Historic Superheroes and Villains Project | Women’s History

Description

Looking for a fun, no prep project that integrates history, art, science, and literacy AND keeps students engaged? Your class will love design women’s history superheroes and villains project! They will love designing a superhero or villain persona for a famous historic figure, and it will quickly become one of *your* favorite activities too. Perfect as a Women’s History Month, end of year, or after testing activity, students think critically and work independently as they brainstorm an entire character based on a historic figure. They will first decide whether to present their figure as a hero or villain and then create their origin story, powers, accessories, nemesis, and more as they work on their design.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Did you know this resource is also available as part of a bundle? Click here to check it out!

How It Works:

• Learn about the history of superheroes and their design using the 2-page article, by watching a short video, and/or using the included PowerPoint presentation.
• Next, go over the directions for the assignment and learn about the different design elements students will use for their superheroes. Go over the included examples and rubric so students know exactly what’s expected of them.
• Students can brainstorm ideas and take notes using the research graphic organizers and list of guiding questions.
• Students will use the included templates to design a superhero or villain persona for their assigned or chosen figure. They will include information about their origin story, powers & abilities, suit, accessories, etc.
• Finally, students will share why they imagined their figure as a hero or villain and how certain symbols, colors, etc. were chosen to best represent their life, achievements, and impact on society.

Reasons You’ll Love This Design Women’s History Superheroes Activity:

• Engaging and fun activity that also requires critical thinking
• Multiple & flexible options for use with a reading, PowerPoint, video, and activity
• Integrates literacy, art, history, science, and more!
• Awesome for biography units
• Students can work independently or in groups
• Perfect for end of semester review or as a creative assessment
• Makes an awesome classroom, hallway, or bulletin board display
• Perfect for substitutes and filling multi-day gaps in your planned lessons
• Make it even more fun with a design competition!

What’s Included:

1. Superhero template for each person with & without a cape (see list below)
2. 2-page article + 100% Editable PowerPoint + Optional videos about the history of superheroes and their design
3. Student directions (editable) + Guiding questions + Design tips
4. Research & Brainstorming graphic organizers + List of people
5. 20 examples to share with students
6. Teacher Tips + Grading Rubric
7. Suggested websites + Extension ideas
8. Blank superhero template for additional flexibility

Who’s Included:

1. Ada Byron Lovelace
2. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
3. Alice Ball
4. Alma Woodsey Thomas
5. Althea Gibson
6. Amelia Earhart
7. Angela Davis
8. Ann Bancroft
9. Anna May Wong
10. Anne Frank
11. Annie Easley
12. Annie Oakley
13. Audrey Hepburn
14. Aung San Suu Kyi
15. Barbara Jordan
16. Bessie Coleman
17. Betsy Ross
18. Betty Holberton
19. Beverly Cleary
20. Beyonce Knowles
21. Billie Jean King
22. Carol Burnett
23. Celia Cruz
24. Charlene Teters
25. Charlotte E. Ray
26. Chien-Shiung Wu
27. Clara Barton
28. Condoleezza Rice
29. Connie Chung
30. Corita Kent
31. Deb Haaland
32. Diana Trujillo
33. Dolores Huerta
34. Eleanor Roosevelt
35. Elizabeth Blackwell
36. Elizabeth Cady Stanton
37. Ellen Ochoa
38. Estee Lauder
39. Evelyn Boyd Granville
40. Florence Griffith Joyner
41. Florence Nightingale
42. Frida Kahlo
43. Gloria Estefan
44. Grace Hopper
45. Gwen Ifill
46. Gwendolyn Brooks
47. Harriet Tubman
48. Hayat Sindi
49. Hedy Lamarr
50. Helen Rodriguez-Trias
51. Hillary Clinton
52. Hypatia
53. Ida B. Wells
54. Indira Gandhi
55. Irma Rangel
56. Jackie Joyner Kersee
57. Jane Austen
58. Jane Goodall
59. Joan of Arc
60. Josephine Baker
61. Julia Bowman Robinson
62. Julia Child
63. Julie Dash
64. Kalpana Chawla
65. Kamala Harris
66. Katharine Hepburn
67. Katherine Johnson
68. Laurie Hernandez
69. Leymah Gbowee
70. Lise Meitner
71. Lorna Simpson
72. Louisa May Alcott
73. Mae Jemison
74. Maggie Gee
75. Mahalia Jackson
76. Malala Yousafzai
77. Margaret Hamilton
78. Margaret Mead
79. Margaret Thatcher
80. Maria Tallchief
81. Marie Curie
82. Martine Rothblatt
83. Mary Bowser
84. Mary Sherman Morgan
85. Maya Angelou
86. Merit-Ptah
87. Mother Teresa
88. Oprah Winfrey
89. Queen Elizabeth II
90. Rachel Carson
91. Rosalind Franklin
92. Sally Ride
93. Sandra Day O’Conner
94. Sau Lan Wu
95. Serena Williams
96. Shirley Ann Jackson
97. Sonia Sotomayor
98. Susan B. Anthony
99. Vera Rubin
100. Wang Zhenyi
101. Wangari Maathai
102. Whoopi Goldberg
103. Wilma Mankiller

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Is there a digital version of this resource? I really tried to make it work digitally, but unfortunately I never found a solution that worked well. So I’m keeping it print for now!
2. How long will this project take? Depending on how you do it and the amount of work time you provide in class, this project could take up to two weeks. However, it can also be done in much less time with just a few tweaks. You can find more guidance included in the teacher tips!
3. Does this resource include information about each person? Information about the individuals is not included. Students can use any source (textbook, video, website, etc.) or the list of suggested resources to learn about their chosen figure.
4. Can this be adapted for younger grades? Absolutely! I recommend just using the PowerPoint as a class instead of relying on the 2-page article about the history of superheroes. Going over the included examples with students will be essential!