American Spaces Programming Resources

Women’s History Month

Please note:
The resources provided here are not required programs. The Office of American Spaces recommends
collaborating with the U.S. Embassy’s or Consulate’s Public Affairs Section on the programs offered in
American Spaces.

Programming Resources

 Smithsonian’s “The Suffragist: Educators’ Guide for Classroom Videos”

o https://historyexplorer.si.edu/sites/default/files/The_Suffragist_Educators_Guide.pdf
o Includes links for 3 videos (~5 minutes each) which examine actions taken by suffragists in
1917 as they fought to win the right to vote.
 Videos are appropriate for American Spaces audiences with a medium level of
English and above (videos are geared towards U.S. students in grades 5-12)
 Educators’ Guide includes background information, suggested timeframes (45-90
minutes), key vocabulary, discussion questions, and possible extension activities
 Videos are in Vimeo and may be downloaded

 Smithsonian Institution’s Women’s History Toolkit for American Spaces

o https://app.box.com/s/h1ww2cdxsvyo3uj66vabpr89zyzin4o3

 Women’s History Month (https://womenshistorymonth.gov/)

(Includes primary sources from Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration,
and more. Browse ready-to-use lesson plans, student activities, collection guides and research aids.)

o Under “For Teachers” (https://womenshistorymonth.gov/for-teachers/):

 Women’s Suffrage (3rd resource under Library of Congress) provides excellent
background information and suggested activities/prompts for discussions
 https://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/wom
ens-suffrage/pdf/teacher_guide.pdf
 Primary documents and lesson plans provided under National Archives section. For
example:
 https://www.docsteach.org/activities/teacher/the-suffrage-and-the-civil-
rights-reform-movements (activity may be used with audiences with a
medium level of English; suggested activity time is 15-20 minutes)

 Scholastic Resources
o https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collections/teaching-content/womens-history-
month-collection-teaching-resources/
o Includes articles at a medium English level and activities that may be incorporated into
educational programs

 Additional Smithsonian Institution Resources:

Last Updated: Feb 25, 2019

 o Smithsonian Learning Lab:
https://learninglab.si.edu/search?st=women%27s+history+month&st_op=and&item_type=c
ollections
 There are 8 program activities listed, and the collection includes many accomplished
and influential women in science, art, women’s rights, and athletics throughout
history. The collection contains images, text, recordings and other multimedia
resources.
 Of the 8 programs listed, “Women’s History in America: Highlights Collection” may
be considered – after you click on each image, click on “View Original,” and then
“More Info” for additional background information.

o Women Who Share History: Education Resources:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/women-who-shape-history-womens-history-
education-resources-180968296/

o Short Women’s Empowerment Videos with Discussion Guides (best viewed on Google
Chrome)
 Alexis Lewis’s Innovation Mission: 4 mins 38 secs
 Teaching Coding, Empowering Girls: 2 mins 10 secs

Film Programming Packages

 Norma Rae: 1 hour 54 minutes – Based on a true story, the film tells an inspirational story of one
woman’s courage to confront authority.
 Hidden Figures: 1 hour 29 minutes – Tells the inspirational story of three female African-American
mathematicians who were able to overcome adversity and play a critical role for their country with
their contributions to the American space flight program.
 A League of Their Own: 2 hours 8 minutes – Comedy-drama set in 1943 that gives fictionalized
account of real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
 Joy: 2 hours 4 minutes – Set in a working-class suburb of New York in the 1990s, this movie is
loosely based on the true story of American mother who became an inventor and entrepreneur.
 Erin Brockovich: 2 hours 11 minutes – Portrays the true biographical story of Erin Brockovich, a
woman who fought against a large energy corporation for polluting the town’s water supply.
 Movie Programming Kits: Norma Ray ; Hidden Figures ; A League of Their Own ; Joy ; Erin
Brockovich
 All movie kits are also available here: https://americanspaces.state.gov/programming/movie-kits/)
 Posts/American Spaces need to procure film on own

Kanopy Films (Free through e-LibraryUSA: https://elibraryusa.state.gov/index.html)

 Perfect 36: When Women Won the Vote (released 2017)

o 26 minutes – In July of 1920, all eyes were on Nashville, Tennessee as anti- and pro-
suffragists each fought for their vision of a socially evolving United States.
 Women in Business (part of the PBS “Makers: Women Who Make America” series) (released 2014)
o 57 minutes – Women in Business tells the story of the exceptional women--past and
present--who have significantly shaped the world of business.
 Big Dream: Young Women Entering STEM Fields (released 2015)
o 91 minutes – film follows 7 women who are overcoming challenges to follow their passions
for science, math, computers and engineering.
Last Updated: Feb 25, 2019
 To Educate a Girl (released 2011)
o 77 minutes – In 2000, 110 million children in the world were not in school--two thirds of
them were girls. In 2010, filmmakers Frederick Rendina and Oren Rudavsky traveled to
Nepal and Uganda, two countries emerging from conflict and struggling with poverty, to find
the answer to one question: What does it take to educate a girl?
 Alice’s Ordinary People: The Chicago Freedom Movement (released 2012)
o 57 minutes – film tells Alice Tregay's story of ordinary people effecting extraordinary change
for human rights.
 Rachel Carson: The Woman Who Launched the Modern Environmental Movement (PBS, released
2017)
o 115 minutes – When Rachel Carson's Silent Spring was published in 1962, the book became
a phenomenon. A passionate and eloquent warning about the long-term dangers of
pesticides, the book unleashed an extraordinary national debate and was greeted by
vigorous attacks from the chemical industry.

Suggested Movies Covered Under MPLC Licensing Agreement

 https://americanspaces.state.gov/programming/the-motion-picture-licensing-corporation-
agreement/)
 Visit the Managing American Spaces website to find suggested movies covered by the Motion
Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC) agreement that may be shown as part of Women’s History
Month. For a listing of ECA-suggested film titles:
o Under the first FAQ (Suggested Film Titles by Category/Genre/Theme), click on “list of
film titles (xlsx 748)”
o On the bottom of the spreadsheet, scroll to the following tabs to peruse possible films:
“Women in Film,” “Women Directors,” “Power of Individuals.”
 Note: The inclusion of each title represents a suggested and/or potentially relevant film, not an
endorsement. All posts/Spaces are advised to preview film titles ahead of time before public
screenings to ensure that all thematic material and content is culturally and programmatically
appropriate for their intended audiences.
 Posts will need to procure films on own.

eShop Collections
*eShop collections include a selection of products, including books, games, posters, kits, etc, on specific
topics that may be used for programs to engage target audiences.
 Women’s History -- https://eshop.state.gov/Scholastic/Womens%20History
 Women’s Empowerment -- https://eshop.state.gov/Women's%20Empowerment

Written/Photo/Video Resources
 Share America articles
o Collection of articles: https://share.america.gov/theme/theme-government-civil-
society/theme-women-girls/
o First Lady Honors Global Women of Courage -- https://share.america.gov/first-lady-honors-
global-women-of-courage/
o Women’s Rights are Human Rights -- https://share.america.gov/womens-rights-are-human-
rights/

Last Updated: Feb 25, 2019

 o Five Brilliant Women You Should Know -- https://share.america.gov/5-brilliant-women-you-
should-know/
o An Inspiration for Women Fighting for Their Rights -- https://share.america.gov/an-
inspiration-for-women-fighting-for-their-rights/
 American English Resources (americanenglish.state.gov)
o 2-page handout on Women’s History Month:
https://americanenglish.state.gov/resources/celebrate-holidays-usa#child-394

 IIP Photo Archive

o Extraordinary Women -- https://www.flickr.com/photos/iip-photo-
archive/albums/72157665525162946
o First Ladies of the United States -- https://www.flickr.com/photos/iip-photo-
archive/albums/72157685261497053
 Downloadable Posters
o Invest in Girls, Esperanza Spalding, Maya Angelou Posters --
https://americanspaces.state.gov/programming/downloadable-posters/
o Department of Energy Women in STEM Poster Series --
https://www.energy.gov/articles/new-classroom-poster-series-spotlights-women-stem

Last Updated: Feb 25, 2019