Hidden Figures Activities & Resources

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.

Paperback

Young Reader’s Edition

Movie

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

Request our free biography forms. There are three different layouts; select the format that best fits your student!

Katherine Johnson, Christine Darden biography lesson plans and links
Mary Jackson Biography
Katherine Johnson Biography
Dorothy Vaughan
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 Modern Figures Took Kit full of resources
Space Math
Rocket Science Math
Outer Space STEM activities

Career Exploration

I hold a master’s degree in child development and early education and am working on a post-baccalaureate in biology. I spent 15 years working for a biotechnology company developing IT systems in DNA testing laboratories across the US. I taught K4 in a private school, homeschooled my children, and have taught on the mission field in southern Asia. For 4 years, I served on our state’s FIRST Lego League tournament Board and served as the Judging Director. I own thehomeschoolscientist and also write a regular science column for Homeschooling Today Magazine. You’ll also find my writings on the CTCMath blog. Through this site, I have authored over 50 math and science resources.