Enquiry Question: Why is it ‘his’ story?

This enquiry has students asking why most of the history we study is focused on men, their perspectives and accomplishments. But where are the women? Using the 5Rs of Significance students will exam women from across time periods and across the globe and ask who should be remembered? The enquiry begins with an introduction lesson using Trafalgar Square and the empty Fourth Plinth to get students thinking about why there are only statues dedicated to men in such significant location to women’s history. Students will prepare either presentations or a poster over the course of the enquiry on a woman they think is significant enough to be memorialised with a statue. Includes all PowerPoints and resource sheets.

Lesson 1: Introduction
Lesson 2: Medieval Misconceptions
- Students examine their misconceptions about women during the medieval period and investigate individuals and groups to learn about the power, independence, and influence medieval women were capable of.
Lesson 3: Industrial Women and the Match Strike Girls
- Students use the 5R’s to think about why the Match Strike Girls are rarely mentioned when studying the Industrial Period and examine how their story has begun to pop up in popular media.
Lesson 4: Worldwide Expectations – Textbook Challenge
- This lesson is all about group work – students are each given a women from somewhere in the world and using the 5R’s must convince the Textbook Committee (you) as to why their woman should be included in the new national textbook. Can be done across 2 lessons.
Lesson 5: Women who have changed the world
- Students learn about women who have mase incredible contributions to the world through science, medicine, culture, human rights, etc. and why they may have been lost to history.
Lesson 6: Who deserves to be remembered?
- Final lesson where students bring their knowledge together and present or showcase their final work.