The Legacy of Ida B. Wells
Introduce students to the first 2025 American Women Quarters™ Program honoree.
Monthly Mint Trivia: How many women will be honored through the American Women Quarters Program?
A Voice for Change
This year the Mint honors five more incredible women. We start the final year of the American Women Quarters Program honoring journalist, suffragist, and activist Ida B. Wells. Born as an enslaved person before the end of the Civil War, she became an important leader in the fight for civil rights and women’s suffrage. Read on for ways your students can learn about her life and accomplishments.
Educational Resources for Ida B. Wells from the U.S. Mint:
- Provide additional context to your students by playing this video, which covers other representation of women on coins over time.
- For students grade 8 and up, allow them to read a biography of Ida B. Wells on the U.S. Mint website.
- For students grade 4 and up, show them the coin images. Ask students to discuss the Ida B. Wells quarter design. What would they keep or change about the design? What other details could have been used in the design? Then show students some of the other design options that were considered. Which ones do they like? Why or why not?
- Coin Sun Prints Activity: Use coins with the power of the sun to create a piece of art in this activity for students Kindergarten and above.
- Coin Rubbing and Matching Activity: Use this activity to help K-2nd graders learn each coin type and how to identify them.
- Design Your Own Coin Activity: Ask students to research one or more of the AWQ honorees and create their own design based on their research.
Educational Resources for Ida B. Wells from around the web:
- A 30-minute lesson plan from National Women’s History Museum is for students in 9-12th grade and includes a variety of resources for students, including an interactive map of lynchings.
- This lesson plan from Mississippi History Now covers Ida B. Wells’ life and her impact on American society (Grades 4+, with modifications).
- For older students, screen this documentary (available on Kanopy with a library card) about her life’s work.
- The National Endowment for the Humanities curriculum for grades 9-12 includes two lesson plans and discussion questions.
- Use the National Park Service Teaching Justice Series to dive deeper into activism and the fight for civil rights, including a lesson specific to Ida B. Wells.
- The National Park Service also has a mini-lesson devoted to Ida’s life and work.
- This video and lesson plan from PBS media includes discussion questions, an activity, and background reading. (Grades 9-12)
Want more ideas? Reach out to education.outreach@usmint.treas.gov for recommendations on lesson plans and activities for your students.
Coin of the Month: Ida B. Wells Quarter
The first 2025 American Women Quarter honors Ida B. Wells. Wells, an activist during the late 19th century and early 20th century. Her experiences with Jim Crow laws galvanized her to write articles outside of her day job as a teacher. Wells used her powerful voice to speak out against and investigate lynching and other types of violence against Black people, daring to expose the truth despite facing significant criticism and danger. She was a founding member of the NAACP and leading advocate for women’s suffrage.
The reverse of the coin features Ida standing tall, looking directly at the viewer.
Our New Look
Play With Plinky
Quarter Quest
We Want to Hear from You!
Are you interested in incorporating coins into your classroom next year, but aren't sure where to start? Let us help you! The U.S. Mint offers K-6 lesson plans, online educational games, videos, online quizzes, a free Coin Coloring Book, and other resources. Reach out to us at education.outreach@usmint.treas.gov to request resources that fit your education needs.
Trivia Answer: The American Women Quarters Program will honor 20 women.