International Women’s Day activities for students can do more than celebrate a date on the calendar. Done well, they build confidence, leadership and belonging, while giving young people the skills to challenge bias and support equality. For schools, it is a chance to turn values into visible action and strengthen community wellbeing.
If you want practical ideas that are engaging, age appropriate and easy to run across a busy school term, you are in the right place. In this guide we share evidence informed, ready to use International Women’s Day activities for students and schools, with a focus on inclusion, movement, creativity and student voice.
By the end, you will have a clear plan to design a meaningful day and a simple pathway to keep the momentum going all year.
What is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day is a global day that recognises the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and calls for accelerated gender equality. Each year has a theme that schools can align with for focus and impact. You can view the latest theme and resources from UN Women and the official International Women’s Day site from InternationalWomensDay.com.
Why it Matters
When students explore equality through discussion, storytelling and active learning, they build empathy, critical thinking and leadership skills. Classroom exposure to diverse role models is linked with improved motivation and subject selection among girls, including in STEM fields, which has long term benefits for equity and workforce participation.
At a school level, inclusive cultures are associated with better psychological safety and engagement. For leaders, this means clear norms, visible allyship and opportunities for student participation. To go deeper on building a safe culture, explore our guide on building psychological safety and our insights on supporting women’s wellbeing.
International Women’s Day Activities For Students
Use these activities as a menu for primary and secondary students. Mix reflective tasks with movement, creativity and service. Most can be delivered in one class period, assembly or house session, and adapted for homeroom or wellbeing time.
1. Story Circles With Active Listening
- What to do: In groups of four, students share a short story about a woman or girl who inspired them. One minute per story, then one minute of reflection from listeners.
- Why it works: Storytelling builds empathy and belonging. Practising attentive listening improves classroom relationships and reduces conflict.
- Tip: Provide prompt cards for different ages. For listening skills, see our guide to active listening.
2. Role Model Gallery Walk
- What to do: Students research a woman from Australia or the region across sport, science, arts, community or business. Create a one page poster with a photo, barrier she faced, and the habit that helped her succeed. Display along a corridor and run a gallery walk.
- Why it works: Exposure to diverse achievers shifts beliefs about who belongs in certain fields and encourages agency.
- Tip: Include First Nations leaders and local community figures. Use QR codes that link to short videos or articles from trusted sources like ABC Education.
3. Bias In Everyday Life Mini Audit
- What to do: In pairs, students list examples of everyday bias they have noticed in media, sport coverage, uniforms or school language. They then design one practical change the school could trial.
- Why it works: Naming small frictions makes change tangible. Behavioural science shows that defaults and environments shape choices.
- Tip: Provide a simple template with columns for observation, impact and suggested tweak.
4. Respectful Conversations Workshop
- What to do: Teach a simple conversation framework. Ask open questions, reflect back what you heard, share your view, agree on next step. Run short role plays on common school scenarios.
- Why it works: Psychological safety grows when students can disagree respectfully. This supports wellbeing and learning.
- Tip: Align with state Respectful Relationships Education.
5. Movement Challenge Celebrating Women In Sport
- What to do: Host a house or year group movement circuit named after Australian women athletes. Rotate through stations that mirror their training qualities, like agility, balance or endurance.
- Why it works: Movement improves mood, focus and peer connection. It is inclusive and energises the day.
- Tip: Open with a two minute story about each athlete and a quick breathing reset at the end.
6. Letters To Future Me
- What to do: Students write a letter to their future self about the kind of teammate, friend or leader they want to be. Include one action they will do this month to support equality.
- Why it works: Writing down intentions increases follow through. It also makes values visible.
- Tip: Seal and return the letters at the end of term for reflection.
7. Panel With Local Women And Allies
- What to do: Invite two women and one male ally from your community to share five minute stories, followed by student questions. Keep it practical and hopeful.
- Why it works: Hearing real career pathways and setbacks normalises challenge and teaches resilience.
- Tip: Prepare students with question stems and brief bios so discussion starts strong.
8. Creative Showcase
- What to do: Students produce a short poem, photo essay, song or digital artwork on the theme. Curate an assembly showcase or lunchtime exhibition.
- Why it works: Creative expression helps students process complex ideas and share diverse perspectives.
- Tip: Offer formats for different comfort levels, including anonymous submissions.
9. Service Project For A Local Women’s Organisation
- What to do: Partner with a local service that supports women or girls. Examples include a donation drive with requested items, tutoring support, or a student led fundraiser.
- Why it works: Acts of service develop empathy and community connection, which boost wellbeing.
- Tip: Co design with the organisation so support matches real needs.
10. Student Led Assembly
- What to do: A student leadership team runs the assembly with short segments across history, sport, science and community, plus a live poll to capture what actions the school will prioritise next.
- Why it works: Ownership builds confidence and ensures relevance to the student voice.
- Tip: Use a simple digital poll so everyone contributes in real time.
How to Design a Meaningful Day
Step 1: Set A Clear Outcome
- Pick one to two goals. For example, increase awareness of bias in sport and agree on one school change students can implement this term.
Step 2: Build A Balanced Schedule
- Combine three elements. Learn, Move, Create. For example, start with a story circle, run a movement challenge, then finish with letters to future me.
Step 3: Equip Teachers With Ready To Use Templates
- Provide one page guides for each activity. Include timing, materials and prompts so delivery is smooth.
Step 4: Centre Student Voice
- Nominate a student crew to co host, manage the gallery walk and collect feedback. This builds leadership skills and buy in.
Step 5: Make It Inclusive
- Offer roles for many strengths. Speakers, organisers, artists, tech helpers and coaches. Recognise contributions publicly.
Step 6: Link To Curriculum
- Map each activity to learning outcomes in English, HPE, Civics or Technologies. This makes planning easier and shows impact.
Step 7: Measure What Matters
- Use a quick pre and post pulse. One minute survey on confidence to speak up, understanding of bias and one action students plan to try. Report highlights at assembly.
Sample One Day Timetable
- Welcome and purpose. Two minutes.
- Story circles. Fifteen minutes.
- Role model gallery walk. Twenty minutes.
- Movement challenge. Twenty minutes.
- Respectful conversations workshop. Twenty minutes.
- Letters to future me. Ten minutes.
- Closing and commitments. Five minutes. Capture actions and display on a commitment wall.
Keep The Momentum Beyond The Day
Monthly Micro Actions
- Spotlight a role model in homeroom once a month.
- Run a mini audit on a new topic each term such as uniforms, sport access or library displays.
- Feature a student voice piece in the newsletter.
Clubs And Pathways
- Start a girls in tech or entrepreneurship club and invite mentors from local businesses.
- Offer leadership workshops that include recovery and wellbeing skills so students can sustain effort. See our perspective on performing under pressure.
Annual Review
- Publish a short reflection on what changed, what students learned and priorities for the coming year.
What Can School Leaders do?
- Make the purpose clear: Share why International Women’s Day activities for students matter for learning, culture and wellbeing.
- Resource the day: Provide time in the timetable, spaces for movement and materials for creative work.
- Model allyship: Leaders attend sessions, ask questions and celebrate progress.
- Elevate diverse voices: Ensure representation across speakers, stories and student leaders.
- Measure and share: Use a short survey and a visible commitment wall. Report outcomes to staff and families.
- Invest in staff capability: Offer professional learning on inclusive communication and psychological safety. Start with our guide on psychological safety.
Key Takeaways
- International Women’s Day activities for students work best when they are active, student led and linked to a clear outcome.
- Role models, respectful dialogue and movement based sessions build confidence, connection and classroom energy.
- Simple templates and a balanced schedule make delivery easy for busy teachers.
- Measuring a few signals such as confidence to speak up helps show impact and guide next steps.
- Keep momentum with monthly micro actions and visible commitments across the school year.
- Leaders amplify impact by resourcing the day, modelling allyship and investing in staff capability.
If you would like tailored support to design engaging programs that build healthy, high performing school communities, get in touch with Better Being.
