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International Women's Day

Overview

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 throughout the world. This activity will let students think about the women in their lives and how they contribute to their well-being and society. It can be extended to include an International Women’s Day lunch event.

Objectives:

1. Discuss the important roles that women play in the students' lives and communities.
2. Recognize the importance of not taking people for granted.
3. Create a collage based on how they want to grow with the help of special women in their lives.
4. Hold a lunch, or similar shared activity, inviting the special women to the class to talk and view the collages.

Materials

• Blank paper for placemats or collages
• Old magazines and other sources for cutting out pictures and words
• Glue
• Scissors
• Crayons
• Pens
• Paper

Procedure

March is National Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day is March 8. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions (national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic, or political). This activity lets students consider the importance of the women in their lives and to learn more about the many ways they make society better.

(Vietnamese proverb)

(Foundations for Life, Elementary, Volume 1, Issue 2, #30)

1. Introduce the theme of International Women’s Day. Explain the vocabulary, if necessary, and ask the students to give their ideas about the purpose of the day.

2. Explain that International Women’s Day gives us a chance to think about how women enrich our lives and communities. It’s also a day to show we appreciate what they've done for us.

3. Ask the students to think about the women in their lives. They can be anyone who influences their behavior, cares for them, or supports them. Write their ideas on the board. Remark on the number of roles women play in the community.

4. Distribute the blank paper. Have students decorate them as collages of their feelings about the women in their lives or to illustrate how they serve their communities. 

5. The activity can tie in with a luncheon. Invite significant women from your school or community to eat with the class using the placemats they made. Prior to the luncheon, students should prepare questions to ask the women, such as how they serve their communities, what were their dreams and how did they accomplish them, how did their childhood compare to those of children today, etc.

If it's not possible to hold a luncheon, invite the women in the community to talk to the class. The placemats or collages can be sent or presented to the women in question.

This lesson is part of a regular feature in Josephson Institute's monthly e-newsletter, the Chronicle. To subscribe, visit the CHARACTER COUNTS! website: http://www.charactercounts.org/chronicle/

Visual Arts

Standard 1. Understands and applies media, techniques, and processes related to the visual arts.

Level Pre-K  Benchmark 3. Uses a variety of basic art materials (e.g., paints, crayons, clay, pencils) to create works of art and express ideas and feelings.

http://www.mcrel.org/Standards-benchmarks/