NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson

by Heather E. Schwartz

Overview

What do you want to be when you grow up? When Katherine Johnson was young, women weren't expected to go into the math and science fields. Johnson loved math, but she never thought she could be a mathematician. After studying math in school and teaching for a few years, she learned that the organization that would later become NASA was hiring women to complete mathematical equations. As an African American woman, Johnson had to work hard to earn the respect of her coworkers, but they soon came to rely on her brilliant calculations. Her contributions to the US space program helped send astronauts to the moon. Learn how Johnson broke barriers as a female African American mathematician.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781512457049
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/01/2017
Series:	STEM Trailblazer Bios Series
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,102,064
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 6.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	850L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

When Heather E. Schwartz was thirteen years old, she tracked down several lead orphans from the 1983 movie "Annie" and interviewed them by phone. As an adult, she realized she could apply those same early instincts to a career as a journalist and writer. She is the author of more than 35 nonfiction children's titles, published by Lerner Publishing Group, Capstone Press, Teacher Created Materials, Lucent Books, and Tangerine Press, a Scholastic imprint. She has written articles for National Geographic Kids and Discovery Girls. In addition, she developed the content for KidsGetArthritisToo.org, the juvenile section of the Arthritis Foundation's website. Other credits in the children's market include articles for Teen, Girls' Life, and All About You magazines. Additionally, Ms. Schwartz is a former editor at Bridal Guide magazine, co-author of Bridal Guide Magazine's How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Gown (Warner, 2004), and contributor to The Takeout Cookbook (Knock Knock 2007).

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Brilliant Beginning 4

Chapter 2 Star Student 8

Chapter 3 Life-Changing Chance 12

Chapter 4 Leader among Men 18

Chapter 5 Woman on a Mission 22

Timeline 29

Source Notes 30

Glossary 30

Further Information 31

Index 32

Editorial Reviews

"[N]atural companion texts for maker spaces. . . . Upbeat profiles of admirable STEM figures and fine additions to biography collections."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher