Women in History Homeschool Unit Study

Throughout history, there have been some remarkable women who have made incredible contributions to society. Indeed, some are more widely known than others, but all deserve recognition. As we approach Women’s History Month, we wanted to offer a homeschool unit study on some of these amazing women. As always, you can do as deep a dive into this subject as you wish and as your child’s interest allows, but this unit study gives you a starting point. This study is best for grades PreK-6.

Download your free Remarkable Women in History Homeschool Unit Study printable ebook at the end of this article!

Remarkable Women Book List:

Remarkable Women Fun Facts:

  • Susan B. Anthony fought for women to have the right to vote and the right to own property. She was arrested for illegally voting in a presidential election, to raise awareness of how unfair it was for women.
  • Amelia Earhart was the first woman (and only the second person after Charles Lindbergh) to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She was also the first person to make a solo flight from Hawaii to the mainland US.
  • Clara Barton was a nurse during the Civil War and founded the American Red Cross.
  • Hatshepsut of ancient Egypt’s 18th dynasty was the only female pharaoh recorded in history.
  • Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor’s Degree. Additionally, she wrote 12 books and co-founded Helen Keller International which combats the causes and consequences of blindness and malnutrition.
  • Jane Austen is now known for her novels, but as women were only expected to be keepers at home, writing was not an appropriate profession. Because of this, her first novels were published anonymously.
  • Florence Nightingale was awarded the Order of Merit (this is a special award given by the ruling King or Queen) in 1907 for her work and services in the development of nursing. This was the first time a woman had received the honor.
  • Marie Curie is remembered for her discovery of radium and polonium, and her vast contribution to the fight against cancer.
  • Margaret Thatcher was the first female Prime Minister of England. She earned the nickname “Iron Lady” due to her uncompromising politics and leadership style.
  • Harriet Tubman was a conductor on the Underground Railroad, helping slaves escape during the Civil War and leading them to freedom. Earning the nickname “Moses,” she was never captured and neither were the people she guided.
  • Queen Elizabeth II is England’s longest-reigning monarch. In fact, she reigned as Queen from 1952 at the age of 25 until her death in 2022 at the age of 96.
  • Kamala Harris is the first female Vice President of the United States.
  • Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933-1945 while her husband, Franklin D. Roosevelt, led the nation as President. She worked with the Red Cross during the first World War, wrote a newspaper column during the Great Depression, worked with youth, was an activist for the rights of women and African-Americans, was the first U.S. delegate to the United Nations, and so much more!
  • Diana Spencer married Charles, Prince of Wales in 1981, and became the well-loved Princess Diana. She devoted her life to helping others, was especially influential in removing some of the stigma associated with those who had HIV/AIDS, worked to provide housing for homeless adolescents, and earned the nickname “The People’s Princess.”
  • Maya Angelou began her career as a singer and dancer, worked as a civil rights activist, wrote 7 autobiographies including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and also wrote poems and screenplays.
  • The Bible even has two books named after women: Ruth and Esther. Speaking of the Bible, there are many notable women found throughout its pages, and one cannot forget Mary, the mother of Jesus!

Quotes from Remarkable Women:

  • “Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained.” – Marie Curie
  • “I attribute my success to this – I never gave or took any excuse.” – Florence Nightingale
  • “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.” – Helen Keller
  • “I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.” – Susan B. Anthony
  • “It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.” – Jane Austen
  • “Surely, in the light of history, it is more intelligent to hope rather than to fear, to try rather than not to try. For one thing we know beyond all doubt: Nothing has ever been achieved by the person who says, ‘It can’t be done.’” – Eleanor Roosevelt
  • “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Maya Angelou
  • “Instead of letting your hardships and failures discourage or exhaust you, let them inspire you. Let them make you even hungrier to succeed.” – Michelle Obama
  • “Women, like men, should try to do the impossible. And when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others.” – Amelia Earhart
  • “If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.” – Dolly Parton
  • “Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” – Unknown
  • “I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. … We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.” – Malala Yousafzai
  • “Everyone needs to be valued. Everyone has the potential to give something back if only they had the chance.” – Princess Diana

Remarkable Women Homeschool Activities:

  • Take a visit to your local museum and learn more about the women they have there. If you don’t have a museum nearby, take a virtual field trip instead!
  • Consider the strong women your children have in their lives. Have them sit down, write, and send them a thank you note.
  • After learning about Amelia Earhart, sit down with your kids, and make an airplane! You can make a basic plane with younger ones using a toilet paper roll and craft popsicle sticks, or you can get more complicated with older ones using something like this.

Remarkable Women Snack Ideas:

  • Snack Like Amelia Earhart: People often asked Amelia Earhart what she ate during flights. You may be surprised to know that she would only snack while she flew and eat a large meal when she landed. This was due to the logistics of trying to eat while flying an airplane, and also the additional weight of food. Her goal was to stay full, but not tired. Her go-to foods were tomato juice, chocolate squares, hard-boiled eggs, and raisins.
  • Make Jane Austen’s Apple Puffs: First. preheat your oven to 400 degrees and prepare a baking sheet with butter and flour, or parchment paper. Then, peel, core, and slice a pound of baking apples. Stew them in a half cup of water until they are tender. Drain, reserve the juice, and cool completely. Put the cooked apple in a bowl and mix in 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of finely ground lemon rind, 1 tablespoon of orange marmalade, and an optional 1 tablespoon of orange blossom water or a half teaspoon of cinnamon. Taste and adjust the flavoring as needed. On a lightly floured surface, roll out 8 oz of puff pastry to 1/8 inch thick and cut the pastry into 8 4-inch squares. Divide the apple puree between them, placing it in a line across the center of each square and stopping well short of the ends. With a pastry brush, use the reserved apple cooking liquid to dampen the edges of the pastry. Fold the two edges parallel with the line of filling over the puree. Pinch and seal the edges together with a fork, forming a tube. Pinch and seal the ends of the tube together and use a fork to seal shut. Brush the pastry lightly with the reserved apple cooking liquid and sprinkle with caster sugar. Using a sharp knife, gently cut vents into the top of the pastries. Place the puffs on the greased or lined baking sheet and bake for 20 – 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Finally, serve warm, topped with a little extra marmalade, and have a cuppa!
  • Have Eleanor Roosevelt’s Baked Indian Pudding: As the First Lady during the Great Depression, Eleanor Roosevelt led by example during those rough days and made sure that the meals in the White House were tasty, yet cost-effective. Her famous dessert was Baked Indian Pudding, also known as Hasty Pudding. To make it, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add 2 cups of whole milk, 1 cup of heavy cream, 1/2 cup of molasses, and 1/4 cup of brown sugar to a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup of cornmeal, 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Add to the milk mixture, whisking. Bring just to a simmer, whisking. Pour into an 8-by-8-inch baking dish. The batter will be thin and shallow. Bake the pudding in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and stir well. Return the pudding to the oven and continue cooking for 20 minutes. The pudding will still be quite wobbly but will set as it cools. Let cool on a rack for 20 minutes and serve warm. Or cool completely and reheat the pudding in a 350° oven for about 5 minutes just before serving. Serve the pudding topped with vanilla ice cream.
  • Eat Helen Keller’s Favorite Food: Have a hot dog!

Remarkable Women Learning Videos: