Celebrate the achievements of Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman to travel to space. Through this complete, inquiry-driven STEM & cultural heritage unit.
This 5-10-day TACK Learning™ unit helps students explore Ellen Ochoa’s life, her groundbreaking NASA missions, her leadership as the Director of the Johnson Space Center, and her advocacy for diversity in STEM fields.

Built from real NASA mission data (shown across multiple pages, including closed-readings) and enriched with cross-curricular literacy, science, culture, and group projects, this unit transforms Ellen Ochoa’s journey into a powerful learning experience for middle school and early high school students.

This resource includes everything teachers need to teach an engaging, well-structured, high-level STEM biography unit.

🚀 What’s Included (Full Breakdown)

1. Google Slides™ Presentation 

The slide deck includes:

• Personal biography

• Teacher notes

• Inspirational quote slide

• Additional Resource Links

2. Teacher Guide with 5-10 -Day Lesson Plan Structure

Includes:

• Day 1: Think Phase (Open-reading + discussion)

• Day 2–3: Ask Phase (Interactive Interview, mission analysis)

• Day 3: Close-read of NASA missions (STS-56, STS-66, STS-96, STS-110)

• Day 4: Create Phase (group project development)

• Day 5: Keep Phase (presentations, reflection, and TACK Peer Feedback)

EAch Day can be extended and adapted to your classroom needs.

3. Open-Reading Biography Passage

Covers:

• Early life

• STEM education

• NASA research and missions

• Leadership roles

• Advocacy for STEM diversity

4. Closed-Reading Mission Passages

In-depth look at:

• Shuttle Discovery STS-56 (ozone research)

• Shuttle Atlantis STS-66 (atmospheric science)

• STS-96 (first docking with ISS)

• STS-110 (installation of the ISS S0 Truss)

5. Worksheets Included

• Comprehension questions

• “My Initial Thoughts” reflection

• Mission analysis prompts

• STEM career inspiration questions

• Cultural identity & leadership reflections

• Project rubric

• Peer Feedback worksheet (TACK model)

6. Research Guide Packet

Students choose:

• NASA leadership

• Technological innovation

• Diversity advocacy

• STEM outreach
  Includes research questions, source tracking, and presentation planning.

7. STEM & Vocabulary Activities

• Crossword puzzle + answer key

• Word search + key

• Word scramble + key

• Vocabulary posters covering terms such as:
  optical systems, orbit, payload, microgravity, aerospace, innovation, leadership, diversity

8. Interactive Learning Experience

Talk Show Activity
“A Journey Beyond the Stars with Ellen Ochoa” 
Students role-play:

• Ellen Ochoa

• Interviewers

• Producers

• Director

• Live audience

A perfect PBL activity for engagement.

9. Reflection & Application Sheets

Helps students connect her perseverance, leadership, and innovation to:

• Their cultural identity

• Future aspirations

• STEM pathways

• Diversity in science

🌎 What Students Will Learn

• Space science concepts & robotics

• How diversity impacts scientific progress

• Critical reading through open & closed passages

• Public speaking & collaboration

• Research and academic writing

• SEL: perseverance, leadership, innovation

• Cultural heritage integration: Hispanic Heritage Month focus

🎯 Perfect For

• Middle School Science

• Early High School STEM

• Elementary GATE

• Hispanic Heritage Month

• Women’s History Month

• STEM/STEAM Programs

• Microschools & project-based environments