Begin the lesson by asking students what they know about the different roles that women have or the types of activities that women are involved in today. Use a wall chart to record students' ideas. Ask students to think about what women's lives might have been like in the past and the types of roles, jobs or activities women might have been involved in 100 years ago. If students need some guidance in identifying roles and lifestyles of women in the past, provide them with statements such as the following for discussion:

• Women could not vote in elections.

• Married women did not share ownership of their houses or land with their husbands.

• Women doing the same work as men were paid less.

Record students' responses to these statements on a wall chart. Use their ideas to introduce the inquiry that they will be doing. Have students work in small groups to brainstorm words that describe what a woman's life might have been like in Canada 100 years ago, and words that describe what a woman's life is like in Canada today. Provide groups with a visual organizer such as the Two-column chart to help them record their ideas.

Student Resources:

• Assorted Visual Organizers (PDF)

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