Lesson Plan - History Makers: Sally Ride

Watch a Video

Watch the video “Sally Ride: First American Woman in Space.” Discuss: How did Ride feel about being chosen by NASA to go into space?

Preview Words to Know

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

• apply
• satellite

Set a Purpose for Reading

As students read, have them identify qualities that helped Sally Ride succeed.

1. The article states that Ride was “proud to lead the way.” How did she lead the way? Sally Ride “led the way” by becoming the first American woman to go into space. Many other women followed. The article states that “Since Ride’s first voyage, more than 50 other American women have become astronauts.”

^{(RI.3.1 Text Evidence)}

2. What is the main idea of the section “Big Dreams”? The main idea of the section “Big Dreams” is that Ride never gave up on her dream of going into space and was able to make that dream happen when she applied and was chosen to be an astronaut.

^{(RI.3.2 Main Idea)}

3. What are two words you would use to describe Ride? Explain your choices. Sample response: Ride is determined, since she did not give up on her dreams. She is also calm, since she did not get angry when reporters asked her questions they did not ask men.

^{(RI.3.6 Point of View)}

FEATURED SKILL: Research

Use the skill builder “What’s Her Story?” to have students research another pioneering astronaut. Help them find age-appropriate books and websites.

^{(W.3.2 Informative Writing)}