I have made it my focus to include women’s history in my TpT store. I love women’s history and it is ignored in history curriculum. The resources below could be used at any point in the academic year but if you are only looking for resources for Women’s History Month they still work!

1.Poem of Mulan Podcast

Especially with the Disney live-action movie, students will want to know more about Mulan. No, she wasn’t a real person but her story is one of the oldest in the world and people are fascinated by this tale.

It’s a podcast for the simple reason of not having enough images to create a video. Print a workbook for each student that will guide students through the poem. The podcast reads the poem line by line and then explains the historical elements of each stanza. Summary questions follow and are Common Core-aligned.

2. Martha Washington Coloring Quilt

Okay, this isn’t an extensive resource that covers her life but I wanted to include it anyway. This classroom activity is cute and a great addition to your American history lessons in the young elementary grades.

Print and go. Nothing more to prep. Choose between the color by numbers (you choose the colors for the numbers) or the blank pattern.

3. Elizabeth Bathory: Blood Countess

Known as Countess Dracula, Elizabeth Bathory may be the world’s most prolific serial killer. That’s how this resource started anyway. I was creating this fun lesson for Halloween but as I did more research for it the more I became convinced that she was innocent of the crimes and was in fact victim of the patriarchal power structure of Eastern Europe.

Now, this historical exploration and analysis present the information to the students via streaming TpT podcast and they answer questions in a workbook. In the end, students get to decide if she is a murderess or victim.

Use it during Women’s History Month or at Halloween but this is Common Core-aligned and focuses on some historical thinking skills making this a year-round resource.

4. Chinese Women’s History Short Reads

Get the bundle or buy them individually! These short reads focus on the must-know women’s history of China. The short reads are varying lengths (a few hundred words – more details on my TpT page) and include Common Core-aligned summaries that focus on historical thinking skills.

The two women included in the bundle are Empress Wu Zetian was the only woman to rule China in her own right and Empress dowager Cixi ruled China through men she could control. Both of these women are included in world history and Asian history curriculum so if you teach either of those courses then these resources have additional value.

Filial piety is one of the pillars of Chinese values that has ties to Confucianism. But the concept has been used to different extents to control women. This short read explores what filial piety is, how it been used to control women as well as where the concept came from and how many people believe it is meant to work.

Foot binding is one of the cruelest things humans have ever been subjected to and for centuries women were forced to participate. This short read explains the history of foot binding, how it controls women, and what it does to the body physically.

5. Japanese Women’s History Short Reads

Same as the Chinese Women bundle – buy the bundle or buy them individually! These short reads focus on the must-know women’s history of Japan. The short reads are varying lengths (a few hundred words – more details on my TpT page) and include Common Core-aligned summaries that focus on historical thinking skills.

Empress Suiko was the first empress of Japan to rule in her own right. She was the first of eight women to rule Japan but many of the other women were temporary place holders until a suitable man was found. Empress Suiko was ruled alone and jointly for 15 years which probably means she was the real deal. The other Eight Empresses are explored every so briefly in a separate resource.

Of the most recognizable symbols in the world are geisha. Students will learn how geisha emerged from a competitive concubine/wife power struggle and how they carved out their own culture in the arts.

Murasaki Shikibu wrote the world’s first novel. Students learn about her and the novel in world history and Asian history classes which makes this resource a must-have. Learn about Muraski’s life and writing as well as a brief history of Heian Japan.

6. Queen Seondeok and the Tru’ng Sisters

These are sold individually but can also be purchased in my Asian Women’s History Short Reads Bundle, the full bundle of all of the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese women short reads resources I created.

Queen Seondeok was the first queen of Silla to rule in her own right. Silla was one of three kingdoms of early Korea and her rule had to compete with the growing influence of the anti-woman sentiment that was flooding China. Her reign wasn’t acknowledged for a long time and when it was she wasn’t entirely respected by her ruling peers. Nevertheless, she contributed greatly to the learning of Silla and many of her commissioned buildings still exist.

The Tru’ng Sisters are one of Vietnam’s most celebrated figures. They may even be the mark of the beginning of Vietnamese history. These sisters fought the invading Han Chinese military and won for short while. Their rule didn’t last long but their legacy has and they are still celebrated today.

Or get them all in one bundle and save!

If you are interested in including more women in your history classes, message me with who I should be considering including in my TpT store. In the meantime, read a few blogs I have written to celebrate women’s history.