Black History Month is the perfect time to spotlight trailblazers who changed the world—and to inspire students to imagine what’s possible for their futures. One powerful way to do this in the elementary classroom is by pairing diverse read-alouds with hands-on Space STEM activities.
One of my favorite read alouds for space STEM and Black History Month is Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed! Mae Jemison isn’t *just* an astronaut, she is also an engineer, a doctor, and a lifelong learner.
By combining literacy, science, and engineering, students can explore space concepts while learning about one of the most inspiring figures in modern history.
Space STEM – Read Mae Among the Stars
After reading this beautifully illustrated book (Stasia Burrington), challenge students to become astronauts and engineers for the day by designing paper rockets, tackling an astronaut task, and creating an astronaut boot! These activities are a mix of fine motor skills (cutting out provided rockets or creating their own), working together, and creative problem solving.
Why Teach Mae Jemison During Black History Month?
Black History Month is about more than learning historical facts—it’s about:
- Celebrating contributions of Black leaders
- Providing representation in STEM
- Encouraging students to see themselves as scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers
Mae Jemison’s journey naturally connects to discussions about:
- Overcoming obstacles
- Following your dreams
- Using education to make a difference
You never know when a story will resonate with a student and show them what’s possible with dedication, hard work, and reaching for the stars!
Space STEM – Paper Rocket STEM Activity
Students design and build a rocket while exploring:
- Thrust
- Drag
- Force and motion
This challenge helps students understand how rockets launch into space—and how astronauts like Mae Jemison traveled beyond Earth. Use paper, decorations, and straws to create a simple rocket that can launch. Students can design their own or you can use templates and instructions found in this download.
Ask: What features might make a paper rocket fly farther?
Space STEM Activity – Use Teamwork to Build While Wearing Astronaut Gloves!
Astronauts have to face many challenges in space that we don’t have to face on Earth! Outside of the atmosphere in zero gravity, things do not behave as they do on Earth. Eating, going to the bathroom, and even moving about are totally different. When astronauts leave a spacecraft to complete missions, they are in protective gear. Sometimes they need to make repairs wearing big, bulky gloves! Challenge students to work together to build a simple tower while wearing winter gloves! Teamwork becomes much more important when you lose dexterity because of the bulkiness of the gloves.
Ask: What other challenges might astronauts face in space that we don’t face here on Earth?
Space STEM Activity – Design and Create an Astronaut Boot
In this Space STEM activity, students design an astronaut boot that could be used on the Moon’s surface.
They explore:
- Durability
- Balance and stability
This challenge blends creativity with real-world engineering thinking.
Ask: What would be an important feature of an astronaut boot?
Space STEM Activities Inspired by Mae Jemison
To bring Mae Among the Stars to life, I created 4 hands-on Space STEM challenges that use simple, classroom-friendly materials like recyclables, straws, and school supplies. These STEM activities encourage students to think like engineers while making meaningful connections to the story. In addition to the activities shown above, there is also a lunar base activity that can be found in this resource on TpT.
In the Space STEM Activities resource I created to pair with this read aloud, I’ve included challenge posters, recording pages that guide students through the engineering design process, printable rockets, rubrics, and a follow-up writing activity where students can write about their dreams for the future.
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