Lesson Plan

Women and the Manhattan Project

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Black and white photo of five uniformed women working at a desk.

American Red Cross at Oak Ridge.

US Department of Energy/Ed Westcott

Grade Level:
Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
Subject:
Social Studies
Lesson Duration:
60 Minutes
Thinking Skills:
Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience. Creating: Bring together parts (elements, compounds) of knowledge to form a whole and build relationships for NEW situations. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.

Essential Question

What role did women play during the Manhattan Project?

Objective

Highlight various roles women played connected to the Manhattan Project at Hanford, Los Alamos, and Oak Ridge.

Background

With thousands of men serving overseas during World War II, women filled jobs in record numbers on the home front including at the Manhattan Project. Women worked as nurses, teachers, librarians, food-service workers, and secretaries. They also worked in traditionally male-dominated industries such as welding and on the assembly lines building war equipment. A limited number of women worked as scientists and technicians across bigger and smaller Manhattan Project sites. There were also women outside the Manhattan Project whose lives became intertwined with the science that fueled the project or the legacies that followed. Scroll down to learn about these women.

Visit Women of the Manhattan Project to read articles about specific women.

Preparation

Prepare supplies:

  • Print and assemble matching game cards – multiple set may be needed
  • Print map and images (or have digitally ready)

Materials

Sample script for the Women and the Manhattan Project lesson.

Download Lesson Plan

Three of the Manhattan Project locations mapped out.

Download Map of Three Locations

Rosie the Riveter poster, Women's Army Auxiliary Corps poster, and Shift Change at Y-12 Oak Ridge photo.

Download Images

Women and the Manhattan Project matching game.

Download Matching Game

Lesson Hook/Preview

Watch the Hanford Made video (15 minutes).

Procedure

  1. Prepare supplies and digital technology.
  2. Introduce and explain lesson.
  3. Play Hanford Made video.
  4. Facilitate lesson.

Enrichment Activities

  • Students pick one of the women/jobs and conducts further research.
  • Students interview grandparents or family members who were alive during or shortly after World War II to learn more about daily life at the time.
 

Additional Resources

Related Lessons or Education Materials

Boxed-In: The Women of Hanford, Washington

Contact Information

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Last updated: May 28, 2024