Hidden Figures gives us the opportunity to see behind the scenes of some of the most important events in NASA history and in the acceptance of women and minorities into STEM fields. It tells how, in the face of racism and sexism, black female mathematicians completed the calculations that were essential to send our first astronauts safely into space and back.
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Unit Study Resources
Hidden Figures would make a great basis for a unit study. It has history, literature, STEM, and other aspects that appeal to students. Use these links below as a guide.
Literature
The Hidden Figures movie was based on a book by Margot Lee Shetterly It is, also, available in a young reader’s edition. The book is based on actual events and written after extensive research by the author, including interviews with as many actual participants as possible.
You can read the book before or after the movie. Use venn diagrams like these to compare and contrast the book and the movie.
Biographies
- Katherine Johnson, Christine Darden biography lesson plans and links
- Mary Jackson Biography
- Katherine Johnson Biography
- Dorothy Vaughan Biography
History
- Human Computers: The Women Of NASA
- Women In Mathematics History
- The Untold History Of Women In Science And Technology
STEM
- NASA has its own Hidden Figures Took Kit full of resources
- Space Math
- Rocket Science Math
- Space exploration STEM activities
Career Exploration
dance teacher
An animal science expert and a ninja drummer 🙂
Would love this for my science loving kid.
My daughter currently wants to be an actress and an herbalist! 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity to win this!
I have one who wants to be an aeronautical engineer and the other one is look at possibilities in the arts.
My kids change their minds daily. One would like to be a vet, and one wants to be a teacher, at the moment.
Engineer
Cosmotoglist
My oldest (17) isn’t sure. She might want to work with children. My other three (14, 11, 8) also don’t know yet, although my 11-year-old would like to work at Subway or at a grocery store as a teen.
A Chef and Gymnasist
A chef and gymnast
My daughter has her mind set at being a Chef and and Engineering.
My daughter wants to become an engineer, mathematician, architect, and dancer.
A train conductor or a pilot
We have three watotot and the sun wants to be an artist, professional soccer player, writer, carpenter, magician.
Our first daughter wants to be a chef, open her own tea cafe, veterinarian, crafter (beads, knitting, sewing, building).
Our youngest daughter wants to be a “car fixer”~her words “sheCANic”, artist, dancer/ballerina.
My son wanted to be a doctor for ppl and animals when he was in elementary. He said he gotta help heal everyone and everything. Now at the age of 12 he wants to program and design video games. He just learned how to do graphic design.
a chef
My son says Engineer and my daughter wants to be a Chef.
Daughter wants to be a teacher and son wants to be a chef.
the power of women
My 11yo has wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as I can remember.
Daughter would love to be a Forensic Scientist.
Paleontologist and Writer
My oldest who is 16 wants to be a digital cryptographer (computer security specialist.) He also writes novels. My 11 year old wants to be a basketball player or a football player. He also has interest in art. My youngest is 5 years old and has mentioned wanting to become a fire fighter or a police officer.
There’s plenty of room for change here but my 12 year old wants to be a missionary, my 10 year old wants to go into the military, my 8 year old wants to be in the arts (dance or sing) and my 6 year old doesn’t have any idea. I can see she will get a lot done and is willing to tell people what she thinks!! I’m so excited for this movie and the discussions it will bring up! God surely has a plan to use them in purposeful ways.
They are still trying to figure that out, though there have been considerations of police officer and border patrol agent.
1) A farmer, 2) a Mechanical Engineer 3) a Mechanical Engineer 4) a Librarian and a professional soccer player 5) a babysitter 🙂
A Police Officer.
My oldest wants to be a puppeteer and my honest wants to be a firefighter/paramedic
Our son, the high school senior will be attending my alma mater, NC A&T State University to study mechanical engineering. Our National Honors student daughter will be attending a middle college high school in the fall @ age 16. She’s undecided about her career as well as our youngest son. My son’s have the engineering & Technology gifts. All three excell in Math & Science. # proudmommy/teacher😍
My 11 yr old dd is planning on becoming a teacher or physical therapist and my 8 yr old dd plans on becoming a scientist or physician.
My highschooler wants to work in the science field and my first grader wants to be a baker and a librarian.
My kids still change their mind often. The oldest seems pretty settled on wanting to do something related to sports medicine.
Cosmologist
Programmer and dancer
My 12yr old wants to be a librarian or fashion designer, my 10yr old wants to be a chef, my 8yr old wants to be a scientist and my5yr old wants to be a race car driver.
My oldest wants to be a chef, second oldest a game designer, 3rd a Dr or a Vet and the youngest has yet to have any leanings. What a great post thank you so much for sharing!
She wants to be a massage therapist. 🙂
My 9 year old has always had a passion for engineering and mathematics. At the age of six she started to build and program robots. And that is what she says she would love to do .
19yos: mechanical engineer, hopefully while living on a boat
16yod: kindergarten school teacher
11yos: oceanographer or to own a zoo, but also ‘rich’
10yos: Justin Beiber or engineer or BMX racer
An animator
A doctor, musician, and a vet.
He wants to be a Nurse, Baseball Player, or Astronomer, depending on the day. 🙂
My kids want to be an astronaut, a scientist, and an inventor.
ok umm