Lesson Plan - History Makers: Katherine Johnson

Watch a Video: Katherine Johnson

After watching, discuss: How did Katherine Johnson come to the rescue of the Apollo 13 astronauts?

Preview Words to Know

Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• mathematician
• segregation

Set a Purpose for Reading

As students read, have them be on the lookout for ways Johnson’s love of math changed her life.

1. How did Johnson’s love of math change her life?
Her love of math let her skip grades in school; helped her become a mathematician at NASA, where her work helped astronauts go to space; and led an author to write a book about her.
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2. Why were Johnson and other NASA mathematicians known as “human computers”?
Johnson and the other NASA mathematicians were known as “human computers” because they solved difficult math problems using mostly their brain power.
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3. What does the author mean when she writes that Johnson “rose to the top”?
The author means that Johnson became more and more successful at NASA. She was trusted with doing the math for important missions, like America’s first human spaceflight.
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FEATURED SKILL: Text Evidence

Use the Skill Builder “All About Katherine Johnson” to have students complete a biographical profile of Johnson.

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