Women’s History Month
Each March, the USA celebrates Women’s History Month, a time to recognize the achievements, resilience, and contributions of women throughout history. What began as a weeklong celebration in 1980, championed by activists and educators, was officially expanded to a month in 1987 by Congress. Today, it serves as a global reminder of progress made and the work still ahead.
International Women’s Day (March 8th) is a globally recognized observance, celebrated in many countries, including Canada, the UK, Australia, and much of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Some countries, like Russia, China, and Uganda, even mark it as a public holiday. It has been observed since the early 1900s and continues to be a day of reflection, advocacy, and celebration of women worldwide.
In typical Activity Alchemy fashion here are some activity suggestions based on the domains of wellness.
Emotional Domain - Ladies’ Luncheon
Women’s History Month is a perfect time to recognize the influential women in our own communities. Organize a Special Ladies’ Luncheon featuring local women leaders—such as veterans, city council members, business owners, or community advocates—as guest speakers. They can share their experiences, challenges, and advice, inspiring attendees with real-life stories of perseverance and success.
A Luncheon fosters connection, social bonding, and a sense of belonging. Gathering together to celebrate women’s accomplishments, share stories, and engage in meaningful conversation can uplift spirits, reduce feelings of isolation, and create a supportive environment. Additionally, featuring guest speakers can inspire and empower attendees, further contributing to emotional well-being.
Intellectual Domain - “Her-story” Trivia
Engage minds with trivia featuring women’s inventions, barrier-breakers in male-dominated fields, and historic milestones. Krafty Lab has a list of over 40 trivia questions to help you get started.
If you would prefer a simpler game you can turn the following tables into a “Who Invented It?” trivia game. Participants can guess the year for an added challenge.
Social Domain - Influential Women Bingo
This engaging game highlights remarkable women from history and modern times across various fields, including activism, science, politics, and the arts. Make cards with their names and pictures. For an added challenge, consider giving a brief description of the woman’s accomplishments and let players guess who it is before marking their cards. Example:
Clue: "This physicist was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize—and the first person ever to win two!"
Answer: Marie Curie
We’ve made a brief list of women to include sorted by field.
Science & Medicine
Marie Curie – Nobel-winning physicist and chemist
Rosalind Franklin – Pioneered DNA structure research
Jane Goodall – Leading primatologist and conservationist
Katherine Johnson – NASA mathematician (Hidden Figures)
Writers & Artists
Maya Angelou – Poet and civil rights activist
Mary Shelley – Author of Frankenstein
Frida Kahlo – Iconic Mexican painter
Virginia Woolf – Pioneering modernist writer
Explorers & Pioneers
Amelia Earhart – First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic
Valentina Tereshkova – First woman in space
Sacagawea – Indigenous guide for the Lewis & Clark expedition
Junko Tabei – First woman to summit Mount Everest
Activists & Leaders
Rosa Parks – Civil rights icon
Malala Yousafzai – Youngest Nobel Prize winner for girls’ education
Susan B. Anthony – Women’s suffrage leader
Sojourner Truth – Abolitionist and women’s rights advocate
Politics & Law
Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Supreme Court Justice and gender equality advocate
Margaret Thatcher – First female UK Prime Minister
Shirley Chisholm – First Black woman elected to U.S. Congress
Kamala Harris – First female U.S. Vice President
Entertainment & Sports
Oprah Winfrey – Media mogul and philanthropist
Beyoncé – Musician and advocate for Black and women’s empowerment
Serena Williams – Tennis champion and advocate for women in sports
Hedy Lamarr – Actress and inventor of frequency-hopping technology
Bonus Twist: Include wildcard spaces where players can write in the name of an influential woman from their own lives (e.g., a mentor, teacher, or family member). Make a wildcard calling card and have participants who win a game using the wildcard tell a story about why that person was influential to them.
There is also this premade set of bingo cards on Etsy (we are not affiliated with the seller).
Vocational - Traditionally Female Crafts
While Women’s History Month often highlights women who broke barriers, it’s also important to celebrate traditionally female crafts—not because they are “expected” but because they are valuable, artistic, and deeply rooted in cultural heritage. Activities like:
Quilting circles
Knitting or crochet groups
Basket weaving
Embroidery or cross-stitch
These skills represent craftsmanship, patience, and storytelling. Discuss how these art forms have been passed down through generations and how they continue to hold value in today’s world. Encourage participants to share memories of learning these crafts from women in their lives, creating a conversation around generational knowledge. If possible, bring in an instructor to demonstrate a technique and discuss its cultural significance.
Physical - Self Defense Workshop
A self-defense workshop offers an opportunity to empower all participants, including those who use a wheelchair, walker, or other mobility aids. This workshop is designed to teach practical self-defense techniques that boost confidence, awareness, and personal safety, while being mindful of diverse abilities.
For participants who use wheelchairs or walkers, adaptations can be made to ensure that the exercises are inclusive. Techniques such as defensive positioning, the use of mobility aids for self-defense, and strategies for protecting oneself while seated or in motion can all be incorporated. Trainers can demonstrate how to utilize the wheelchair or walker as an extension of the body for balance and protection, such as using a walker to create distance or pushing the chair for strategic positioning.
In addition to physical techniques, the workshop can also focus on developing mental and emotional resilience. This includes teaching participants how to stay calm under pressure, trust their instincts, and set strong personal boundaries, empowering them to respond confidently in situations where they may need to protect themselves.
If you are unable to get a trainer to attend, here is a short video to help you get started.
Spiritual - Candle Lighting Ceremony
A candle-lighting ceremony is a meaningful way to reflect on the impact women have had in our lives and history. This activity encourages storytelling, remembrance, and gratitude, fostering a sense of connection and appreciation. You can find our ceremony script here.
You can also choose to incorporate music and songs into your ceremony. Here are some suggestions:
"I'm Every Woman" – Chaka Khan / Whitney Houston
"Independent Women, Pt. 1" – Destiny’s Child
"Brave" – Sara Bareilles
"Roar" – Katy Perry
"Respect" – Aretha Franklin
"Phenomenal Woman" – Olivia Newton-John (Inspired by Maya Angelou’s poem)
"Rise Up" – Andra Day
"Superwoman" – Alicia Keys
"The Story" – Brandi Carlile
"Both Sides Now" – Joni Mitchell
"You Don’t Own Me" – Lesley Gore
"Q.U.E.E.N." – Janelle Monáe feat. Erykah Badu
"A Woman’s Worth" – Alicia Keys
"The Greatest Love of All" – Whitney Houston
"Fight Song" – Rachel Platten
"Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves" – Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin
"Girl on Fire" – Alicia Keys
"I Am Woman" – Helen Reddy
Movies with Strong Female Characters
A great way to honor the contributions of women is through storytelling, and what better way to do so than by watching films that feature strong, determined, and groundbreaking women. Below we’ve made a short list of recommendations of both fictional and biographical films that anyone can enjoy.
Fiction:
Barbie
Everything Everywhere All At Once
9 to 5
Steel Magnolias
The Joy Luck Club
Miss Congeniality
Little Women
Biographical:
Erin Brockovich
Frida
Queen of Katwe
Hidden Figures
Respect
To further celebrate the diversity of women’s experiences, consider watching films that pass the Bechdel Test, which ensures that the story features at least two named female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man. Here is a list of movies that pass the Bechdel test.
By engaging across multiple domains of wellness, we create a more meaningful and holistic celebration of Women’s History Month. From honoring historical trailblazers to recognizing the unsung heroines of our own communities, every activity provides an opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together.
