2 x reading comprehension lessons based on the introduction and chapter about the astronaut, Mae Jemison ‘Fantastically Great Women Scientists and their Stories’ by Kate Pankhurst. 

Years 3 – 5

Book recommended age 7+

24-page dyslexia-friendly PowerPoint

2 lessons

2 x PDF activities 

retrieval 

Extract downloadable at lovereading4kids.co.uk

Lesson 1

Pre-teach vocabulary. Then find out more about women in science before matching the famous scientists with their ground-breaking discovery. If you have time, explore the timeline of women’s rights.

Lesson 2

Firstly introduce key vocabulary, asking the children what they already know about the Civil Rights Movement or Segregation. Children then find out more about the life of Mae Jemison and respond to key questions. Finally, what do the children know about female scientists today who are changing the world?

Lesson 3

Firstly, ask the children to recap what they have learnt previously about Mae Jemison and consider who else inspires them?

For more non- fiction comprehension lessons

Escape from Pompeii

For more information about the author or the wider ‘Fantastically Great’ collection of books

https://www.katepankhurst.com/books/