12 Picture Books That Celebrate Women in STEM
The following is a guest post from Dr. Jacie Maslyk.
The books we share with our students can cultivate an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. Providing exposure to a variety of books helps to show students that STEM is for everyone. Books can highlight cool STEM topics like robotics, promote important ideas like sustainability, and showcase STEM careers.
It is especially important for young girls and boys to see women as STEM role models. We can amplify women in STEM by choosing books that celebrate their accomplishments and share their stories.
Here are 12 great books featuring women in STEM, along with some simple STEM activities to get you started:
12 Books Featuring Women in STEM:
1 . Shark Lady by Jess Keating
2. Counting on Katherine by Helaine Becker
3. The Tree Lady by H. Joseph Hopkins
4. The World is Not a Rectangle by Jeanette Winter
5. Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown
6. Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
7. Ada Lovelace Poet of Science by Diane Stanley
8. Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Walker Harvey
9. The Girl Who Though in Pictures by Julia Finley Mosca
10. Marvelous Mattie by Emily Arnold McCully
11. Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez
12. When Sue Found Sue: Sue Hendrickson Discovers Her T. Rex by Toni Buzzeo
1. Shark Lady by Jess Keating
Eugenie Clark loved visiting aquariums when she was little and was very interested in sharks. Through her research, she found that sharks were very smart. She even trained some!
Using plastic recyclables, build a model shark and include fins. Then test it to see how the fins help to balance the shark in the water.
There are so many different types of sharks! Research one and create a diorama of its underwater habitat.
Check out more ideas connected to this book here.
2. Counting on Katherine by Helaine Becker
Katherine Johnson loved math and was very curious when it came to numbers. When she grew up, she got a job at NASA first working on calculations but earned a series of promotions due to her tremendous skill and hard work. She helped with the Apollo space missions figuring out the calculations needed to get the Apollo 13 astronauts home safely.
Construct a model of one of the Apollo spacecrafts.
Build a rocket launcher and measure how far it travels.
Check out more ideas connected to this book here.
3. The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins
Growing up in California, Katherine Olivia Sessions loved learning about science, especially trees. Kate used her passion for trees to learn as much as she could, which helped her to transform San Diego, once a desert town into a vibrant and thriving place.
Learn about the types of plants and trees that grow best where you live.
Plan a school garden.
Research Balboa Park and find out how Katherine’s hard work has continued.
4. The World is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid by Jeanette Winter
Zaha Hadid explored her homeland of Iraq with her father. She dreamed of becoming a designer, creating her own cities, like the ruins in Iraq. She studies to be an architect and creates unique designs.
Build a structure that is inspired by something in nature.
Design a dollhouse, shoes, or a chair like Zaha did.
Construct a geometric sculpture without using any rectangles.
5. Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown
Melba Doretta Liston enjoyed music when she was young, especially blues, jazz, and gospel. When she got her own trombone, she taught herself to play by practicing and practicing. She became a master musician, traveling across the globe performing.
Listen to some jazz music and draw what you hear.
Construct your own musical instrument using recyclable materials.
6. Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
Mae dreamed of being an astronaut. She learned that working hard and persevering can help you accomplish your goals. Mae Jemison was the first African-American woman in space.
Observe the night sky and sketch what you see.
Construct an astronaut costume like Mae did in the story.
Take a look at these additional activities.
7. Ada Lovelace: Poet of Science by Diane Stanley
Ada liked to use her imagination. She studied flying, loved creating things, and enjoyed learning about machines. Her knowledge of math and science helped her to develop patterns that turned into the first computer program.
Design a set of wings like Ada did.
Learn to write code using a project idea from Code.org.
Try these unplugged coding activities.
8. Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Walker Harvey
This book shares the story of May Lin, the designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. As a child, she loved exploring nature, reading, and creating art. She studied buildings and architecture and entered a contest to design the famous monument.
Construct a building using an arch, cupola, or columns like Maya studied in the story.
Design a statue or monument to honor someone or something important to you.
9. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca
Temple Grandin grew up as a shy girl who had autism and did not speak for the first several years of her life. She learned differently and understood words through pictures. When she moved to a farm, she found connections with the animals.
Build an invention to help an animal or pet that you like.
Sketch a series of pictures to show how your invention works.
10. Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret Knight Became an Inventor by Emily Arnold McCully
Mattie grew up poor but loved using her father’s old toolbox to make things. She wrote all of her “brainstorms” in her notebook. She learned about machines and eventually created one of her own.
Construct a model of one of Mattie’s early inventions; a jumping jack, a whirlygig, a kite, or a sled.
Create an invention that will improve a process or add a safety feature as Mattie did.
Redesign a paper bag (Mattie’s patented invention) into something else.
11. Joan Proctor, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez
Joan was different from other girls her age; she loved reptiles. She kept pet turtles, snakes, and lizards. She grew up to work in museums and zoos researching creatures, creating exhibits, and designing animal enclosures, including one for a Komodo dragon.
Research a reptile and create your own museum exhibit to show what you’ve learned.
Design an animal enclosure, including features that keep the animal safe and healthy.
12. When Sue Found Sue: Sue Hendrikson Finds Her T-Rex by Toni Buzzeo
Sue was a shy girl but her curiosity led her on treasure hunts to find all sorts of things. She loved reading and learning about new things in nature and by visiting museums. She worked in South Dakota for four years before finding the bones of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Create your own layout of “dinosaur bones” using cotton swabs. How many bones does your dinosaur have?
Construct a cardboard model of a T-Rex (or another dinosaur) and include at least two moving parts.
Books Showcase Role Models
These 12 books share the incredible stories of some amazing women in STEM. Use these (and so many other great stories) in your classroom to celebrate the accomplishments of female designers, inventors, and scientists. Highlighting these role models will show students that anything is possible with hard work, perseverance, and an interest in STEM.
Looking for more activities? Check out the Women’s History Bundle for more book ideas that connect to hands-on STEM.
Have more questions or need additional resources?
You can get all 250+ STEM Challenges by Carly and Adam as part of the STEM Teachers Club Membership. Save $5 on your first month using coupon Code: CarlyAndAdamBlog.
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An educator for the last 23 years, Dr. Jacie Maslyk, has served as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, elementary principal, and assistant superintendent. She is the author of STEAM Makers: Fostering Creativity and Innovation in the Elementary Classroom, Connect to Lead: Power Up Your Learning Network to Move Your School Forward (ISTE), Remaking Literacy: Innovative Instructional Strategies for Maker Learning and Unlock Creativity: Opening a World of Imagination With Your Students. You can read more on her blog, Creativity in the Making, at www.jaciemaslyk.blogspot.com. Connect with Jacie on Twitter @DrJacieMaslyk or email her at jaciemaslyk@gmail.com .