Black History Month Mae Jemison STEM Activity

Mae Among the Stars by Roda Amhed

 Mae Jemison was the first African American Woman in space. Mae Among the Stars by Roda Amhed tells the story of an imaginative young girl with big dreams of going to space.

It’s the perfect STEM book to use during Black History Month and Women’s History Month.

Mae JEmison STEM Challenge

What if your students could help launch the Space Shuttle Endeavor to help get Mae Jemison to space?

Using simple materials, students design and build their very own space shuttle! The challenge helps students understand the concept of propulsion using air.

Material List:

• Straws

• Tape

• Paper

• Scissors

• Yardstick

• Mae Among the Stars by Roda Amhed (Recommended)

The Engineering Design Process:

In this STEM Challenge, students plan, design, and execute their own ideas. They follow the six step Engineering Design Process: Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Experiment, Improve. After they have completed their activity, there is time for reflection on what worked and what didn't.

Vocabulary:

Propulsion, Escape Velocity, and Rocket Booster

Includes:

• Teacher Instructions for Building a Rocket

• Student STEM Journal

• Student Instructions for Building a Rocket

• Student Planning Pages

• Student Reflection Sheet

• Reading Passage and Questions

• Writing Activity

Writing Extension

After students complete the STEM Challenge, they write what they learned about Mae Jemison!