Middle School Educational Resources
BOOKS
Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad- Ann Petry (2018).
This award-winning introduction to the late abolitionist, which was named an ALA Notable Book and a New York Times Outstanding Book, includes additional educational back matter such as a timeline, discussion questions, and extension activities.
Sifters: Native American Women’s Lives (Viewpoints on American Culture)- Theda Perdue (2001).
In this edited volume, Theda Perdue, a nationally known expert on Indian history and southern women’s history, offers a rich collection of biographical essays on Native American women. From Pocahontas, a Powhatan woman of the seventeenth century, to Ada Deer, the Menominee woman who headed the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the 1990s, the essays span four centuries. Each one recounts the experiences of women from vastly different cultural traditions.
Pocahontas: A Life from Beginning to End- Hourly History (2020).
Discover the remarkable life of Pocahontas…The name Pocahontas is one of the most recognized in the world, and many think they know the story of how she met and fell in love with a European colonist meddling in her Native American affairs. But is this really what happened? It certainly has been a popular theme and whole Disney movies have been made celebrating this narrative, but besides these conveniently glossed-over tales, what is the real story?
Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg- Irin Carmon, Shana Knizhnik (2015).
She was a fierce dissenter with a serious collar game. A legendary, self-described “flaming feminist litigator” who made the world more equal. And an intergenerational icon affectionately known as the Notorious RBG. As the nation mourns the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, discover the story of a remarkable woman and learn how to carry on her legacy.
Express Yourself!: Joyful Journaling for Kids
Remarkable Women Word Search Puzzles
These 100 word search puzzles will challenge even the most dedicated puzzle fanatics. Enjoy hunting for terms associated with the names of renowned female scientists, actors, musicians, politicians, authors, athletes, and other notable personalities. Included are outstanding women from a wide spectrum of eras, ranging from Jane Austen and Marie Curie to Meryl Streep and Beyonce.
Strong Women: 15 Biographies of Influential Women History Overlooked- Kari Koeppel (2020).
From 10th-century novelist Murasaki Shikibu to 19th-century self-made millionaire Madam C.J. Walker, you’ll learn about the early life, struggles, and successes of the innovators, changemakers, and ceiling-breakers who redefined what strong women were allowed to be. Even if they never became household names.
Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World- Rachel Ignotofsky (2021).
Women in Art highlights the achievements and stories of 50 notable women in the arts–from well-known figures like painters Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keefe, to lesser-known names like 19th-century African American quilter Harriet Powers and Hopi-Tewa ceramic artist Nampeyo. Covering a wide array of artistic mediums, this fascinating collection also contains infographics about artistic movements throughout history, statistics about women’s representation in museums, and notable works by women.
Wondrous Women Who Changed the World- Jenny Jacoby, Maeva Collet
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women- Kate Moore (2017).
For fans of Hidden Figures, comes the incredible true story of the women heroes who were exposed to radium in factories across the U.S. in the early 20th century, and their brave and groundbreaking battle to strengthen workers’ rights, even as the fatal poison claimed their own lives.
Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart- Candace Fleming (2011).
In alternating chapters, Fleming deftly moves readers back and forth between Amelia’s life (from childhood up until her last flight) and the exhaustive search for her and her missing plane. With incredible photos, maps, and handwritten notes from Amelia herself—plus informative sidebars tackling everything from the history of flight to what Amelia liked to eat while flying (tomato soup)—this unique nonfiction title is tailor-made for middle graders.
Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream- Tanya Lee Stone, Margaret A. Weitekamp (2009).
What does it take to be an astronaut? Excellence at flying, courage, intelligence, resistance to stress, top physical shape — any checklist would include these. But when America created NASA in 1958, there was another unspoken rule: you had to be a man. Here is the tale of thirteen women who proved that they were not only as tough as the toughest man but also brave enough to challenge the government. They were blocked by prejudice, jealousy, and the scrawled note of one of the most powerful men in Washington. But even though the Mercury 13 women did not make it into space, they did not lose, for their example empowered young women to take their place in the sky, piloting jets and commanding space capsules.
Hidden Figures Young Readers’ Edition- Margot Lee Shetterly (2016).
Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “human computers” used pencils, slide rules, and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space.
This book brings to life the stories of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden, who lived through the Civil Rights era, the Space Race, the Cold War, and the movement for gender equality, and whose work forever changed the face of NASA and the country.
GAMES AND PUZZLES
Inspirational Women Playing Cards
Pick up a fact about an incredible woman with this deck of Inspirational Women Playing Cards from Ridley’s Games! Containing 54 beautifully illustrated cards featuring a different inspirational woman on each, enjoy a classic card game while learning about the achievements of amazing women from around the world.
Inspirational Women Jigsaw Puzzle
Piece together the amazing stories of some of the world’s most impressive women with this Inspirational Women Jigsaw Puzzle from Ridley’s Games. This 1000 piece puzzle features 54 inspirational icons, as voted for and curated by the Wild + Wolf team. Each beautiful illustration is accompanied by a short biography so you can learn more about some of history’s most amazing women and their incredible achievements. Wonderfully inclusive, the circular nature of the puzzle means that wherever you are sitting around the table you will be able to participate. Follow the poster guide as you solve the puzzle and once you’re finished store it in the beautiful illustrated tube packaging.
Inspirational Women Trivia Game
Test your knowledge of some of the world’s most amazing women and their incredible achievements with this Inspirational Women Trivia from Ridley’s Games. The trivia set features 80 question cards featuring fantastic females from around the world, like ‘In which year did Rosa Parks refuse to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus?’. The icons included in this quiz were voted for & curated by the Ridley’s Games team. Featuring beautiful illustrations, the cards come in a 2 piece box that would be the perfect gift for any brilliant woman in your life.
Wonder Women BingoTeam up with Greta Thunberg, Simone Biles, Amelia Earhart and Serena Williams for a bingo line, or fill your card with Valentina Tereshkova, Malala Yousafzai, Emmeline Pankhurst and more for BINGO! Wonder Women Bingo contains 48 illustrated chips, game board, eight double-sided bingo cards, counters for you to mark up your card and an illustrated booklet with short bios about each of these inspirational women.