How To Celebrate Women’s History Month in Science Classes

How much do your students know about the women behind major scientific research of our DNA, the medicine we use, and our favorite technology? Do they know that women had a role in these and many other important inventions and discoveries? Today, we’ll show you how you can celebrate Women’s History Month in your science classes to teach students about these important women and their discoveries.

• Read about women scientists making the news today
• Teach about women who explore the galaxy
• Meet women changing the face of computer science
• Explore scientific fields where women make an impact
• See how women are working to save the environment
• Dive into more articles about women in STEM fields
• Share videos of women scientists in action

[Read about women scientists making the news today](id-news)

Show students how women are changing the face of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) today with current events articles:

• Learn how one teenager uses her voice to help people worldwide receive music therapy to better their lives and cope with issues.
• See how a California teenager embraces her passion for the outdoors and climate change by studying the world’s melting glaciers.
• Read about Sri Lankan marine biologist Asha de Vos and her tips for how students can help save the ocean.

[Teach about women who explore the galaxy](id-space)

Help students learn about the women braving the final frontier with articles on topics like:

• The history of women at NASA and their different jobs and opportunities with the organization since its founding.
• Scientist Lindsay Rizzardi’s research that examined twins to see if there were any long-term effects of space travel on the human body.
• How women redesigned NASA’s space suits to make them more inclusive and widely available for all genders and body types.

[Meet the women changing the face of computer science](id-computer)

Help students learn how the STEM fields are becoming more inclusive for women by exploring articles on topics like:

• How the Battle Born Girls Innovate program promotes esports careers for women.
• How the University of Washington increased the number of women computer science graduates to get more women working in the field.
• How expanding AP computer science classes at one school helped attract more girls to the subject.

[Explore scientific fields where women make an impact](id-fields)

Learn more about the lives and careers of trailblazing women scientists across different fields. Some leaders students can meet include:

• Marie Curie, who discovered radium and polonium.
• Maria Mitchell, the first professional woman astronomer in the United States.
• Rosalind Franklin, a DNA researcher.
• Lise Meitner, who helped discover nuclear fission.
• Grace Hopper, a computer scientist who invented the world’s first compiler.

[See how women are working to save the environment](id-eco)

Learn how young women and adults alike are working to save our planet. Explore resources like:

• A text set with a collection of articles and activities showcasing a day in a glaciologist's life.
• An article about a 10-year-old girl dedicated to clearing up beaches.
• An article about an 11-year-old student working to improve water testing methods.

[Dive into more articles about women in STEM fields](id-articles)

Do your students want to learn even more about the ways women are influencing science today? Share timely current events articles on topics like:

• The early mRNA research that led to COVID-19 vaccines and how it won the Nobel Prize in medicine.
• A plant biologist who turned to TikTok to show young people science in action.
• An inclusive coloring book highlighting scientists of all genders, races, and backgrounds.

[Share videos of women scientists in action](id-video)

Show your students videos of the life and work of some of science’s most influential women, like:

• Environmentalists Rachel Carson and Wangari Maathai.
• Physicist Chien-Shiung Wu.
• Marine educator Symone Barkley.

Go further with your Women’s History Month lessons

We hope these resources make it easier to help you develop relevant, engaging lessons about women’s history in your class this March. To access even more great content on Newsela Science, sign up for Newsela Lite and start your free 45-day trial of all our premium differentiated content.