Social Studies Mentor Text- Elizabeth Cady Stanton {linky}

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

I'm here with a quick post about a book we have used in social studies for the Women's Rights Movement!

In our fourth grade curriculum we teach about the Women's Rights Movement and Elizabeth Cady Stanton is one of the ladies that we teach about.

Here is the synopsis that Amazon gives (which I know I'm being lazy by copying and pasting, but it's stated better than I'd probably state it!)

"Elizabeth Cady Stanton stood up and fought for what she believed in. From an early age, she knew that women were not given rights equal to men. But rather than accept her lesser status, Elizabeth went to college and later gathered other like-minded women to challenge the right to vote.  Here is the inspiring story of an extraordinary woman who changed America forever because she wouldn't take “no” for an answer."

We read this book this year and it really engages the students in some deep thinking and it's great for questions!

This book hooks them in right away!  Check this out!

The very first sentence says, "What would you do if someone told you you can't be what you want to be because you are a girl?"

We stop right there and right our responses.  And for the boys, they write it thinking the same question but what would you do if someone told you you can't be what you want to be because you are a boy?  I tell them to really think deep.  And then we keep reading.

I love these two pages because the woman comes to see Elizabeth's new baby sister and says, "What a pity it is that she's a girl!"

Can you imagine?  Who would say that?  How awful that this is what they thought when they had girls!  Right?!?  More discussion...why could this be?

And then, a lady's husband dies and she gets nothing of the estate!!  What?????

Elizabeth gets really mad!  I love that she uses the word preposterous!  There is great vocabulary in this book to discuss with the students!!  It also helps them put themselves in the time period.  The illustrations are great, too, because there she is, riding side-saddle.  We discuss how different things were back then!  How many of you would wear a dress while riding a horse?  Or rafting down a river?

And the book just keeps going on.  It's a biography and continues through Elizabeth's journey to never give up!  She knew women could do anything a man could do, and she made sure everyone else knew it, too!

This is a great, inspirational, book that teaches perseverance and tolerance!  Even if you don't teach Women's Rights, this would still be a great book for questioning and response!

Now, it's your turn!

(If you have never linked up before you can check HERE for more information.)

Have a great weekend!
Amanda

We are wondering what you would like us to do about this linky for the summer.  Everyone (readers and bloggers) please vote!  We are happy to continue with the linky or put it on hold!

For the Linky- Please make yourself a SANDWICH!  Please comment on the person who linked up before you and the person that linked up after you.  I know everyone puts in a lot of time and effort to these posts and I want everyone to feel the love!!!  (Haha, see, you're a sandwich...you know...because you are in the middle of the comments...do you get it?)  ;O)

Depending on the results of the survey, next week's topic- Language Arts