Lesson 5: Katherine Johnson

Objective: After reading Counting on Katherine by Helaine Becker a group, 2nd grade students
will work with a partner to demonstrate text comprehension by providing at least 3 details from
the story on the sequencing map.

Vocabulary Words:
Differences
Acceptance

Segregation

Separation

Discrimination
Inequality

Lesson Procedure:

1) Teacher and students will review vocabulary words with a word map. Students will help
the teacher create a word map for the words segregation and inequality. Students will
record this in their reading log.

2) In order to activate prior knowledge and engage students in the topic, students will watch
a video about Katherine Johnson. This will provide students with a quick background on
Katherine Johnson and her contributions to NASA.

Katherine Johnson: National Geographic

3) After students watch the video on Katherine Johnson, students will listen to the teacher
read Counting on Katherine by Helaine Becker. As the teacher reads, she will ask
students questions to keep them engaged in the story. The teacher should ask the
following questions: What was Katherine like as a child? How many grades did she
skip? What was Katherine’s favorite subject? Why did Katherine and her family move?
What did Katherine do at NASA? How would you describe Katherine? How did she help
the Apollo 13 spaceship?

4) After reading the story, the teacher will model how to use a sequencing map. Students
and teachers will work together to write a sentence for the first major event that occurred
in that story.

5) After teacher has modeled the sequencing map, students will complete the sequencing
map with a partner. They will find major events from the story to add to the sequencing
map.
 6) When students are finished with the storyboard activity, they will use their reading log to
answer the question: Is Katherine Johnson a real life hero? Why or why not? What did
she do to be considered a hero? (Students should use details from the story.) What
character traits would you use to describe Katherine Johnson?

Assessment Plan:
Lesson Exceeding Meeting the Approaching the Far Below the
Objective Expectations Expectations Expectations Expectations
After reading Student Student provided Student provided Student provided
Counting on provided more at least 3 story less than 3 story one or no story
Katherine by than 3 story details for the details for the details for the
Helaine Becker a details for the sequencing chart. sequencing sequencing
group, 2nd grade sequencing chart. chart.
students will chart.
work with a
partner to
demonstrate text
comprehension
by providing at
least 3 details
from the story
on the
sequencing flow
map.