Many of our advances in science and engineering have come from famous women in STEM! Use some of these projects or critical thinking processes to introduce kids to women in STEM fields so they can help celebrate their achievements and inspire them to do anything they set their minds to! We have plenty of engineering projects to get you started.
Who Are Some Famous Women In STEM?
We can almost guarantee that there are more famous women in STEM than you realized! Female engineers in their field have led or aided some of the most iconic scientific tools or achievements! Some of the most famous women in STEM and art we will talk about or feature here include:
- Lorna Simpson (art)
- Evelyn Boyd Granville
- Amelia Earheart
- Mae Jemison
- Katherine Johnson
- Alma Thomas (art)
- Mary Jackson
- Margaret Hamilton
- Agnes Pockels
- Marie Tharp
- Marie Curie
Look for a free printable project related to each woman in STEM/STEAM and art to add to your lesson plans this year or use for a fantastic screen-free activity at home.
Be Inspired By Women In STEM
Celebrating women in STEM fields is a great way to encourage kids to seek out a career in whatever area they desire. Social platforms like TikTok have even seen a rise in trends like, I Am a Woman in STEM, which puts the spotlight on present women in STEM and how they’re impacting the STEM community!
Another great way we can acknowledge and learn from famous women who have helped shape our present lives is by doing hands-on projects while learning about the women who made them possible! Choose one (or all!) of the projects below to teach kids about amazing women who have done incredible things!
Famous Women In STEM Activities
Did you know women were responsible for the advances in STEM and Art in the posts below? Some of our most influential scientific advances have come from intelligent and talented women in STEM! Make sure to look through each person and grab the free printable project.
NEW! Women in STEM Worksheets
Perfect for a Women in STEM lesson plan. Add this free research worksheet page to your plans.
Build A Satellite
Evelyn Boyd Granville was the second African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. in mathematics from an American University. Build a satellite inspired by the achievements of Evelyn Boyd Granville.
Build A Space Shuttle
Who is Mae Jemison? Mae Jemison is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She became the first black woman to travel into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour.
Build A Lunar Lander
Build your own model of the Apollo Lunar Lander for STEM in honor of renowned African American mathematician Katherine Johnson. Katherine Johnson’s calculations were critical to the success of the Apollo lunar landings.
Map the Ocean Floor with Tharp!
Marie Tharp was an American geologist and cartographer who, along with Bruce Heezen, created the first scientific map of the Atlantic Ocean floor. A cartographer is a person who draws or produces maps. Tharp’s work revealed the ocean floor’s detailed topography or physical features and 3D landscape. Create an ocean floor map with this STEAM project.
Write in Code with Margaret Hamilton
American computer scientist, systems engineer and business owner Margaret Hamilton was one of the first computer software programmers. She created the term software engineer to describe her work. During her career, she developed a program that predicted the weather and wrote software that searched for enemy aircraft. Hamilton was also responsible for the onboard flight software for NASA’s Apollo space mission.
Magic Pepper and Soap Experiment
Scientist, Agnes Pockels discovered the science of surface tension of fluids simply doing the dishes in her own kitchen. Despite her lack of formal training, Pockels was able to measure the surface tension of water by designing an apparatus known as the Pockels trough. This was a key instrument in the new discipline of surface science.
Wind Tunnel Project
Inspired by inventor and scientist Mary Jackson, students can discover the power of a wind tunnel and the science behind it.
Paper Plane Launcher
Amelia Mary Earhart was an American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She set many other records, wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences, and was instrumental in the formation of The Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots.
Explore Fossils with Mary Anning
Mary Anning was a paleontologist and fossil collector who discovered several important fragments that led to the discovery of new dinosaurs! Her biggest and most notable discovery was when she discovered the first complete plesiosaurus! You can make fossils and re-discover dinosaurs!
Make A DIY Stethoscope with Susan Picotte
Make a super simple DIY stethoscope that really works, inspired by Indigenous doctor Susan Picotte. Dr Picotte was one of the first American Indigenous peoples and the first Indigenous woman to earn a medical degree.
Make X-ray Prints With Marie Curie
Explore the principles of X-rays inspired by Marie Curie’s groundbreaking work as you make your own X-rays.
Study Animals with Jane Goodall
Famous for her work with the chimpanzees in the Tanzanian Rainforest, Jane Goodall helped to change the world’s perception of these incredible creatures. Later in her life, she fought for the preservation of their habitats. Download her free coloring page here.
Add These STEM Questions for Reflection
These STEM questions for reflection are perfect to use with older kiddos to talk about how the project went and what they might do differently next time around. Use these questions for reflection with your kids after they have completed one of the STEM challenges below to encourage discussion of results and critical thinking.
- What were some of the challenges you discovered along the way?
- What worked well and what did not work well?
- What part of your model or prototype do you really like? Explain why.
- What part of your model or prototype needs improvement? Explain why.
- What other materials would you like to use if you could do this challenge again?
- What would you do differently next time?
- What parts of your model or prototype are similar to the real world version?
Helpful STEM Resources To Get You Started
Here are a few resources that will help you introduce STEM more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.
Printable Women In STEM Projects Pack
Grab the complete pack of 14 Women in STEM (includes even more female STEM-ists than listed here). Click here to read more about our Women In STEM project pack.
