide the students with the sample questions included in the Teacher's Guide to analyzing primary sources.
Teacher Tips
- Here you will find all primary sources teacher's guides External Link Icon opens in new window or tab
- On the Classroom Resources External Link Icon opens in new window or tab page, open the Themed Resources, Primary Source Sets, Presentations & Activities, and Collection Connections for different materials you can use in your classroom on other topics.
More Ways
- Review other lessons available using the Web Site link, immediately above. You can find them by topic, by era, or A-Z order.
- Check the many other possibilities under these links found on the left navigation menu: Teachers Home External Link Icon opens in new window or tab , Classroom Materials External Link Icon opens in new window or tab , Professional Development External Link Icon opens in new window or tab , TPS Partners External Link Icon opens in new window or tab , Using Primary Sources External Link Icon opens in new window or tab, and News and Events External Link Icon opens in new window or tab .
Program Areas
- ABE: Adult Basic Education
- ASE: High School Diploma
Levels
- Intermediate
- High
Lesson Plan
Activity:
- Ask students to share what they know about Women's Suffrage.
- Write their responses on the board.
Discussion: Show a short video clip or a few powerful images related to Women's Suffrage to stimulate interest and curiosity.
Overview: Briefly introduce the topic of Women's Suffrage and its significance in history.
Objective: Explain that students will explore primary sources to understand the historical context and impact of the Women's Suffrage movement.
Resource Introduction: Navigate to the American Memory Collection’s Classroom Materials section.
- Briefly explain the available resources, such as lesson plans, themed resources, primary source sets, presentations, and activities.
Historical Background: Read and discuss the historical background of Women's Suffrage from the Teacher's Guide External Link Icon opens in new window or tab.
Primary Sources: Show examples of primary sources available from the site, such as letters, photographs, and newspaper articles related to the Women's Suffrage movement.
Guided Analysis: Distribute the Primary Source Analysis Tool External Link Icon opens in new window or tab handout. Walk students through analyzing a primary source using the sample questions provided in the Teacher's Guide.
Group Activity: Divide students into small groups and provide each group with a different primary source packet related to Women's Suffrage.
Analysis Task:
- Each group uses the Primary Source Analysis Tool to analyze their assigned primary source.
- Encourage them to discuss their findings and record their responses.
Interactive Discussion: Groups share their analyses with the class, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Class Discussion: Summarize the main findings from each group’s analysis. Highlight key points and differing perspectives.
Assessment: Use a combination of the following to evaluate understanding:
- A short quiz on key facts and concepts that were discussed.
- A reflective paragraph where students express their thoughts on the importance of primary sources in understanding history.
Extension Activity: Have students select another topic related to Women's Suffrage (e.g., key figures, important events) and find additional primary sources using the American Memory Collection.
Project Work: Students create a mini-presentation or poster showcasing their findings and analyses. Encourage creativity and critical thinking in presenting historical information.
Documents
- Women's Suffrage.png - Screenshot of Women's Suffrage: Their Rights and Nothing Less Lesson
Subjects
- Social Studies
- American Government
- U.S. History
Standards
- Reading
- CCR Anchor 1 - Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
- CCR Anchor 2 - Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
- CCR Anchor 3 - Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.
- CCR Anchor 6 - Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
- CCR Anchor 10 - Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.