Lessons > Women Win The Vote: Grade 6

Women Win The Vote: Grade 6

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Purpose

• Students will examine the role of women in Western settlements.
• Students will explore the Canadian Suffrage movement in establishing political equality.
• Students will identify the changes and developments regarding rights for minority and culturally diverse peoples.

Curriculum Outcomes:	Cluster 2: An Emerging Nation (1914 to 1945)
	Cluster 3: Shaping Contemporary Canada (1945 to Present)

6-KH-037 Describe changing roles for women in Canada from 1914-1945.

6-KP-046 Describe the struggle for and identify individuals involved in women's

suffrage in Manitoba and Canada.

6-VI-006 Value the contributions of various groups to the development of Canada.

6-VH-013 Appreciate the struggles of past generations in achieving the rights that people

in Canada enjoy today.

6-KI-014 Identify changes and developments regarding Aboriginal rights in Canada from

1867 to the present.

Materials: (Activating student interest and Acquiring information)

• Present students with background information of the suffrage movement, including case histories of minority, Aboriginal, culturally diverse women and women from the poorer classes of society
• Timeline sheets
• Biographical information on Canada's "Famous Five", Women's Christian Temperance Union, Political Equality League, etc.
• Documents:
Newspapers and articles
• From"Woman's Work after the War" in IODE Bulletin No. 1, November 1918
• The Voice. Published from May 8, 1897 – July 26, 1918.

Photos and maps
• Maps
• Photos

Records
• Canadian Women's Press Club (Ref2)
• Manitoba Association of Home Economists (Ref1, Ref2)
• Manitoba Women's Institute. Pilot Mound District (Ref1, Ref2)
• Mary Louise Pickering Thomson
• Nellie McClung (Ref1)
• Political Equality League (Ref1, Ref2, Ref3)
• Quill Club (Ref1)
• Woman's Christian Temperance Union (Ref1, Ref2, Ref3, Ref4, Ref5)

Vocabulary : to promote use of language in oral discussion, reading and written work

activist	corruption
opposition	compulsory
delegation	vote
compensation	equality
allegations	referendum
prohibition	campaigns
petition	suffrage
feminists	temperance
politics	election
constituencies	morals
reform	electorate
prejudice	immortality
militant	league

Suggestions for Instruction: (Applying)

As information is collected, have the students create a timeline showing the dates and events of the suffrage movement. Have students compare women's rights in different countries during this time period.

Students may complete one or more of the following activities:

• A poster supporting women's rights
• Brainstorming for a working definition of the word "person"
• Research your family tree and see if the women of your family were involved with the suffrage movement
• Compare the "new woman" of the 1900's to the traditional Victorian woman
• Discuss the limitations placed on women by their political and legal status
• Look at the role women played during the First and Second World Wars
• Women in society - the role of "mother" compare past and present role expectations
• Occupations for women
• Challenges faced by minority and immigrant women
• Women in parliament

Suggestions for Assessment

• debates on the issue of women's rights
• presentations
• projects
• suffrage re-enactment
• conferencing
• oral discussions
• written assignments

Extension Activities

• participation in student activism
• field trip to Walker Theatre
• students may become involved with human rights organizations