Women's History Month Opinion Writing Step-by-Step (Would You Rather)

Would you rather meet Mae Jemison or Anne Frank? If you need an engaging way to teach opinion writing, look no further than this step-by-step unit!

Perfect for elementary teachers and homeschoolers alike, this LOW PREP resource covers the five steps of opinion writing—research and brainstorming; reasons and examples; introduction and conclusion; draft, edit, and revise; and final draft—using a cross-curricular approach and Women's History Month theme.

Each day's lesson addresses one step. Differentiated graphic organizers—primary lines, regular lines, and no lines—are included to match the student's handwriting skill level.

A GREAT ADDITION TO YOUR:

• Women's History Month (or a specific historically important woman) unit study
• Writing lessons or centers
• Science, social studies, or history class
• ...or just for fun!

ELEMENTS INCLUDE:

• Teacher instructions
• Topic cards (69 in color and 69 in B&W; 2,346 unique combinations of the historically important women)
• Mix and match research report pages
• Differentiated opinion writing graphic organizers (3 levels)
• Step-by-step opinion writing instructions and checklists
• Sentences starters and transitions
• BONUS DOWNLOAD: Anchor charts, writing rubrics, and helpful bookmarks

HOW IT WORKS:

• Each student picks or is assigned 2 topics from the cards to research (individually or in small groups)
• Select one of the included writing prompts or use the blank one to create your own
• Starting with research and brainstorming, students complete one opinion writing step each day
• Students present their final draft—orally or using the included graphic organizers—in response to the assigned writing prompt

Help your students become expert opinion writers! Whether you're looking for an introduction to opinion writing or an assessment of prior knowledge, this resource has something for everyone. 

HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT WOMEN INCLUDE:

LEADERS

Michelle Bachelet, Benazir Bhutto, Catherine the Great, Cleopatra, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Eva Peron, Gloria Macapgal Arroyo, Angela Merkel, Margaret Thatcher, Indira Ghandi, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, and Queen Victoria.

NOTABLE WOMEN

Anne Frank, Boudicca, Catherine Middleton, Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller, Joan of Arc, Marie Antoinette, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Isabella, Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Isabella, Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth I, and Malala Yosafzai.

SCIENCE

Alexa Canady, Barbara McClintock, Caroline Herschel, Elizabeth Blackwell, Emilie Du Chatelet, Irene Joliot Curie, Mary Anning, Mary Somerville, Jane Goodall, Kathryn D Sullivan, Lie Meitner, Mae Jemison, Marie M Daly, and Rosalind Franklin.

SPORTS

Ali Raisman, Billie Jean King, Carli Lloyd, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Gabrielle Reece, Gracie Gold, Dominique Dawes, Danica Patrick, Joan Benoit, Lindsey Vonn, Michelle Wie, Nadia Comenici, Nancy Kerrigan, Serena Williams, and Ronda Roussey.

THE ARTS

Audrey Hepburn, Anna Pavlova, Coco Chanel, Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen, Diana Ross, Louisa May Alcott, Julia Child, Georgia O’Keefe, Grace Kelly, Misty Copeland, Joni Mitchell, Marilyn Monroe, Tina Turner, and Eleanor Powell.

CROSS-CURRICULAR SUBJECTS COVERED:

• Art (drawing and coloring)
• English language arts
• Grammar
• History
• Reading
• Research
• Science
• Social studies
• Spelling
• Writing