women’s history

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Inspiring Interviews and Inspiring Educator Award Nominations

Especially since March is Women’s History, MAKERS.com  is a great site to visit.  Part of the unprecedented digital video and broadcast initiative responsible for the documentary “MAKERS: Women Who Make America,” which aired on WGBY in February, MAKERS.com has numerous interviews that the New York Times described as “often fascinating.”

Whether for you or students, these short, inspiring videos include each woman sharing the most meaningful advice she every received.  Among the many interviews are those of Marian Wright Edelman, founder of Children’s Defense Fund, which includes her experiences surrounding the death of MLKing, and Ophelia Neal, World Health Care Advocate and daughter of actress Partricia Neal and children’s author  Raul Dahl, discussing her mother’s strength during great adversity and her own work in Haiti.

And at MAKERS.com you can also help honor women who are innovating the classroom and developing the next generation of MAKERS by nominating a teacher for a $10,000 grant!

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MAKERS: Women Who Make America

Creator and co-producer of “MAKERS: Women Who Make America” Dyllan McGee said she wanted to make a film about women’s rights pioneer and Ms. Magazine co-founder Gloria Steinem, but Steinem “said her story was part of a collective of stories.”  From that inception, MAKERS aims to become the largest and most dynamic collection of women’s stories ever assembled.

The three-hour documentary, which airs on WGBY tonight at 8pm, originated from a very clear premise:  Over the last half century, the work of millions of women has altered virtually every aspect of American culture.  MAKERS tells the story of these exceptional women — both famous and heretofore unknown individuals — whose pioneering contributions continue to shape the world.  Visit MAKERS.com for stories about women such as Judy Blume, Katie Couric, Geraldine Ferraro, Billie Jean King, Maya Lin, Condoleezza Rice and Faith Ringgold .

You can find resources on the subject of women at PBS sites such as NewsHourEXTRA for Teachers:  Lesson Plans on Women,  PBS LearningMedia,  American Experience and its  teachers’ area

With Women’s History Month coming in March, watch for more great resources to motivate and inspire you and  students!

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Video Lending Libary Feature: TOP SECRET ROSIES

Top Secret RosiesMost folks have heard of “Rosie the Riveter” but few know about a group of female math graduates who contributed an intellectual weapon to help win World War II. Six women mathematicians tell how they put their math skills to work solving complex artillery problems using the tools of the day. And when the electronic computer came along, these women were tapped to be its first programmers.  The captivating film, Top Secret Rosies, is available to borrow from WGBY’s Video Lending Library service.  Check it out, ID# 2058, through the Lending Library website today.  We distribute our tapes to most locations within western Massachusetts through the Western Massachusetts Regional Library Delivery Service, who either drops off the borrowed tapes at your school or a school library or public library close to you.

Top Secret Rosies is our feature in celebration of Women’s History Month.  The Library of Congress has a great selection of classroom resources for teaching about influential women in American history–including military veterans, musicians, and a former First Lady.