Women’s History Month is observed every March in the United States. For high school students, the strongest lessons go beyond a short list of famous names: they use primary sources, connect women’s history to every subject and show how ordinary people changed laws, science and culture. These 16 Women’s History Month activities for high school work in one or two class periods.
In this guide8 sections
Quick background
- It began as a local Women’s History Week in Sonoma County, California, in 1978.
- President Jimmy Carter declared a national Women’s History Week in 1980.
- Congress designated March as Women’s History Month in 1987.
- International Women’s Day is March 8.
History and civics activities
- The road to the 19th Amendment. Students build a timeline from the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention to ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 and identify key turning points.
- Primary source analysis. Use suffrage posters, letters or photographs from the Library of Congress. Students describe, infer and question each source.
- Whose vote came later? Discuss why many women of color still faced barriers to voting after 1920, and how the Voting Rights Act of 1965 changed that.
- Local women’s history. Research a woman who shaped your town or state, such as a teacher, business owner, nurse or elected official.
STEM activities
- Scientists who changed the field. Short profiles of figures such as Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin, Katherine Johnson or Chien-Shiung Wu, focusing on what they discovered and the obstacles they faced.
- Behind the discovery. Students explain one discovery in simple terms. Pair Rosalind Franklin’s X-ray work with a DNA model, or Curie’s work with a lesson on atoms like our Build a Molecule lab.
- Women in computing. Research Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper or the women who programmed early computers, then write a short “how a computer follows instructions” explanation.
- Data activity. Graph public data on women in different careers over time and describe the trend.
English and arts activities
- Author spotlight. Book talks on writers such as Mary Shelley, Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison or Sandra Cisneros.
- Speech analysis. Compare the purpose and audience of two speeches by women from different eras.
- Interview project. Students interview a woman in their life about her work or education and write a short profile.
- Art and design. Study a woman artist or architect and create a piece inspired by her style.
Discussion and reflection
- Socratic seminar. Use a short primary source and one guiding question.
- Gallery walk. Post student profiles around the room; classmates leave questions on sticky notes.
- Then and now. Compare one issue from the past with today, using evidence.
- Reflection journal. “Whose story surprised you most this month, and why?”
Planning table
| Time available | Best picks |
|---|---|
| One class period | Scientist profiles, author spotlight, data activity |
| Two periods | 19th Amendment timeline plus primary source analysis |
| Whole month | Local history research, interview project, gallery walk |
Tips for a meaningful month
- Include women from different backgrounds, fields and eras.
- Show the obstacles and the achievements.
- Check quotes and facts; many quotes online are misattributed.
- Set discussion norms first; see our guide to classroom norms.
- Use group roles to organize research projects; see group work roles.
Frequently asked questions
When is Women’s History Month?
Women’s History Month is observed throughout March in the United States. International Women’s Day is March 8.
How did Women’s History Month start?
It started as a local Women’s History Week in 1978, became a national week in 1980 and was designated a month by Congress in 1987.
What are good Women’s History Month activities for high school?
Primary source analysis, suffrage timelines, STEM profiles, author spotlights and interview projects work well for teens.
Pick one history activity, one STEM or arts activity and one reflection. Students finish March with a broader view of who shaped history. For more seasonal ideas, see our Black History Month activities and seasonal activities.
Plan the whole year with our classroom activities calendar 2026–2027.
