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The Girl With a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague
Last updated Monday, April 8, 2024
Author: Julia Finley Mosca
Illustrator: Daniel Rieley
Date of Publication: 2018
ISBN: 1943147426
Grade Level: 3rd (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Apr. 2024
Synopsis:
Meet Raye Montague - the hidden mastermind who made waves in the U.S. Navy!
After touring a German submarine in the early 1940s, young Raye set her sights on becoming an engineer. Little did she know sexism and racial inequality would challenge that dream every step of the way, even keeping her greatest career accomplishment a secret for decades. Through it all, the gifted mathematician persisted - finally gaining her well-deserved title in history: a pioneer who changed the course of ship design forever.
| Note to readers: |
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his is a true story about an African American Woman who became a Naval Engineer during a time that didn't allow African-American students into the engineering programs in college. Raye Montague broke barriers by reaching her potential as an engineer. The entire story is in rhyme. You may want to see if any of the children understand poetry in particular how to identify rhyming words. For example rhymes in music and books.
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Do you understand what a dream is? Have you dreamed of being something when you grow up and/or finish college? Let's talk about what you'd like to accomplish when you finish school or like to do for a career/job?
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Have you ever worked hard on a project at home and school? Share with us what skills you used to accomplish these projects.
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Do you know what a rhyme? Can you give examples of rhyming like in poems or music?
Vocabulary
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Dream -a series of thoughts, pictures, or feelings occurring during sleep
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Engineer - aa person who is trained in or follows as a profession a branch of engineering
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Submarine - something that functions or operates underwater
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Segregated - set apart or separated from others of the same kind or grou
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pDismal - very gloomy and depressing
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Memory- the store of things learned and kept in the mind
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Success - satisfactory completion of something
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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What were some of Raye's obstacles? Do you have any obstacles at your school?What did Raye do overcome/beat her obstacles?
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Do you think we have some of Raye's obstacles today? If so, can you share them? For example, can you picture a woman as President of the United States?
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How does this story inspire you?
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| Craft ideas: |
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Making a submarine. Use construction paper and markers to design a ship similar to that of Raye Montague. If given the opportunity, what would you name this ship?
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Making a small one goal vision board. Use construction paper to illustrate one goal and ways to accomplish this goal.
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Making a timeline of success. Use construction paper to draw their outline of success. Place their graduation from elementary, middle and high school on the chart and their plans after high school. You can start with Raye Montague's timeline on top and their timeline underneath.
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Earth Day is April 22,2024. Make a poster or flyer about something pertaining to the day.
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Draw a picture of something you did on your spring break.
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| Special activities: |
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Use the dry erase/chalkboard to discuss how math can be useful (and fun) for practical challenges, from shopping to understanding to McDonalds.
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Discuss/demonstrate other words from the text that can help illustrate the meaning from the book: headstrong, potential, grit, blueprints, abhorrible, deplorable, applauded, and propel.
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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