Below is an annotated list of children's literature for the elementary classroom. The books are organized by the Six Elements of Social Justice Curriculum Design (Picower, 2007). It is based on work by pre-service teachers at Montclair State University. They have read and reviewed these books and provided insights into how they can be used in K-5 settings.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

The Split History of the Women's Suffrage Movement

Author: Don Nardo 
Grade Level: 5th-9th















Summary:  The book discusses the women's suffrage movement during the mid-19th century in upstate New York.  A group of women thought it was time for women to stand up for what they believe in and to stop embracing their status of being inferior to men.  Women did not have the same civil rights that many men had, which included the right to vote.  This group of women had a convention where they insisted on having the same rights as men.  It took a long time, but they did it!  

Element 4: The Split History of the Women's Suffrage Movement represents Element 4: Social Movement and Social Change because it showcases how women fought for their rights during the Women's Suffrage movement.  The book shows how smart, courageous women fought for equality and why they should be treated the same as the men, despite the fact that they were a different gender.   The book discusses the convention that the women held in Seneca Falls, New York, which marked the beginning of the women's rights movement within the United States.  The book discusses the journey the women take to gain the rights that women now have today!

Activity: I would use this book by reading it to my class first, then completing an activity which would include a debate.  After reading the book, I will have the students take a virtual field trip back in time.  Then I would discuss how the women had to create an amendment so all women would be given the right to vote.  As a class, I would have the students work together to create the 19th amendment as if they were going to present it to the Congress (however, they would really present it to the class, as a whole).  Each student would have a different job within this process.

I would also use this book to teach about the importance of equality, whether it is the Women's Suffrage movement or the Civil Rights movement.  This book focuses on the rights that women should be given and have been given because of the movement.  It would show society that everyone should be treated equality, no matter their ethnicity or their gender.  


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