Women In History for 2016 The women who will be offered this year in the AAUW Women s History Program in March 2016 are listed below with the suggested grades. Optional activities as well as costume suggestions are listed in the descriptions. Except for Deborah Samson and the middle school women, the performances are usually 20 minutes with a 10 minute break. The middle school social studies women are usually scheduled for a class period. Deborah Samson should be scheduled for at least a half hour (with a 15 minute break between performances). For all women generally the group size should not exceed 2 classes, and it is preferable that grades 4 and 5 be single classes. These are intended to be interactive performances with lots of student participation. As in the past AAUW will provide scripts, background material, props, and costume suggestions. For many of the women we have costumes to lend on a first come, first serve basis. They will be shared among performers. For more information about the scripts please contact Kathy Van Slyke at 482-3744 or at nkvanslyke@verizon.net. Scientists Astronaut Choice Sally Ride (1951-2012), Ellen Ochoa (1958-present), Mae Jemison (1956 -- present), Eileen Collins (1958-present) (K-2) Would you like to portray one of these astronauts Sally Ride, the first American woman in space; Mae Jemison, a physician and the first African American woman in space; Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space and currently Director of Flight Crew Operations at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas; or Eileen Collins, first woman pilot and commander of a space mission? As any one of these astronauts you will tell about training to be an astronaut, special accomplishments, and about life on the space shuttle how astronauts ate, slept, and worked. There will be an optional lift off activity that has been enjoyed by students in the past.. A suitable costume would be a space suit and AAUW will have some to lend on a shared basis.. Admiral Grace Hopper (1906-1992) (3 and above) Would you like to tell the students about how Admiral Grace Hopper. as a pioneer in the computer field. realized that computers were going to be important to everyone in the future not just scientists. This was a time when people believed there would only be 19 computers in the whole country? Admiral Hopper will tell the students how she wrote some of the first English-like computer languages and spoke to many groups to persuade them that computers would be important to ordinary people. She will also tell them how valuable speaking and writing experience was to her career. Activities involve learning about the first computer she worked on (51 feet long) and about how to read a backwards clock she had one in her office at the Pentagon. A suitable costume is a simulation of a military uniform. AAUW will have some to fit most but not all sizes to lend on a shared basis.
Jane Luu (1963-present) (3 and above) Would you like to portray the astrophysicist who with her adviser/ mentor was responsible for the discovery of the Kuiper Belt? As a result of this discovery, Pluto no longer is considered to be a planet. That astrophysicist Jane Luu emigrated from Viet Nam during the fall of Saigon (during the Vietnam War) and was raised in Ventura. Jane will tell about her early life, how she became interested in astronomy, and how she made the discovery of the Kuiper Belt. Even though she did not know any English when she came to the United States, she was able to succeed through hard work, education, reading widely, and persistence. The major activity will be about Pluto but other optional activities are the solar system in general and Roman names for the planets. Jane is a very casual person. Shorts and a Hawaiian shirt might be a good costume. Also you might dress warmly as you might to work at night at a large telescope. The Arts Marie Tallchief (1925-2013) (K-2) Would you like to portray a Native American who became the first American to become a prima ballerina.? Marie Tallchief will tell about her training and career. She will tell them how hard work helped her succeed. One of the roles that she will mention is her role as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker. Activity includes the 5 basic positions for the feet and the 5 basic positions for the arms. Since you can be a retired ballerina you do not need to dance but can instead get the students (both boys and girls) to try the positions using the visuals provided. A suitable costume for Marie Tallchief would be any type of workout outfit. Georgia O Keeffe (1887-1986) (3-5 and middle school art classes) Would you like to portray a famous 20 th century painter, Georgia O Keeffe who developed her own style of art? She is best known for her enlarged flower pictures, New York skyscrapers, and New Mexico landscapes. Georgia O Keeffe will tell about her style and show some of her famous paintings. Included will be a basic discussion of perspective as it is used in art. There will be an optional art activity which will illustrate her style. If you have artistic talent it would be an asset, but is not necessary. A suitable costume would be a long skirt and blouse or possibly a shirtwaist dress. Black was her favorite color. AAUW will have some costumes to lend on a shared basis.
Local Woman Carmen Camarillo (1903-1982) (K-3) Would you like to portray the youngest daughter of the Camarillo family which was very influential in local history? Carmen will tell how her childhood was different than childhood today, her work with the White Horses, and her philanthropic activities. Activities in the script involve the family influence on Camarillo and how Camarillo has changed. A suitable costume would be either a horseback riding outfit (or reasonable facsimile) or skirt and blouse. (Knee length or longer) with shawl. AAUW will have some shawls to lend. Authors Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) (K-5) Would you like to portray the author of the Little House books? Laura will tell about some of her childhood stories, a time that was very different from the present. She will tell the students that she did not begin writing these until you were 65. She thought you had stories too good to lose. Some that she may choose to tell are living in a log cabin, traveling in a covered wagon, living in a sod house, school experiences, a grasshopper invasion, a very cold winter in DeSmit, and her simple Christmas celebrations. She will encourage students to think about what they think is unique about their childhood and begin to write about it and to talk to their parents about their childhood. A suitable costume would be either a prairie dress or long skirt and blouse. AAUW has some of each to lend on a shared basis. Lois Lowry (1937 present) (middle school) pilot script Would you like to portray an author who has written a number of books for children and young adults? Among the ones that Lois Lowry is best known for are The Giver and Number the Stars, both of which have won the Newbery Award. Lois Lowry will tell the students a little about how she chooses topics for her books and how she writes her books. She will also give students some advice as how to become a writer, stressing that there are many opportunities to become a writer that do not necessarily involve becoming authors. She also will tell students a little about her books with the hope that they will read some of them. A suitable costume for Lois Lowry would be anything that you would wear to give a presentation professional dress.
Revolutionary War Soldier Deborah Samson (1760-1827) (Grades 5 OR 4-5) Would you like to tell students how you disguised yourself as a man and enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary War? Deborah Samson will tell the students a little about what she did in the military and how it was discovered that she was a woman. After the war, Deborah went on a speaking tour unheard of for a woman in those days. There will be several interactive parts for students and an optional marching activity for students. AAUW will provide a long skirt and a Revolutionary War Soldiers uniform. (Script involves a costume switch). This script takes a minimum of ½ hour to perform. Women for Middle School Social Studies Queen Hatshepsut -- (Pharaoh 18 th dynasty) -- (Grade 6 only) Would you like to portray the life of the only woman Egyptian pharaoh? Queen Hatshepsut will discuss how she became pharaoh and her accomplishments. She will also be talking about dress and make-up of the day, and rights of women at that time in Egypt There are optional sections on life in Egypt and archaeology and most presenters will do one of these or parts of both. Included also are two optional activities -- translating hieroglyphics and putting together an artifact such as might have been discovered by an archaeologist. There are optional speaking roles for two students and optional nonspeaking roles for thirteen students. There are costumes available for both the queen and the two students with speaking roles. Queen Elizabeth -- (1533-1603) -- (Grade 7 only) Would you like to portray Queen Elizabeth I of England and tell students about this glorious part of English history? Elizabeth will tell them how she became queen, how England became a world power during her reign, how the arts flourished, and some of the problems she faced. She will also be able to share some other details about life in England at the time. There is also another version of the script where the volunteer can use a number of students in non speaking roles if she decides to take that approach. AAUW will have a costume to lend for this role if the volunteer wishes to borrow it.
Clara Barton (1812-1921) ( 8 th grade only) Would you like to tell about your experiences in the Civil War distributing supplies to the battlefields and nursing the sick and wounded? In the course of telling her story Clara will have activities involving soldier recruitment, typical camp life, and caring for soldiers, as well as Civil War trivia. Clara will also be able to tell how she worked to improve the rights of all people and how she founded the American Red Cross. This full period presentation will particularly appeal to people who like to use props as you will have extensive props to show. There is an option, should a performer desire, to split this role between two people. One would portray Clara Barton and the second person would portray her sister and do the activity section. This has been tried and was successful. However, the two people do need to practice together beforehand. A special training will be set up for this role due to the extensive props provided. It will be arranged at a time to match presenters availability. It is required for all performers new to the role if they wish to use our props. Those that have attended the training the last few years have agreed that it is essential. Clara wore a simple solid dark colored ankle length skirt and solid-colored long sleeved blouse. AAUW will have a costume to lend.