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RSRT Y6 L1 RISE

Literacy Counts

Created on February 3, 2026

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Transcript

Ready Steady Read Together

RISE: Non-Fiction Lesson 1

What do you think you know?

What?
Who?
Why?
Where?
How?
When?

Book Talk: Let's explore this illustration.

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What do you know and think?

Seeing a starship officer who looked like her kept her closely connected to the idea of taking flight into space.

How might this extract link to the illustration?

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From: RISE by Maliha Abidi © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.

Today's Question(s)

A) Why does the author believe Rise is an important book?

B) What can you infer about Mae Jemison’s character and attitudes throughout her life?

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Let me read today's text

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Rise introduces 100 Extraordinary women of colour from around the globe, whose lives have spanned millennia, and more than thirty countries. These women are an inspiration to me the author, (Maliha Abidi), as I hope that they will be to you, too. Growing up, I rarely came across positive stories of women who looked like me or who I could identify with, culturally or otherwise. I wanted to create Rise so that other women of colour could find themselves, and empowerment, in a book. I wanted to honour these incredible female scientists, activists, leaders and artists who have worked both behind the scenes under public scrutiny to make the world a better place. Women from all walks of life are included here. Despite challenges, they rose to dizzying heights in a wide range of fields.

From: RISE by Maliha Abidi © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.

Mae C Jemison

Doctor and Astronaut – Born 17 October 1956 – United States of America

Growing up in Chicago, Mae Jemison was full of ambitions: she dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, an archaeologist, a dancer, an astronaut… Her curiosity was endless, and so were the possibilities. But young Mae was inspired most by Nichelle Nichols, the African American actress who famously portrayed Lieutenant Uhura in the Star Trek television series. Seeing a starship officer who looked like her kept her closely connected to the idea of taking flight into space. Jemison was a brilliant student and graduated from high school with honours. She obtained a scholarship to study at Stanford University, and pursued degrees in both Chemical Engineering and African American Studies. After graduating, she decided to study medicine at Cornell University as well and became a doctor. She then travelled in that capacity, practising at a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand; at twenty-seven, she became the regional Peace Corps medical officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia, in which role she continued for two and a half years.

From: RISE by Maliha Abidi © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.

In 1986, Jemison pursued her dream of becoming an astronaut, and, accordingly, applied to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. She wasn’t selected but she tried again the following year – and was chosen from among 2,000 applicants. After an intense year of training, Jemison made history by becoming the first Black woman in space. During her mission, she conducted various experiments on bone cells, weightlessness and motion sickness, using herself and the crew as research subjects. But Jemison didn’t stop only at travelling to the stars herself. After leaving NASA, she started a foundation that would go on to lead the joint NASA/Defense Department 100 Year Starship project, which fosters developments that will aid human interstellar spaceflight within a hundred years. ‘We have to have a vision that works across generations,’ Jemison has said.

From: RISE by Maliha Abidi © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.

Vocabulary

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Hover for definitions!

empowerment

dizzying heights

public scrutiny

curiosity was endless

fosters developments

interstellar

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From: RISE by Maliha Abidi © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.

I will model the first.

Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner

empowerment

Explore

Find Read Talk

I wanted to create Rise so that other women of colour could find themselves, and empowerment, in a book. I wanted to honour these incredible female scientists, activists, leaders and artists who have worked both behind the scenes under public scrutiny to make the world a better place.

Reveal Vocabulary

From: RISE by Maliha Abidi © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.

empowerment

Your turn

public scrutiny

Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner

dizzying heights

curiosity was endless

fosters developments

interstellar

Use your text

Explore

Vocabulary Check & Re-read

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Reveal Vocabulary

Teacher Note: Re-read if time allows.

Rise introduces 100 Extraordinary women of colour from around the globe, whose lives have spanned millennia, and more than thirty countries. These women are an inspiration to me the author, (Maliha Abidi), as I hope that they will be to you, too. Growing up, I rarely came across positive stories of women who looked like me or who I could identify with, culturally or otherwise. I wanted to create Rise so that other women of colour could find themselves, and empowerment, in a book. I wanted to honour these incredible female scientists, activists, leaders and artists who have worked both behind the scenes under public scrutiny to make the world a better place. Women from all walks of life are included here. Despite challenges, they rose to dizzying heights in a wide range of fields.

From: RISE by Maliha Abidi © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.

Reveal Vocabulary

Teacher Note: Re-read if time allows.

Mae C Jemison

Doctor and Astronaut – Born 17 October 1956 – United States of America

Growing up in Chicago, Mae Jemison was full of ambitions: she dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, an archaeologist, a dancer, an astronaut… Her curiosity was endless, and so were the possibilities. But young Mae was inspired most by Nichelle Nichols, the African American actress who famously portrayed Lieutenant Uhura in the Star Trek television series. Seeing a starship officer who looked like her kept her closely connected to the idea of taking flight into space. Jemison was a brilliant student and graduated from high school with honours. She obtained a scholarship to study at Stanford University, and pursued degrees in both Chemical Engineering and African American Studies. After graduating, she decided to study medicine at Cornell University as well and became a doctor. She then travelled in that capacity, practising at a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand; at twenty-seven, she became the regional Peace Corps medical officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia, in which role she continued for two and a half years.

From: RISE by Maliha Abidi © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.

Reveal Vocabulary

Teacher Note: Re-read if time allows.

In 1986, Jemison pursued her dream of becoming an astronaut, and, accordingly, applied to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. She wasn’t selected but she tried again the following year – and was chosen from among 2,000 applicants. After an intense year of training, Jemison made history by becoming the first Black woman in space. During her mission, she conducted various experiments on bone cells, weightlessness and motion sickness, using herself and the crew as research subjects. But Jemison didn’t stop only at travelling to the stars herself. After leaving NASA, she started a foundation that would go on to lead the joint NASA/Defense Department 100 Year Starship project, which fosters developments that will aid human interstellar spaceflight within a hundred years. ‘We have to have a vision that works across generations,’ Jemison has said.

From: RISE by Maliha Abidi © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.

Fluency

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Let me use my reader's voice...

Growing up in Chicago, Mae Jemison was full of ambitions: she dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, an archaeologist, a dancer, an astronaut… Her curiosity was endless, and so were the possibilities.

What did you notice?

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From: RISE by Maliha Abidi © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.

My Turn
Your Turn

Echo Read

Growing up in Chicago, Mae Jemison was full of ambitions:

she dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, an archaeologist, a dancer, an astronaut…

Her curiosity was endless, and so were the possibilities.

Explore

From: RISE by Maliha Abidi © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.

Sound like a reader!
Stand up!

Choral Read

Growing up in Chicago, Mae Jemison was full of ambitions: she dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, an archaeologist, a dancer, an astronaut… Her curiosity was endless, and so were the possibilities.

Explore

From: RISE by Maliha Abidi © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.

Strategy Focus

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Strategy: Read Between the Lines

A) Why does the author believe Rise is an important book?

Be a detective and look for clues!

Teach

Let me show you

Reveal Text Marks

Growing up, I rarely came across positive stories of women who looked like me or who I could identify with, culturally or otherwise. I wanted to create Rise so that other women of colour could find themselves, and empowerment, in a book.

A) Why does the author believe Rise is an important book?

Reveal Explainer

This tells me that, when she the author was younger, she did not see many women of colour represented in books. She also says she wanted others to ‘find themselves’ in the book. From this, I can infer that the author believes the book is important because it empowers women of colour and gives them positive role models they can relate to.

Teach

From: RISE by Maliha Abidi © 2021. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.

Strategy Stop

What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?

Teach

Your Turn

A) Why does the author believe Rise is an important book?

B) What can you infer about Mae Jemison’s character and attitudes throughout her life?

Find the answers
Text mark

Explore

Acceptable Answers

Text Mark Evidence honour these incredible female scientists, activists, leaders and artists who have worked…to make the world a better place

it celebrates and honours the achievements of women

A) Why does the author believe Rise is an important book?

Text Mark Evidence - women of colour from around the globe, whose lives have spanned millennia, and more than thirty countries - women from all walks of life are included here

it includes women from a wide range of cultures, countries and historical periods

Text Mark Evidence - these women are an inspiration to me - as I hope that they will be to you, too

the author is personally inspired by the women and hopes others will feel inspired by them too

Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers

Text Mark Evidence despite challenges, they rose to dizzying heights in a wide range of fields

it shows that women of colour achieved great success despite facing challenges

Practise & Apply

Acceptable Answers

Text Mark Evidence dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, an archaeologist, a dancer, an astronaut

was highly ambitious from a young age

B) What can you infer about Mae Jemison’s character and attitudes throughout her life?

Text Mark Evidence her curiosity was endless, and so were the possibilities

was naturally curious and open to possibilities

Text Mark Evidence inspired most by Nichelle Nichols and seeing a starship officer who looked like her kept her closely connected to the idea of taking flight into space

was inspired and motivated by seeing someone she could identify with

Go to the next slide for more...

Text Mark Evidence - a brilliant student - graduated from high school with honours - obtained a scholarship - pursued degrees in both Chemical Engineering and African American Studies - decided to study medicine at Cornell University

was intelligent and academically hardworking

Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers

Practise & Apply

Acceptable Answers

Text Mark Evidence - (Mae began) practising at a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand - became the regional Peace Corps medical officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia

wanted to use her skills to help others

B) What can you infer about Mae Jemison’s character and attitudes throughout her life?

Text Mark Evidence she wasn’t selected but she tried again the following year – and was chosen from among 2,000 applicants

was resilient and did not give up when faced with rejection

Text Mark Evidence becoming the first Black woman in space

achieved something historic after years of determination and effort

Text Mark Evidence started a foundation that would go on to lead the…100 Year Starship project

continued to contribute to scientific progress beyond her own achievements

Click on the evidence to reveal acceptable answers

Text Mark Evidence we have to have a vision that works across generations

believed in planning and thinking ahead for future generations

Practise & Apply

Quiz Time

Start

Picture Me

Which image is the best match for ‘interstellar’?

Tick Me

Which answer best completes the sentence? Mae Jemison did not give up on becoming an astronaut because she believed that...

Tick one:

A) success was worth pursuing even after setbacks and rejection.

B) she was guaranteed to be selected if she applied more than once.

Check

C) she preferred space travel to her work as a doctor.

Click if correct

D) she had already decided to leave her medical career behind.

True or False?

Mae pursued her dream of becoming an astronaut in 1996.

True
False

Fill the Gaps

developments
NASA
interstellar

After leaving NASA, she started a foundation that would go on to lead the joint /Defense Department 100 Year Starship project, which fosters that will aid humanspaceflight within a hundred years.

Discuss then check
Click if correct

Feedback: Who did what well?

FindRead Talk

EchoRead

ChoralRead

ReadingStrategy

Answers & Text Marks

Other...

To be a book lover, you could...

dive intofact books.

Reveal

Read about science, animals, history or any topic you love.

Copyright Notice

This document has been supplied under a CLA Licence with specific terms of use. It is protected by copyright and, save as may be permitted by law, it may not be further copied, stored, re-copied electronically or otherwise shared, even for internal purposes, without the prior further permission of the Rightsholder. Extracts sourced from: Rise: Extraordinary Women of Colour who Changed the World by Maliha Abidi © 2021 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.

NASA
developments
interstellar