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Main Street Middle School

Baginski / Drew 6th Grade Team
Social Studies

Women's History Month
1978: The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women began a celebration during the week of March 8, to raise public awareness of the contributions of women throughout history.

1981: Enthusiasm for the weeklong celebration spread and was officially declared "National Women's History Week."

1987: Enthusiasm grew, and in the National Women's History Project was successful in petitioning Congress to expand the national celebration through the entire month of March.

A Celebration of Women’s History Month How did Women’s History Month begin? That depends upon whom you ask! Some claim it’s origin dates back to a fire that broke out in 1911 at the Triangle Shirt Company in New York City. Because of low wages and sweatshop conditions for the female workers in New York’s garment industry at the time, women had staged strikes and left work undone. To keep these workers from walking off their jobs, employers locked the factory doors at the beginning of a shift and unlocked them when the shift was over. When a fire broke out at the Triangle Factory, the women inside were trapped and could not escape the flames. One hundred forty-three women died as a result. To honor their memory, a day was established to bring attention to women who had gone unnoticed throughout American history. This day eventually morphed into the month long celebration it is today (Times Argus 2-28-94). Other sources cite different origins to Women’s History Month. See what you can find out about this and other “Women’s History” topics as you peruse the web pages collected here as part of your web quest.

Here are the challenges you will meet during this web quest (record your answers on this sheet):

1.    Discover three “firsts” accomplished by women throughout history. Visit the “Firsts in Women’s Achievements” link on The History Channel site.

2.    Uncover three facts about the female gender (compared to men) here in the United States. Click the “Did You Know” link on The History Channel site.

3.    Find an inspiring quote from a notable woman and explain its relevance or impact upon you. Click the “Quotes” link on The National Women’s History Museum site.

4.    Take a Women’s Quiz to find out how much you know (or don’t know) about women who’ve left their mark on world history. Click on the “Quiz” link on Thomson Gale site. Print off your quiz results!

5.    Design and create a poster of a notable woman for our class “Hall of Fame." Click on the “women’s hall of fame” or the “biographies” link on The History Channel site or the Thompson Gale’s site. You'll also find lots of information at the Women's History Month -- A National Register of Historic Places website. You may also use one of the reference books available in the MSMS library for your research. Your poster should include the following: