Votes for Women!
Fourth-graders re-enact suffrage march.
The 4th graders stepped back in time to 1920 and participating in a women's suffrage march as a part of their historic fiction unit. The students marched through the campus, carrying signs and banners in support of the suffrage movement in America.
The Hope Chest by Karen Schwabach is a historical fiction novel set in 1920, during the final push for women's suffrage in the United States. It follows 11-year-old Violet Mayhew, who runs away from her strict, traditional home in Pennsylvania after discovering her parents have been hiding letters from her older sister, Chloe, who was disowned for rejecting marriage and pursuing education and a career instead. Violet teams up with Myrtle, an African American orphan fleeing a life of forced servitude, and Mr. Martin, a pacifist friend of Chloe's who's evading authorities for anti-war activism.
It's a strong choice of reading for elementary students, as it blends adventure and education. It supplements classroom units on U.S. government, women's rights, or the suffrage movement—a topic rarely covered in depth in kids' books—while sparking discussions on past inequalities that can shock and outrage students, helping them relate to history on a personal level.
Fourth-grade teacher Ms. Pippa Alexander masterfully blends the book study with discussions on women's rights, in particular.
"The fourth graders learned meaningful life lessons through this unit," Ms. Alexander said. She pointed out that the Tennessee House passed the 19th Amendment in 1920 with only a one-vote majority!
Murphy O. relayed, "The suffrage movement teaches us to learn to fight for what is right and fair. We can also learn to persevere, even in hard times."
Ashlyn S. added, "Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, so if we listen to everyone's ideas and treat everyone fairly, we can make the world a better place."
Jacksonville Country Day School
Located in Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville Country Day School is a private school for Pre-K 3 through 5th grade. JCDS prepares students for a healthy and productive lifetime of intellectual exploration, character development, and social responsibility.
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