Kids & famous women in history

In My Humble Opinion
1

Next week I’m going to be playing “Famous People in History” with a group of 12 2nd through 5th graders. It’s kind of a 20 Questions game: each kid has the name of a historical figure stuck on their forehead with a Post-It note, and they have to ask the other kids questions to figure out who they are. It’s been pretty easy to come up with famous men–George Washington, Christopher Columbus, etc.–but I’m having a hard time thinking of female historical figures that 7 to 11 year olds would know. So far, I’ve come up with Pocahontas and Harriet Tubman.

Amelia Earhart? Laura Ingalls? I want them to be easy enough that the kids don’t get too frustrated. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

2

For 2nd through 5th graders, you kind of have to hit what popular American myth is supported by the curriculum, you know? A couple women I thought of:

Betsy Ross
Susan B. Anthony
Sacajawea (maybe?)
Queen Isabella ?
Helen Keller
Florence Nightingale
Rosa Parks
Virginia Dare
Martha Washington

Actually, with the way Black History Month seems to be taught as “The Lives of Famous Black Americans”, they may know more black women than white women.

3

I think many would have heard of Joan of Arc.

4

Not to be harsh, but why are you trying to create history? If the title were “Famous women in history”, I could understand. But why take a sexist slant to “famous people in history”?

5

Mother Teresa
Queen Elizabeth I
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Victoria
Indira Ghandi
Margaret Thatcher
Charlotte and Emily Bronte
mil
Emily Dickenson
Mary Shelley

6

Marie Curie. Nice to have a scientist in there.

7

Irene Curie
Hyppathia (spelling?)
Valentina Tereshkova, first woman in space
Simone de Boivier(sp?), philosopher

8

Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Sally Ride
Billie Jean King
Jane Goodall
Dian Fossey
Jane Austen
I give up, who is mil?

9

Mother in law? As in, the generic mother-in-law?

10

Clara Barton
Jane Addams
Eleanor Roosevelt
Amelia Earhardt
Margaret Sanger ( birth control advocate)
Elizabeth Blackwell: First female medical school graduate in 1849.
(She is one of the personal heroines I adore.)
Martha Graham
Amelia Bloomer
Elizabeth “Nelly Bly” Cochrane: daring female investigative journalist. (1887ish)

Elizabeth Peratrovich

Just a few of the bigger names.

11

If you want a wonderful compendeum of women who made a difference across the country, I cannot recommend more:

Susan B. Anthony Slept Here: A guide to American Women’s Landmarks.

It opened my eyes to the small things done greatly by the woman who walked before me.

12

I have just experienced my first “whoosh”, I think.

13

Mata Hari
Cleopatra
Florence Nightingale

14

Oprah
Alice Walker
Maya Angelou
Hilary Clinton
Betsey Ross
Madonna
etc…

15

Good suggestions, y’all! (You’ve listed some of my personal heroines.)

Zsofia, you’re exactly right about hitting on what they already know. (Do schools still teach about Betsy Ross?) Part of the problem is that while I know a fair bit about American women’s history, I can’t expect 8-year-olds to know about the Grimke sisters, Victoria Woodhull, etc.

Shirley, Elizabeth Blackwell is a great idea. She lived here in Asheville for awhile, so I bet they’ll have heard of her. But while Margaret Sanger is an admirable woman, I’m not sure I want to explain “birth control advocate” to 2nd graders, y’know? :wink:

Bill H., I’m trying to “create history.” I’m going to be working with a group of boys and girls, so I want to have a mix of famous men and women.

16

Oops! Should have been “I’m hardly trying to ‘create history.’”

17

Ingrid Bergman.

18

Anne Frank.

19

Um, the Statue of Liberty is a woman…

I’ve been trying to come up with some famous kids. Laura Ingalls Wilder and Anne Frank are excellent suggestions though. Maybe Shirley Temple?

20

Why not let each kid come up with his/her own favorite person?