March 8th is marked annually as International Women’s Day (IWD). A day to celebrate women’s achievements while raising awareness about women’s equality. International Women’s Day has been celebrated globally for over a century. With it was first recognized in 1911. Educating our children about International Women’s Day is essential. We wanted to share with you some remarkable women who changed history.
Remarkable women who changed history that you should teach your kids about.
Throughout history, we have seen some extremely vibrant, unique, powerful, and intelligent women who inspire your heart. These remarkable women range from scientists, leaders, inventors, Queens, activists, and politicians. All of these had the same common goal, to make the world a better place. This is why they’re included among the remarkable women who changed history.
First, Maya Angelou
She is known as one of the most influential women in American history. Maya Angelou was a poet, memoirist, singer, and civil rights activist. Maya had a difficult childhood as a black woman growing up in Stamps, Arkansas. She experienced discrimination and racial prejudices throughout her entire life. Her trauma was so deep that she was a virtual mute for many years in her childhood. However, she found her voice and used it for freedom; she worked as a civil rights activist for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Additionally, Maya was an educator and Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University.
Maya was the author of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” an award-winning memoir. She is an inspiration and an example of how you can still rise above and use your voice for good, even throughout the darkest circumstances.
Learn more about Maya Angelou.
Second, Anne Frank
Anne Frank wrote one of the most powerful, honest and saddening accounts of World War II. During the German occupation of The Netherlands, Anne Frank wrote in her diary about her family being in hiding for two years. As a result, her diary became classic war literature. When Anne turned 13, she received a red-and-white plaid journal in which she wrote her deepest thoughts. Her diary has been translated into more than 65 languages. And is also the most widely read diary of the holocaust.
When Anne was writing her deepest thoughts, she had no idea that they would one day become the most-read diary of all time. While her life was cut short, she still significantly impacted history. She truly is someone worth learning about.
Third, Rosa Parks
In Montgomery, Alabama, on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks chose to sit in the front of the bus when she boarded it. Knowing that the back of the bus was for African Americans, she decided to protest by sitting in front. Soon the bus began to fill up with white passengers, and the bus driver told Rosa Parks to move to the back. She refused. By doing so, her resistance caused one of the most significant social movements in history, the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Rosa Parks is an incredibly inspiring woman that has left a strong legacy of resistance against racial discrimination and injustice.
Fourth, Amelia Earhart
The amazing Amelia Earhart was born in 1897 and passed away in 1937. Amelia was adventurous and independent as a child. Following the First World War, she entered a program at Columbia University in New York City in 1920. Then in 1921, she purchased her first plane, a Dinner Airster, before she even had a pilot’s license. In the mid-1920, Amelia moved to Massachusetts, where she worked as a social worker at the Denison House. The Denison House was a settlement home for immigrants; while working there, she continued to work on her passion, aviation.
In April of 1928, promotors selected Amelia as the first woman to fly across The Atlantic Ocean. Besides being a fantastic pilot, she was also known for encouraging women to reject social norms. Instead, pursue the opportunities they’d like, especially in aviation.
Learn more about Amelia Earhart.
Fifth, Marie Curie
When Marie was a child, she was well-known for her incredible memory. She was the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne, and in 1910 her fundamental treatise on radioactivity was published. Following that, Marie Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the isolation of pure radium. Furthermore, she with her daughter Irene devoted themselves to developing and using X-radiography during the First World War.
She is an extreme example that you should never stop learning and always stay curious, being the first woman to have been enshrined in the Pantheon in Paris because of her achievements.
Sixth, J.K. Rowling
She went from being a single mother living on benefits to an author making millions, all within just a few short years. J.K. Rowling received multiple rejections from publishers and finally secured a print run of 1,000 copies for her first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. She has sold over 400 million copies and started an entire film empire. Her story is a clear example of why you should never give up on your dreams.
Learn more about J.K. Rowling.
Seventh, Malala Yousafzai
When she was only 15 years old, Malala survived an assassination attempt. When Malala was 11 years old, she gave a speech: “How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?” Which was published throughout Pakistan. Following this, all girls’ schools in Swat were to be shut down. In 2012 Malala was shot by a TTP gunman on the way home from school. When she recovered, she returned to her studies and activism.
Her bravery is admirable, and her determination to advocate for girls’ education is breathtaking.
What can we learn from these women?
While we only listed seven remarkable women who changed history, it’s important to note that there are thousands of others you can learn about—names like Edith Cowan, Viola Desmond, Queen Elizabeth I, Princess Diana, and Oprah Winfrey, to name a few.
Each woman has a unique story that inspires us and future generations to be the best they can be. Learning about them and sharing their stories is a way to honour them and keep their incredible legacies alive. Happy International Women’s Day!
Add a fun history unit to your learning journey!
