Reach for the Stars: The Story of Mae Jemison
Mae Jemison was a girl with big dreams and an even bigger imagination. She was born on October 17, 1956, in Decatur, Alabama. When she was just three years old, her family moved to Chicago, Illinois. Mae’s father was a carpenter and her mother was an elementary school teacher. They both encouraged Mae to be curious about the world around her. Mae spent a lot of time at the local library, reading books about everything from animals to the stars. She knew from a young age that she wanted to be a scientist.
In school, Mae was an excellent student who loved science and art. She was so smart that she graduated from high school when she was only 16 years old. After high school, she went to Stanford University. At Stanford, she studied chemical engineering and African American studies. While she was learning about science, she also found time for her other passion: dancing. Mae took many dance classes and even directed several musical and dance shows. She believed that being a scientist and being an artist were both ways to explore the universe.
- Astronaut:
- A person who is trained to travel in a spacecraft.
- Gravity:
- The force that pulls objects toward each other, such as pulling things toward the Earth.
- Mission specialist:
- An astronaut with a specific job to do, such as performing experiments during a flight.
- Orbiting:
- Moving in a curved path around a planet, moon, or star.
- Peace Corps:
- A program where people travel to other countries to help people and share skills.
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- 1In which city did Mae Jemison grow up after her family moved from Alabama?
- 2What subjects did Mae's parents encourage her to be curious about when she was young?
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About this biography passage for 3rd Grade
“Reach for the Stars: The Story of Mae Jemison” is a biography reading passage about Mae Jemison, written for 3rd Grade. It takes about 4 minutes to read (563 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.