Women’s History Month: Women in STEAM
Mae Jemisin / nasa.gov
Throughout history, many women in STEAM have made special contributions to those subjects. The month of March is dedicated to celebrating monumental women as Women’s History Month. Learn more about these incredible women to inspire your child to grow her own skills.
Ada Lovelace: Ada Lovelace was an English mathematician, and she has been called the first computer programmer, as she created a program for the first prototype of a digital computer. Explore her life and coding activities with “Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code,” and make your very own DIY calculator with She Loves Science at shelovesscience.com.
Alma Thomas: Born in Georgia, Alma Thomas was a teacher who developed a love and talent for abstract painting after she retired. Read her story in “Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas.” Her work can be found in major museums, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, but you can plan a road trip to The Columbus Museum to see some of her works. View images of her artwork online, and encourage your child to create masterpieces emulating her style.
Susie King Taylor: Born into slavery in Georgia in 1848, Susie King Taylor achieved many firsts in her lifetime, including being one of the first Black nurses during the Civil War and becoming the only African American woman to publish a memoir of her wartime experiences. Explore her story with “Susie King Taylor: Nurse, Teacher & Freedom Fighter,” and use a journaling activity to inspire your child to think about writing her own memory for a memoir.
Mae Jemison: Mae Jemison became the first African American woman astronaut. Read more about her in “Mae Among the Stars,” a beautiful picture book which showcases Jemison’s success at NASA. Tie in her story to a hands-on activity by building a rocket; search online for instructions for building a paper, soda bottle or origami rocket.
Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall: An English primatologist and anthropologist, Jane Goodall changed the way people thought about the relationship between humans and animals. Listen to her story with Bedtime History’s YouTube channel, or read more about her with “You Are a Star, Jane Goodall.” While Zoo Atlanta doesn’t house chimpanzees, they are home to a large number of highly endangered primate species, including western lowland gorillas, orangutans and more. Head over for a visit to help your child learn more about primates and animals from around the world.
Katherine Johnson: A NASA mathematician, Katherine Johnson provided important calculations for space travel. Honor her with a paper doll or stick puppet; find instructions at nasa.gov. Her story was popularized with the 2016 movie “Hidden Figures,” and you can read about her and her fellow scientists with “Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race,” which is recommended for grades 3-6.
Grace Hopper: Grace Hopper was a mathematics genius and computer pioneer, creating computer programming technology that paved the way for modern data processing. Read her story with “Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code.” Hopper is also an inductee in the National Women’s Hall of Fame, and you can play their themed solitaire game to spot Hopper and other impressive women.
Eugenie Clark / Mote Marine Laboratory
Eugenie Clark: Eugenie Clark, known as The Shark Lady, conducted submersible dives and dives using scuba gear to study marine life underwater. Explore her story with “Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist.” Visit the Georgia Aquarium to see aquatic animals — including sharks! — up close.
Ellen Ochoa: Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to fly in space in 1993 for a total of four space missions. She’s also the co-inventor on three patents. The book, “The Astronaut With a Song for the Stars,” features a biography, fun facts, a timeline and a note from Ochoa. Watch space enthusiast Aden interview Ochoa on KiwiCo’s YouTube channel, and check out corresponding activities on kiwico.com.
Maryam Mirzakhani: The first woman to the win the Fields Medal, mathematics’ highest award, Maryam Mirzakhani made a host of contributions to geometry and dynamical systems. Discover her story and explore the relationship between creativity and math with “Maryam’s Magic: The Story of Mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani.” Search 3D and paper crafts online to explore the connection between geometry and creativity as a family.
Historical Women in STEAM from Georgia:
- Ellamae Ellis League. Architect
- Ludie Clay Andrews. Nurse
- Mary Francis Hill Coley. Midwife
- Cassandra Pickett Durham. Physician
- Laura Pope Forester. Folk artist
- Anna Colquitt Hunter. Artist
- Lucy Craft Laney. Hospital administrator and educator
- Clermont Huger Lee. Landscape architect
- Sara Branham Matthews. Scientist, microbiologist and physician
- Alice Woodby McKane. Physician
- Harriet Powers. Folk artist and quilter
- Katie Hall Underwood. Midwife
- Catherine Evans Whitener. Artist
- Leila Ross Wilburn. Architect
- Nell Kendall Hodgson Woodruff. Nurse
You can learn more about these women with the Georgia Women of Achievement, and visit the Georgia Capitol Museum to learn more about the significant role they played in Georgia’s history.
