Keeping It Current

For Grades 6–12


This Month in History: March

Extend your social studies instruction with informative and inspiring content from HMH®, The HISTORY Channel, and the Center for Civic Education. Each month we bring you videos, articles, and current events designed to build cultural awareness, media literacy, and a deeper understanding of significant historical figures and events.

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Classroom Resources from HMH

National Women's History Month

Month of March

In 1975, the United Nations declared March International Women’s History Month and March 8 International Women’s Day. In the 1980s, the National Women’s History Project and other groups got the U.S. Congress to declare a national Women’s History Week in the first half of March. Later the week was expanded to a month.

During Women’s History Month, we take a close look at the obvious importance of women in history. We also take time to examine how to improve the rights of women now and into the future.

The idea of honoring women in March had been around for decades before either the U.N. or U.S. declarations. In fact, for the past 90 years in Russia, March 8 has been set aside to grant special recognition to women and their role in history. On March 8, 1917, during World War I, Russian women in St. Petersburg helped lead an uprising against the Czar, and so the day eventually became a Soviet Russian day of memorial for the role of women in the Russian Revolution.

Related Links

The Birth of Women's History Month (External Link)
Read a brief history of Women's History Month in the United States.

The National Women's History Project: Writing Women Back into History (External Link)
Delve into histories and current newsletters about the accomplishments of women in the United States, from sports to politics, and from ecology to art.


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Eleanor Roosevelt & Refugee Aid During the Holocaust

As Nazi Germany’s persecution of Jews intensified, and its control expanded across Europe, Eleanor Roosevelt advocated for aid to refugees who were fleeing Nazi persecution. In at least one instance, she personally tried to sponsor a refugee, and she also contributed money to aid organizations intended to fund refugees’ passage to the United States. She donated the proceeds of her “My Day” column to the American Friends Service Committee, which was actively involved both in alleviating poverty in the United States and in aiding European refugees, most of whom were Jewish.

Related Links

Americans and the Holocaust: Eleanor Roosevelt (External Link)


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Classroom Resources from The HISTORY Channel

National Women’s History Month

Every March, classrooms and communities observe Women's History Month, which highlights women who have shaped our world. History.com features short video clips for Women's History Month, lesson plans and activities. Visit HISTORY online to view videos about First Ladies, women in the military, African American women and many more topics relevant to Women's History Month.

Related Links

Short Video: Rosie the Riveter (External Link)

Short video: 19th Amendment (External Link)

Famous Firsts in Women’s History ((External Link)

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Students Take Action

from the Center for Civic Education

The Students Take Action service-learning feature relates stories of students who have participated in the Center for Civic Education’s Project Citizen program, which encourages students to take part in state or local government and learn how to monitor and influence public policy. Help your students become active and engaged citizens in their own communities with these resources.

Students Take Action

Creating a Library

Students Take Action

Working to Improve Community Health

Inspiring a Village

Working to Create New Laws

Students Take Action

Working to Improve the Environment

Students Take Action: Reforesting Land

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Students Take Action: Working to Preserve the Past

Students Take Action: Working to Preserve the Past

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Students Take Action: Preserving History

Tmih STA24 Preserving History

Helping the Elderly

Helping the Elderly

Educating the Public

Educating the Public

Working to Change Government Policies and Practices

Providing Emergency Care


Students Take Action: Writing a Law

Students Take Action: Working to Fight Crime

Students Take Action from the Center for Civic Education

Establishing Smoke-Free Zones

Students Take Action

Restoring School Recess

Students Take Action from the Center for Civic Education

Working to Change School Policies

Students Take Action

Righting a Wrong

Students Take Action

Working to Improve Community Health

Students Take Action

Encouraging Safe Exercise

Students Take Action

Working to Promote Health and Fitness

Students Take Action

Restoring School Recess

Students Take Action

Creating A Library