Lesson Plan

Equal Rights? The Women's Movement from Suffrage to Schlafly

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This Equal Rights? The Women's Movement from Suffrage to Schlafly lesson plan also includes:

If you've never heard of the Equal Rights Amendment, it's probably because there isn't one in the United States Constitution. Delve into the contentious history behind the ERA, its founders and supporters, and reasons for its political stalemate with a packet of primary sources and discussion questions.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Extend the final assessment project into a formal debate between the two perspectives on the ERA
  • Use during a unit on Women's History Month or when studying movements for equal rights
  • Prompt learners to explore the role of women of color in the effort to ratify the ERA—or the lack thereof
  • Show video of both Phyllis Schlafly and Gloria Steinem from the 1970s, as well as other activists at the time
Classroom Considerations
  • Refer to the fourth page of the document for applicable skills to social studies classes
  • A note on page 5 clarifies any potential issues with the resource itself, including page number discrepancies and possible broken links
  • The shading on the ratification map is difficult to interpret; consider shading the selected states even more
Pros
  • Lists relevant books, films, and electronic resources to incorporate into a lesson on women's suffrage
  • Presents political cartoons that represent both sides of the argument
  • Encourages active reading and critical thinking skills, as each section is punctuated by discussion questions
Cons
  • None