A week in the stars!!

This week we have been spending time in the stars learning all about Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to travel into space in 1992. Both our upper and lower elementary read Rocket says Look Up! by Nathan Byron and Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed. Rocket Says Look Up tells the story of Rocket a little girl with a big dream. Rocket wants to be an astronaut just like her hero Mae Jemison. A comet will be visible tonight and Rocket wants to get everyone to see it, especially her brother who, instead of looking up, is always on his phone. Her enthusiasm brings out the whole neighborhood as a crowd gathers to see the Phoenix meteor shower. This title inspires young scientists to dream big as Rocket is inspired by Mae Jemison, but also becomes an inspiration in her own way. Mae Among the Stars tells the story of a young Mae Jemison and her dream of becoming an astronaut. Though Mae was encouraged by her parent's to pursue her dream, she is laughed at by her peers and discouraged by her teacher. As a black woman becoming an astronaut seemed impossible but as her parent's regularly repeat throughout the story "If you dream it, believe in it and work hard for it, anything is possible". Mae Jemison followed her dream and has inspired scores of young people to never give up regardless of the obstacles in their way.