Hidden Figures - Zoe Zody

HIdDEN Figures

Comprehension Questions

Author and Illustrator

Demographics and Related info

Vocabulary

Text Synopsis

Writing Activity

Rubric

Pre-reading activity

During reading activity

Post-reading activity

Bibliography: Shetterly, Margot Lee, and Jan Smit. Hidden Figures. HarperCollins, 2017.

Margot Lee Shetterly

Margot Lee Shetterly is the author of Hidden Figures. She is from Hampton, Virgina and a graduate of the University of Virgina. She currently lives in Charlottesville, Virgina. Margot is also the founder of The Human Computer Project, a project that is recovering the names of women who worked as computers, mathematicians, scientists, and engineers at the NACA and NASA from 1930s-1980s.

• Lived in Mexico for 11 years
• Born June 30, 1969
• Married to her husband, Aaron Shetterly

Laura Freeman

Laura Freeman is the illustrator of Hidden FIgures. She is originally from NY but currently lives in Atlanta, GA. She received her BFA from the School of Visual Arts and has since worked for various editorial clients. She is the recipient of several honors and awards.

• 2018 - Hidden Figures - Selected as a Children's Book All Young Georgians Should Read
• 2019 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor - Hidden Figures
• 2023 American Illustration AI42

Text Synopsis

Hidden Figures, tells the the real life story of African American women who worked for NACA and NASA as mathematicians and engineers. The women played a very important role in the American Space Program during the Space Race and the Civil Rights Movement. The women's perseverance in their field opened STEM jobs for more women of color and eventually helped the US win the war.

• The main characters: Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson
• Key themes: Space, Civil Rights Movement, and STEM
• Literary devices: symbolism and metaphors

Demographics and related information

• Targeted ages: This book is intended for ages 8 - 12 years.
• Grades: 3-6
• Lexile level: 1120L
• Length: 40 pages
• Genere/ sub-genere: Non-fiction/ Biography
• Fromat: Paperback book

• Astronaut (noun) - a person who goes in to space.
• Mathematician (noun) - someone who is extremely good with math (numbers) and uses math to help solve problems as their job.
• Jim Crow Laws (noun) - laws that seperated whites and blacks in public places.
• Orbit (verb) - to go around (the Earth orbits the sun).
• Space Race (noun) - when the US and Russia were fighting to be the first ones in space.
• Segregation (noun) - the act of seperating people or things from others.

Formative assessment of words: Students will be given a sticky note and work with their team to create a definition of the word (including the part of speech). Students will share their definitions and I (the teacher) will aid in assisting with the definition before we add the card to our word wall.

Writing Prompt

Imagine you are one of the women in the story (Mary, Dorothy, or Katherine). Write a letter to your family that describes your job and resposibilities at the Langley Labratory. Start from the time the labratory hired you and how it felt to get a job at the lab. Include the challenges you face both with the work and with your coworkers. Be sure to include specific details and events in your letter.

Picture Prediction

I will split you up in to groups of two. You and your partner will be given two different illustrations from the book. You and your partner will come up an idea of what you think is happening in the pictures and what the book will be about according to the pictures.

• You and your partner must both contribute to the discussion.
• You will both take turns sharing your predictions with the class.
• You will have 2 minutes to present your predictions

Beach Ball Comprehension

For this activity we will use a beach ball with comprehesnion questions to ensure we are understanding the story as we read it. You will lightly roll or toss the ball to the next person. Do NOT throw it across the room or at someone's face. Whichever question your right hand is touching will be the question you are answering. If you are unsure, you can phone a friend.

Rules and Expecctations:

• Do not talk unless you have the bal.
• You must answer the question your right hand lands on.
• You must use active listening skills so we do not repeat an answer.

Character Analysis

You will complete the character analysis over the character of your choice: Dorothy, Mary, or Katherine. Include specific contributions they made in the story.

• Be sure to use complete sentences
• Be specific so I know you have fully understood the book.
• Double check for errors.
• You will do this independently on a level zero.
• Ask me if you have a question!