In this four week flex class, learners will have a chance to learn about the history of the United States as well as the history of space exploration by reading a first person account by former NACA (NASA) mathematician and "calculator" Katherine Johnson. This engaging easy to read chapter book is written with middle grade readers in mind.  Katherine has lived through some of the most interesting moments in American history and was an invaluable resources for engineers during the early days of the space program.  

This is an outstanding class for 2e learners and  kids and teens interested in STEM.  Katherine is an excellent role model for young people, especially young women.  She persevered at a time when there were many barriers for women and African Americans to pursue STEM careers.  Her passion for mathematics shines throughout the book.  Although she faced many obstacles and even some tragedy, the book covers it all gracefully, and conveys a positive message of persistence and hope.

In addition to learning about this period of history through Katherine's eyes, learners will also watch and respond to a series of short documentaries and first person interviews.  They will learn about the history of historically black colleges and universities in West Virginia, what is was like to grow up as a black child in the segregated South and a profile of Mae Jemison, the first African American female astronaut.

Students will be encouraged to think critically and respond to the reading through a number of instructional supports including graphic organizers, creative writing, drawing etc.  Students are also welcome to share their ideas verbally by making and posting videos in our online classroom.  The high interest, low reading level nature of this book and the use of graphic organizers and multiple ways to respond to the text make this an excellent class for kids with ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and other learning differences to learn about history by reading a compelling text.

This is a self- paced version of this class so students will not join in live meetings.  The self-paced format allows dyslexic learners and others who find reading challenging to have more time to read and enjoy the book. There will be ample opportunities for interaction through discussion questions posted in the chat, assigned Kahoot! quizzes, graphic organizers and small projects that will encourage learners to share their thoughts and ideas. 


***Be sure to let me know if you need additional time to complete the course.  I can extend the teacher comment period.****