Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz was a 17th century writer and philosopher who today is considered one of the first documented feminists and advocates for women’s education. In this lesson, students will read two nonfiction texts about Sor Juana and discuss her life and accomplishments before writing an opinion piece about her.

Rad (awesome, brave, radical, cool) women have been around since the beginning of time, but so often their stories are overlooked. Take your students on a journey through history with this lesson that uses the book Rad Women Worldwide by Kate Schatz. The lesson exposes students to the stories of 40 rad women from around the world and throughout various time periods, who challenged and changed the world. Students will read the profiles of a few of the women before analyzing their journeys and accomplishments using graphic organizers.

Spirituals have a long history in the United States, and often serve to strengthen and motivate people. Students will compare three types of spirituals from different time periods and share their understanding with their peers.