Lesson Plan - Girl Power!

Watch the Videos
Watch the video “The Struggle for Women’s Rights.” Then discuss: If you got to choose an inspiring woman from history to be featured on a U.S. coin, who would you choose? Why? Follow up by playing the video “The U.S. Mint” to show how coins are designed.

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• trailblazers
• skeptical
• determined

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them identify what inspired Low to start the Girl Scouts.

1. What experience gave Juliette Gordon Low the idea to start Girl Scouts of the USA?
Juliette Gordon Low got the idea to start Girl Scouts of the USA when she met Robert Baden-Powell in England. He had founded the Boy Scouts in England. Boy Scouts explored the outdoors and worked together to help their communities. Low thought girls in the U.S. would enjoy those activities, just as she did as a kid.
^{RI.3.3 Cause and Effect}

2. What does the author mean when she writes that “this year, Low is being honored in a special way”?
When the author writes that “this year, Low is being honored in a special way,” she means that Low is being featured on new quarters. The author explains, “The coins are part of the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program.”
^{RI.3.1 Demonstrate Understanding}

3. Which woman described in the “Faces of Change” sidebar do you think had the greatest impact on history or society? Explain.
Responses will vary.
^{RI.3.5 Text Features}

Featured Skill: Research
Distribute the skill builder “Share Her Story,” and have students research and write about a woman from history who inspires them.
^{W.3.7 Research}