Women’s History Month
Women's History Month
In honor of Women's History Month (March), we are inviting you to join us to celebrate the accomplishments of Women who have made an impact in STEM. Below you will find several FREE biographies that can be used to supplement a lesson in your classroom or remote setting.
Classroom Lesson Resources
As a child, Dr. Ellen Ochoa was fascinated by space. In college, she studied physics at San Diego State University. Physics is the study of energy and motion. She continued in school, and earned her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University. Electrical engineering is the study of machines and electricity. Ochoa used both physics and electrical engineering when she began her career at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). At NASA, scientists work together to help us learn more about space.
Dr. Rosalind Franklin was a female pioneer in the field of chemistry. She studied what different types of matter are made of and how they act. She was able to use someone else’s discovery—xrays—to discover the structure of DNA. X-rays are powerful waves of energy. They help scientists see details that cannot be seen with the naked eye. You may know that x-rays can see details inside your body like your bones. But Dr. Franklin was the first to use x-rays discover the structure of DNA.
Meet Dr. Julia Serano, who worked as a researcher for several years. Why did Dr. Serano pick molecular biology as her area of study? She says that learning how a cell forms into a specific cell types, like a skin cell, can help improve our understanding of diseases. Cancer, for example, forms when cells multiply at a very fast rate. If scientists understand how a specific type of cell grows, then they can create new treatments or even cures for diseases.
Dr. Temple Grandin was diagnosed with autism at two years old. Many people with autism find social situations difficult. There is a range of behaviors on a spectrum of how much they challenge a person in everyday life. She didn’t start speaking at the age most children do. Hearing certain types of sounds is very stressful for her, even as an adult. Her parents worked hard to make sure that she received therapy and took classes to help her learn.
Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a “bryologist”—a moss expert. Her book, Gathering Moss, was awarded a medal for nature writing. Have you seen photos of beautiful, colorful coral reefs in the ocean? Dr. Kimmerer calls mosses the “coral reefs of the forest.” Coral reefs collect carbon in the oceans and provide homes for animals. On land, moss builds soil, purifies water, and makes homes for animals in forests.
At Activate Learning, we believe there is a better way to engage students in STEM.
Engage students with authentic learning and phenomena that are relevant and meaningful.
With our programs, student engagement comes from actively doing and making sense of science and mathematics. Students investigate and explain phenomena, gather and analyze data, develop and use visual models, and solve multi-step problems. They develop important life skills as they work collaboratively in groups and explore individually with technology supports. Our programs help students to articulate their thinking, critique the reasoning of others, and persevere in completing rich tasks and tackling complex problems.
Inspire teachers with research-based curricula that support three-dimensional learning.
Our programs fuel the passion of our teachers. Educators are actively guiding students through rigorous science and mathematics investigations. Our comprehensive teacher resources provide the necessary content, structure, and supports. We provide videos for lesson preparation, just-in-time access to instructional materials, embedded guides to orchestrate each investigation, and technology supports to efficiently evaluate student work and provide personalized feedback.
Prepare students for STEM careers of tomorrow.
Our programs offer investigation-centered and project-based learning that allow students to drive their learning through their own questions and ideas. The learning skills and science concepts that students explore and practice prepare them to be critical thinkers and problem solvers. This translates into young adults willing and able to question the world around them and lead innovation.