Teaching Expertise

The journey of equality based on gender has been a long and often troubling one. For children and young adults, this important issue in American history can teach a valuable lesson about how to come together and fight for what is right. Within the suffrage movement, there are various issues that need to be understood and addressed in a safe way that allows students to ask compelling questions and debate about women’s issues. From learning and reflecting on historical events and civil disobedience, to the fight for voting rights and reassessing the role of women in society; we have 20 informed and creative activities for you to try in your classroom today!

1. Digital Classroom Exhibit

Not sure how to introduce women’s suffrage issues in your classroom? Start by giving students some images and examples of groundbreaking strategies women used to take a stance for equality. From suffrage parades and bold signs to slogans and associations, take your students on a virtual tour through time and get educated using primary source documents.

Learn more: National Women’s History Museum

2. Empowering Women: Propaganda Review

When it comes to political change, the media is an influential source for sharing ideas and information. During the 18th century, the main avenue of political discourse was propaganda. Review campaign materials from the suffrage movement and have students get into small groups and each choose an image to analyze and present.

Learn more: National Women’s History Museum

3. Quotes that Empower

There are so many wise words spoken by American women over the years that inspire and empower positive change in society. Each day of the month finds and write a quote regarding the fight for women and the importance of equality for all. A follow-up activity can include discussion questions about what meanings are embedded into these quotes.

Learn more: Quotes Gram

4. Alice Paul

One of the most influential women in the fight for suffrage rights, Alice Paul dedicated her life and her reputation to the cause, and her efforts made a huge impact on women’s engagement in the movement. Include her in your biography unit and have students share what aspects made her so empowering.

Learn more: Study.com

5. Suffragist Biography Presentation

This website has a list of women who participated in the women’s suffrage movement fighting to pass the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. Assign a suffragist to each student to research and give a short presentation.

Learn more: UMD.edu

6. Women’s Suffrage Book List

Want to assign some at-home reading for students to gain a deeper perspective on key events, historical context, and lessons on women’s participation and success in their fight for equal rights? Here is a list of books about women’s suffrage, important figures, and the 19th amendment. Pick a couple and set up class discussions throughout the reading process.

Learn more: Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library

7. Pictures of Progress

Change doesn’t happen overnight. It took over 50 years for all states to pass this monumental constitutional amendment on a federal level. This link provides a visual time analysis of major events, teaching with documents, pictures, and other primary sources from the movement. 

Learn more: The New York Times

8. Heroes of the Suffrage Video

This video is a theatrical reenactment of the women of the suffrage movement. Performed and presented 100 years after the federal woman suffrage amendment passed in 1920. Watch this video as a class and have students share inquiry questions and ideas about what they watched.

Learn more: New York Times Events

9. Teaching Suffrage Through Comics

Comics were a huge outlet for media and information before the radio and television were invented. Find some comics from the 20th century about suffrage for women, the Seneca Falls Convention, and other related contexts to read as a class. Highlight new vocabulary and open a class discussion about what the comics are trying to convey.

Learn more: National Women’s History Museum

10. Jigsaw “Experts” Activity

This document-based teaching activity has students split into groups and reviews primary documents, pictures, comics, and other resources about a certain aspect of women’s suffrage. Once each group has had enough time to become an “expert” in their area, students can mingle and share their knowledge. 

Learn more: Facing History and Ourselves

11. Women’s Suffrage Word Search

Looking for an easy review activity of the important vocabulary and people involved in the women’s suffrage movement? This website has a few different word search options focusing on different aspects such as key figures like Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth, as well as concepts involved in political movements such as strikes, social reform, and equality.

Learn more: Word Mint

12. Women Voting Rights Board Game

Talk about interactive!! This educational board game takes players on a chronological journey through the process it took for the 19th Amendment to be passed on a federal level. Print out the pdf and try it with your class!

Learn more: The New York Times

13. Reflection Questions for Understanding

This website has ideas and questions you can review and draw inspiration from to initiate a compelling group discussion. You can begin by presenting an old image or document and asking students what they see and what they think it means. Expand the conversation by relating issues of equality to modern concerns and see what students have to say. 

Learn more: Parent Together

14. Classroom Debate

More than 100 years after the 19th amendment was passed, it seems crazy to think that people fought against women gaining the right to vote, but this was the reality. This website has primary source documents and other resources people used at the time to argue for and against women’s suffrage. Split your class into teams and hold an open and educated debate on the issue.

Learn more: Women and the American Story

15. Rights for Women Song Competition

This educational video has an amazing and informative song overviewing the struggle women had to endure to gain the right to vote. Watch this video with your students and ask them to write a song of their own in groups to perform in front of the class. They can choose one important figure or talk about women’s suffrage in general.

Learn more: US Chronicle

16. Inspirational Women in Our Lives

Ask students to pick a female figure in their lives that inspires them. It may be a family member, a friend, a teacher, or someone famous. Give them inquiry questions to think about when researching and have them make a short presentation on their figure at the end of the week.

Learn more: Brain Pop Educators

17. Suffragettes Facts and Video

This link has a few useful resources you can use to teach your students about women’s suffrage. You can first watch the rap video talking about Susan B. Anthony, and then write some discussion questions on the board to check student knowledge and understanding.

Learn more: Flocabulary

18. Protest Events and Member Participation

Women’s suffrage approached reform and change in all sorts of ways. From signs and protests to parades and sit-ins, these women were determined to win equal rights no matter what. This activity features a 16-year-old girl named Dora Thewlis and her role in this important movement.

Learn more: Activity Village

19. Color and Reflect

There are tons of free coloring pages you can print out that feature important figures in women’s suffrage as well as prompts and other reflection questions students can think about while coloring.

Learn more: Dr. Elizabeth Dulemba

20. The Magic Sash Podcast

This is a podcast dedicated to talking about women in politics, and the history that has brought us to where we are today. Written and produced for young listeners to learn and engage in important issues and reflect on the past and present inequalities in America. 

Learn more: Trax