Often overlooked in history books, women have made valuable contributions to the world through history. And as we’re coming to realize, teaching women’s history is important now, more than ever. Given the current social climate, we must step up our homeschool history game. Our goal over the coming months and years is to incorporate more women’s history into our lesson plans. I hope that others will do the same. Preserving and celebrating these women in history is so important right now. I’ve compiled these resources for teaching women’s history. You can use them in your homeschool to celebrate women’s contributions to the world.
This guide provides various resources that highlight women’s history in the United States and beyond. These resources are designed to help homeschooling families create meaningful and engaging lessons. They also aim to spark lively conversations celebrating the diverse stories of women in history.
Best YouTube Playlists for Homeschool History
YouTube is an excellent resource for homeschoolers for several reasons. First off, it’s free and easily accessible. This is especially helpful for roadschooling and worldschooling families with limited space.
Crash Course offers several courses and subjects and is a favorite among homeschooling families. Many of these courses highlight women in history worldwide. Crash Course has compiled several episodes across various subjects. The Women’s History Highlights playlist allows students to learn about the significant milestones that shaped our world.
The Center for Civic Education has provided a playlist of thirty women’s history videos. These videos would make an excellent starting point for a weekly women’s history unit study. This is the perfect resource for self-directed and independent learners motivated to create online content based on their learning.
Your learner could watch one video per week. The videos are usually less than two minutes long. After watching, they can do some additional research independently. They could then create a blog or social media post highlighting their learning. This type of content can also double as both a homeschool portfolio and a resource to enhance a college application.
Websites That Celebrate Women’s Contributions
The internet is a fantastic resource for teaching women’s history. Museums and libraries often have online curriculum resources and lesson plans perfect for home education. The following sites offer a wide range of tools and resources for women’s history lessons. I’m sure these resources will interest your family.
The Zinn Education Project offers a database of resources available to sort by grade level and topic. Users can simply drill down to find the exact age group for which they need lesson plans. You can tailor the search results by indicating which topic you want to learn more about.
During the pandemic, virtual field trips and online learning resources exploded; thankfully, many remain accessible today. The National Women’s History website provides virtual field trips. They’re designed for groups of at least ten participants and one “chaperoning” adult. The field trips are free for homeschooling groups and co-ops, public schools, youth education groups, and summer camps. Check out the Women’s History site for more information on virtual field trip offerings.
The women’s history site also provides materials for teaching women’s history on their site directly. A report entitled, Where are the Women, highlights the lack of representation in textbooks over the years. Scholars and staff will work together with educators. They will also partner with public history experts over the next year. Their goal is to make social studies materials highlighting women more accessible. Learn more in the report here.
Finally, the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum is about ten years from completion. However, they are still educating the public in the interim. You can visit the museum’s main site to learn more about the upcoming museum. You can also find resources for all grades highlighting American women’s history.
Great Books for Teaching Women’s History
You can’t go wrong with a well-written book, especially when teaching women’s history. The following books are great resources for older learners and parents who want a better grasp of women’s history. Teaching from an informed perspective is so much easier, especially when those questions start. I recommend the following books to do just that:
A Black Women’s History of the United States
As part of the Zinn Education Project, this book showcases Black women and the complexities of their lives. It’s an excellent starting point for exploring Black women’s history.
The Women’s History of the Modern World by Rosalind Miles
This book covers much of the modern world and women’s vital role. This book has everything from Shirley Chisholm and Anna Stout to Marie Curie, Dorothy Height, and Germaine Greer.
Exploring women’s history connects the past to the present, inspiring learners with stories of trailblazers who shaped our world. I hope the resources I’ve shared help to enrich your homeschool curriculum. By incorporating more women’s history into your lessons, you’re taking a decisive step forward in raising the future adults our world desperately needs.
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