Hidden Figures: A Literary Journey

A r e s o u r c e g u i d e t o H i d d e n F i g u r e s , Y o u n g R e a d e r s E d i t i o n . T o g e t h e r w e w i l l u n c o v e r t h e l i v e s o f t h r e e A m e r i c a n w o m e n w h o

c h a n g e d t h e c o u r s e o f h i s t o r y a n d b e y o n d . . .

S P R I N G 2 0 1 9

Nashville Reads and NAZA Present Nashville Public Library's

I changed what I could and what I couldn't, I

endured.

D O R T H Y V A U G H N

Introducing the Book Club When introducing the book club to your youth group, make it interesting! Create anticipation by giving them a sneak peak into the world of their characters. Here

are a few suggestions on how to do so:

Check out some short videos about Hidden Figures:https://www.flocabulary.com/unit/katherine-johnson/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0STm4i5hIEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxpo

Create a Space, Create Interest

Dress up as a historical character (e.g. dark rimmed glasses, white coat, a wig?) and present the book to youth.

Make predictions: Have youth study the cover of the book and create questions predicting what they think the book will be

about (before reading).

Location, Location, Location...Identify a quiet and comfortable space for your book club to meet. If possible, devote this

space to youth voice-- posting collective reflections, inspirational quotes, and art work created -- as you experience the text together.

Use a prop (or object) related to the story, such as maps, photos, food, or audio. This can help stimulate youths' thinking about

some aspect of the story.

Habits of DiscussionGood conversation--one that is inclusive, candid, and respectful--will be the backbone of your book club. Our responsibility is to create (and preserve) a welcoming space where youth can grapple with

and learn how to express their ideas respectfully. The following activities will help set the tone of communication within your book club.

Imagine the Sound of Your Book Club

Role play with youth by having them plan and then perform a short 1 minute scenario of an unproductive

vs. productive book club. Talk about the skits afterwards.

Have youth plan out what their ideal book

club looks/ sounds like. They may draw a

picture or write a descriptive paragraph.

Youth can share out their ideas.

When youth plan out their ideal book club, have them come up with a name for the book club. Take a vote on the name of

the book club.

Present the following quotes to youth. Have them talk about which quote they identify with the most

and why?

Introduce accountable talk to youth. Pass out sentence strips and have them brainstorm their own accountable talk stems. Post the stems around the room. During book club

discussions, see who can use the most when speaking .

See the appendix for this resource!

Setting the SceneDetermine youth's existing knowledge. Understanding what they do know, will help you create a meaningful road map to guide text activities and discussion.

  

Determine Prior Knowledge

Hang 2-3 large posters with names of historical events or science topics around the room. Have youth circulate the room

with markers or stickies and jot down what they already know about the topic listed.

Build Knowledge

KWL Charts

Word Sorts

In small groups, give youth a small stack of vocabulary cards without the definitions. Ask youth to discuss their meaning, and

then group them into like groups.

Watch short informational videos (see Brainpop online resources) about the topic. See who can best

summarize the video aloud.

Print out 2-3 articles on a given topic have youth read the article in their group and then present the highlights

(see Newsela.com online resources)

KWL charts are great tools for youth to organize their thoughts and keep track of the

information they are learning. Print copies for your youth to keep in their reading journals!

See the appendix for this resource!

Setting the SceneEquip your youth with relevant background information. Historical context helps

them understand, engage, and make important text connections as they read.

The Cold War

T h e S p a c e R a c e

C i v i l R i g h t s M o v e m e n t

G e n d e r I n e q u a l i t y

refers to the political tension between the United States and the Soviet Union during the 1940s- 1990s. The Cold War was not overtly violent, however

it was rooted in the realistic possibility that nuclear weapons could be used to advance political ideologies (democracy vs. communism). 

refers to the the competition between nations regarding space exploration.

refers to the struggle for social justice that took place mainly during the 1950s

and 1960s for blacks to gain equal rights under the law in the United

States.

refers to the the unequal treatment of individuals based on their gender. The inequalities may be

related to education, economy or politics.

Relevant Historical Events and Social Movements include:

Create Protest Signs for one of the Social

Movements relevant to Hidden Figures. Post

them up around your book club space!

Discussion Questions

 

What is the significance of the title? Would you have given the book a different title? If so, what would you choose?

What are some of the social challenges that the Hidden Figures women face

throughout the text? How do they overcome these challenges?

What do you think motivates the women in this book to continue to work at NASA in spite of the obstacles they face? If you lived during this time period, how do you

think you would have responded to these obstacles?

In advocating for herself to work on the Mercury capsule launch, Katherine says to her bosses, “Tell me where you want the man to land, and I’ll tell you where to send him up.” How are the women in Hidden Figures able to express confidence in their

work and abilities? 

What character traits would describe Katherine Johnson and Mary Jackson? Discuss their similarities and differences.

In what ways does the race for space parallel the civil rights movement? What kinds

of freedoms does each explore?

Here are some questions to get your Hidden Figures conversation going!

Discussion Questions

 

Would you consider NACA and MASA socially progressive institutions for their time? Why or why not?

From where did Katherine watch the moon landing? Why is the location and people

she was with significant? Were you surprised to learn that’s where she was?

What kind of accomplishment was it for Katherine and the workers of Langley for the Eagle to land safely during the Apollo mission on the surface of the moon?

Is it surprising to learn that on the east side of Langley’s campus, white laboratory

staff did not know that an all-black computing group existed? Why or why not?

How does Mary embody and enact her family’s motto of “sharing and caring”?What kind of technological advancements occur as this space race begins to heat

up?

Why did some people think the space program was a waste of money? Do you agree with their argument?

Which woman’s story resonates with you the most? Why?

What was your favorite scene or chapter in the book? Why?

Here are some questions to get your Hidden Figures conversation going!

Resource ListHistorical context builds understanding , increases engagement , and allows youth to make important text connections as they read. The following texts for young readers may be used

to broaden the historical context of the text.

The Cold War T h e S p a c e R a c e

C i v i l R i g h t s M o v e m e n t G e n d e r E q u a l i t y

The Space Race: How the Cold War Put Humans on the Moon by Matthew Wood Brenden (Author), Samuel

Carbaugh  (Illustrator)

The Cold War by Elizabeth Sirimarco

Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters

By Andrea Davis Pinkney, Stephen Alcorn (Illustrator)

Nobody Gonna Turn Me 'Round: Stories and Songs of the Civil Rights Movement

By Doreen Rappaport, Shane W. Evans (Illustrator

The School Is Not White! A True Story of the Civil Rights Movement

By Doreen Rappaport

Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen , Heidi E.Y. Stemple , Anne-Sophie

Lanquetin (Illustrations)

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women by Elena

Favilli , Francesca Cavallo 

Events That Shaped the Century Hardcover by Richard B.

Stolley (Author)

Before Reading Activities and Resources

Newsela Text Set "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly https://newsela.com/text-sets/170763/books--hidden-figures Online Article:                                                                                                                                        Ohio Elementary Students Run a "Mission Control" in Their Classroom (before reading)

Create Bookmarks

Using cardstock, popsicle sticks, or notecards have youth create a book mark for the text. The front of the

bookmark may include a quote or illustration. The back of the boomark may include their name, age, and their

grade.

Create Reading JournalsUsing construction paper or old magazines, have youth design their reading journals.                                                                                                                Outside Front Cover: Hidden Figures and Name Inside  Front Cover: Map of the US with NASA Centers Plotted                  Outside Back Cover: What does it mean to be a Hidden Figure?    Inside Back Cover: Key Vocabulary Words

Read an ArticleLeading your book club with an interesting article or activity is a great way

to hook reader interest and increase engagement.

See the appendix for this resource!

During Reading Online Resources

Visit the Newsela Text Set "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly https://newsela.com/text-sets/170763/books--hidden-figures The following Newsela articles correspond to specific chapters in the text: ·        Picture Reveals Mystery of Black Women Who Helped the Race to the Moon (ch.2)·        Inventors and Scientists: Katherine Johnson (ch. 12)·         Researchers Say Boys Favored Over Girls in Math (ch. 12)·        Rich Whites and Poor Students of Color More and More Separated in Schools (ch. 14 & 15)·        Opinion: Schools Often Add to Suffering of Black Women, Author Says (ch. 14 & 15)·         Primary Sources: Brown v. Board of Education (ch. 15)·        1945 to the Present: The Sixties (ch. 20)·        Famous Speeches: John F. Kennedy's "We Choose to go to the Moon" (ch. 20)·        John Glenn, an All-American hero, Astronaut and Politician, Has Died (ch. 21)

Relevant Online Articles Newsela.com is an education website focused on building youth reading comprehension. It provides high-quality news articles for youth in grades 2–12. The site offers both a free version and a more extensive paid version called NewselaPRO.

During Reading Online Resources

Visit Brainpop Videos at https://www.brainpop.comThe following Brainpop animations correspond to specific chapters in the text:      World War II (ch. 3)Franklin D. Roosevelt (ch. 5)Flight (ch. 7)Tuskegee Airmen (ch. 7)Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (ch. 15) History of Computers (ch. 14) Cold War (ch. 20) Space Flight (ch. 21) Sally Ride (after reading)

Informative VideosBrainpop is an online resource containing engaging learning games,

animated movies and activities for youth ages 6-17. The website provides fun supplemental tools for variety of topics-- including history,

science and math--and is an expert at breaking down complex topics.

Getting Hands On

The HookThe Hook is a short engaging moment that grabs the interest and attention of

your youth. Enhance your book club engagement by incorporating one of these fun STEAM focused activities into your time together.

Space FoodMake an Earth FanComet On a Stick

Phases of the Moon in OreosBuild Your Own Satellite

Make a Match RocketMake Your Own Spaceship

Asteroids You Can EatLaunch a Rocket From a

Spinning PlanetMake a CD Saturn

Hands On Activites include: Check Out these websites for more fun ideas!

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/

https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/index.html

https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/36-stem-project-

based-learning-activities

https://stemactivitiesforkids.com/category/middle-school/

http://stem-works.com/activities

See the appendix for these resources!

After Reading

Have youth redesign the Hidden Figures book

cover and then showcase their designs.

Reflections & Celebrations After finishing Hidden Figures, take some time to relect and celebrate your literary

journey. Here are a some ideas for your Hidden Figures book club celebration.

Have the book club watch Hidden Figures

the movie. Compare and contrast the book and

the movie.

Have youth write a book review. Submit

your youth's book reviews to the NPL

website.

Have youth respond to the questions: What makes a hidden

figure? How am I/can I be a hidden figure? Turn the

responses into a song, chant or poem.

Create a collage of the various obstacles and opportunities that were

presented during the course of the book Hidden Figures.  Write a caption for each explaining whether they were an obstacle or opportunity and analyze

why. 

“ W E W I L L A L W A Y S H A V E S T E M W I T H U S . S O M E T H I N G S W I L L

D R O P O U T O F P U B L I C E Y E A N D W I L L G O A W A Y , B U T T H E R E W I L L

A L W A Y S B E S C I E N C E , E N G I N E E R I N G , A N D

T E C H N O L O G Y , A N D T H E R E W I L L A L W A Y S , A L W A Y S B E

M A T H E M A T I C S . ”  ~ K A T H E R I N E J O H N S O N

AppendixCheck out these ready to use resources!

KWL Chart Accountable Talk Stems for Discussion New Lego Characters Will Be Women Who Have Worked for NASA Students Make Their Own "Mission Control" Center To Share Space Lessons A Forgotten Story: Black Women Helped a Man On the Moon Dream Jobs: Astronaut New Spaceship is Ready for Testing...and Eventually Tourists Space Food Make an Earth Fan Comet On A Stick The Phases of the Moon in Oreos How to Make a Match Rocket Make Asteroids You Can Eat! Make a CD Saturn Build a Moon Habitat

STEAM ACTIVITIES

READING JOURNALS

NEWSELA ARTICLES

You have to expect progress to be made.

~ K A T H E R I N E J O H N S O N