Women’s History Writing Celebration
Westfield Public Schools
As part of a non-fiction unit, third graders at Washington Elementary School research and write a biography about an influential woman in history. To celebrate and showcase their work during Women’s History Month, the students invite a special person in their lives to a tea party.
“When the students select a famous woman to write about, they not only discover her place in history, but how to conduct research to discover how her work was important,” says the Washington Grade 3 team of Lisa Bukowsky, Karen Geddis, and Patricia Honeywell, who organized the March 23 event. “Being able to present their biography to a special person in their lives gives this project special meaning. The students learn so much and we are very proud of their accomplishments.”
Notable women selected by the 3rd graders for their biography project include astronaut Sally Ride, Saint Mother Teresa, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Marie Curie, Olympic gold medalist/gymnast Simone Biles, cooking pioneer Julia Child, and civil rights activist Rosa Parks.
This year, the event – an annual favorite in its 16th year – received a surprise visitor as well. Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, Acting Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education, joined the Women’s History writing celebration to listen as the students read their biographies to their guests.
“There is so much work that the third grade teachers do behind the scenes to prepare the youngsters for this event. It is astonishing to see some of the special guests in the children’s lives who get to visit our school for the first time,” says Washington principal Dr. Andrew Perry. “To have Dr. Allen-McMillan visit our Tea to celebrate Women’s History Month was a special honor.”
Also on hand for the writing celebration was Interim Executive County Superintendent for Union County Daryl Palmieri, K-12 Supervisor of Social Studies Andrea Brennan, and K-12 Supervisor of English Language Arts Elizabeth Reilly.
As part of the comprehensive non-fiction project, the 3rd graders each create a historical timeline and a paper doll representing the woman they select for their biography.
