Description It was an incredible accomplishment when the United States first put a person on the moon–but without the incredible behind-the-scenes work of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, such a feat could not have been possible. In this biography for kids ages 8-12, follow Katherine’s remarkable journey from growing up in West Virginia, to becoming a teacher, to breaking barriers at NASA and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. Week 1 through 3: I introduce a rich vocabulary to describe the character traits exemplified by these historical figures. Provide observation questions designed to help students extract details that matter. Equip students with the scaffolding that enables them to craft one body paragraph that will later become part of the culminating essay. Week 4: Students craft a simple introduction and conclusion, put the components together, and, voila, an essay! Week 5: A creative project, of course, that offers directives to tap into the students imagination.
