Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson put Astronauts on the Moon
What’s inside...
Meet the amazing woman who put astronauts on the moon! Katherine Johnson is the mathematical genius who not only helped make the historic moon landings possible, but also made sure that all the astronauts returned safely home when the mission was in critical danger. As a child, Katherine loved to count. She counted the steps on the road, the number of dishes and spoons she washed in the kitchen sink, everything! Boundless, curious, and excited by calculations, young Katherine longed to know as much as she could about maths, about the universe. From Katherine's early beginnings as a gifted student to her heroic accomplishments as a prominent mathematician at NASA, this is the true story of a groundbreaking African-American woman who went above and beyond what was expected of her in the 1960s, saving lives and making enormous contributions to history. Featuring Dow Phumiruk's gorgeous full-colour illustrations throughout, Helaine Becker's Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Put Astronauts on the Moon is truly a gift to treasure.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-8
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think Katherine Johnson's work was important for space missions?
How did Katherine overcome challenges in her life? What qualities do you think helped her?
Can you think of a time when you worked really hard to solve a problem like Katherine did?
What did you learn about teamwork from Katherine’s story?
How do you think the story would be different if Katherine had given up on her dreams?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts by asking them how they feel about Katherine's achievements and obstacles.
Relate the mathematical concepts in the story to real-life examples to make the discussion more tangible.
Discuss the historical context of Katherine's story, emphasizing how her perseverance and intelligence broke barriers.
Highlight the importance of persistence and hard work, and ask your child about their goals and the steps they can take to achieve them.
Use the illustrations in the book to engage your child visually and ask them to describe what they see and how it relates to the story.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Perseverance pays off
Explanation: Katherine Johnson's relentless pursuit of her love for mathematics, despite facing racial and gender-based adversity, demonstrates the power of perseverance.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of persistence in overcoming obstacles in their educational journey or any other endeavors.
Example Lesson: Importance of education
Explanation: Katherine's story emphasizes how her deep knowledge and understanding of mathematics were crucial in solving complex problems and accomplishing significant tasks like the Apollo 11 mission.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to take their studies seriously and understand that their learning has the potential to impact the world significantly.
Example Lesson: Equality and resilience
Explanation: Katherine Johnson fought against the prevalent racial and gender biases of her time, showing that competence and skills are what truly matter.
Real-World Application: It inspires children to treat everyone equally and stand up against discrimination, fostering a more inclusive society.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and collaboration
Explanation: Katherine's work at NASA involved coordinating with engineers, astronauts, and many other professionals, highlighting the effectiveness of teamwork.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of collaboration and how working together can help solve even the most challenging problems.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and lifelong learning
Explanation: Katherine's lifelong passion for learning and her curiosity about how things work propelled her to extraordinary achievements.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to remain curious, ask questions, and continuously seek knowledge, shaping them into lifelong learners.