Students learn about the origin of the women's rights movement and the Seneca Falls Convention and how this movement led to changes to women's role in society. Then, they create a biography about one of the prominent women in the women's rights movement.
Students view an image of suffragettes protesting in 1872 and read background text describing women’s limited political and legal rights in the early 1800s. They review the lesson objectives and consider the quote from Margaret Mead about a small group of committed citizens changing the world. Students respond on a collaborative wall to the prompt: “How might this quote relate to the women’s rights movement?”
Teacher MovesIntroduce the experience and review the objectives, highlighting that students will learn about the origins of the women’s rights movement and key figures such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Discuss selected student responses to the Margaret Mead quote, connecting their ideas to how a small group of women in 1848 began organizing for women’s rights and how that work continues today. Then divide students into small groups for the next three scenes and ensure that there are at least six groups for later research on movement leaders.
In small groups, students read the opening sections of History of the Women’s Rights Movement to learn how Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her colleagues initiated the women’s rights movement and planned the Seneca Falls Convention. They examine the Declaration of Sentiments, discuss its issues, and select six grievances they believe are most important, recording them in a graphic organizer. Students then read additional sections of History of the Women’s Rights Movement and Seneca Falls Convention to understand the convention’s role in launching the fight for women’s suffrage. Working as a group, they post to a collaborative wall explaining why some people opposed the women’s rights movement and the Declaration of Sentiments.
Teacher MovesFacilitate group work as students read and complete the graphic organizer, prompting them to justify why they chose particular grievances as most important. Lead a brief whole-class discussion in which groups share their selected grievances and reasoning. After students post about opposition to the movement, highlight key reasons for resistance and connect these to broader social attitudes of the time.
Students read Milestones in Women’s History: A Timeline to trace major developments in the women’s rights movement after Seneca Falls. In small groups, they discuss how women’s roles and opportunities changed over time. Individually, they contribute to a word cloud by posting words or short phrases that capture specific changes women experienced as a result of the movement.
Teacher MovesGuide students through the timeline by clarifying key events and their significance. Review the word cloud with the class, drawing attention to themes such as education, voting, property rights, work, independence, and equality, and use student responses to reinforce how the women’s rights movement reshaped women’s roles in society.
In small groups, students select or are assigned one woman from a list (Susan B. Anthony, Esther Morris, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone, Ida B. Wells, or Alice Paul). Using resources from the pack, including Women Who Fought for the Vote and The Women’s Rights Movement, 1848–1920, they research her life and contributions to the women’s rights movement. Each group prepares a short biography that explains the woman’s role in advancing women’s rights and posts their report to a discussion wall or shares a link to a product created with a digital tool such as Prezi, a timeline creator, an online presentation, or another approved format.
Teacher MovesAssign or approve each group’s chosen figure to ensure all listed women are covered. Support groups as they research and compose their biographies, checking that they include both biographical details and clear connections to the women’s rights movement. If time permits, have groups present their biographies to the class.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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