We’re highlighting some of our favorite resources to help you teach about women of STEM with film. Get students of all genders excited about STEM careers!
Teach about Women of STEM with Film: Bletchley Park’s Female Codebreakers
Breaking Enigma
Breaking Enigma: A World War II Game Changer goes deep inside the top-secret, groundbreaking intelligence work that took place at Bletchley Park, outside London, during World War II. It highlights the innovative computing and technology of the counterintelligence effort started in Poland, headquartered in England, and eventually including the United States, as well as the emphasis on secrecy, teamwork, and cooperation.
The film shares the stories of the ordinary men and women from all backgrounds who came together to decipher secret military messages scrambled through Germany’s complex Enigma machine. The film also draws connections to machine learning and artificial intelligence, and viewers track the long line of technological advancement brought about by war and applied in peacetime.
The Breaking Enigma Discussion Guide explores Bletchley Park’s Ecosystem of Success, Codebreaking in War and its legacy today, and Historical Spaces as Primary Sources.
Subjects: Community Service Learning, Computer Programming, Computer Science and IT, History, Social Studies, UK History, World History, World War II
Lesson Grades: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, College, Adult Learning
Learn more about teaching with Breaking Enigma and get the Breaking Enigma Discussion Guide.
Her War, Her Story
Her War, Her Story: World War II explores how women filled vital roles in the Second World War. Viewers hear firsthand accounts from a cross section of women from the United States, England, France, and Germany — including the top secret code breakers of Bletchley Park.
The Her War, Her Story Discussion Guide includes a special focus on women code breakers. These resources make a great combination with Breaking Enigma: A World War II Game Changer.
Subjects: Community Service Learning, Computer Programming, Computer Science and IT, History, Social Studies, UK History, Women’s History, World History, World War II
Lesson Grades: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, College, Adult Learning
Learn more about teaching with Her War, Her Story and get the Her War, Her Story Discussion Guide.
Teach about Women of STEM with Film: the Black Women who Put a Man on the Moon
Hidden Figures celebrates the extraordinary determination and achievement of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, three Black women known as “human computers” at NASA in the 1960s. These women transcended the discriminatory biases of colleagues and community members to become leaders in the fields of mathematics and engineering — and send the first human beings to the Moon.
The Hidden Figures Discussion Guide explores The Women of West Computing and Career Choices in STEM (among other topics). It’s great for inspiring students of all background about pursing STEM careers. For grades 4 and up.
The Hidden Figures Curriculum Guide features multiple STEM lessons. Of particular note is Lesson 8 on The Women of Science. Use this lesson in classes on Career Studies, History, Science, and U.S. History. This lesson is available to download on its own or as part of the full curriculum guide. Lesson 8 is recommended for grades 7-12.
Learn more bout teaching with Hidden Figures and get the Hidden Figures Educational Resources.
Teach about Women of STEM with Film: Dr. Jane Goodall, Primatologist
Award-winning documentary Jane shows how when Jane Goodall and her peers Dian Fossey and Birutė Galdikas began their longitudinal studies of chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans, respectively, they began more than one revolution in the biological sciences.
The Jane Discussion Guide introduces students to the life and work of pioneering chimpanzee expert Dr. Jane Goodall, as well as her colleagues Dian Fossey and Biruté Galdikas. It highlights the ways that knowledge of animals can illuminate how we understand ourselves. It’s a great tool for teaching media literacy and inspiring students about a love of nature and STEM careers. For grades 3-12, and adult/higher ed.
Learn more about teaching with Jane and get the Jane Discussion Guide.
Teach about Women of STEM with Film: Dr. Adelle Thomas, Climate Expert
The Crisis Scientists follows seven extraordinary people working to galvanize policy makers and the public to save the planet. This compelling short film presents a portrait of courageous climate scientists and a lawyer shows that together, we can make a difference. The ensemble cast features Dr. Adelle Thomas, the Senior Director of Climate Adaptation and Environmental Health of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
The Crisis Scientists Discussion Guide is a great teaching tool for environmental education, civic engagement, and service learning. It also works as a Bell Ringer / Classroom Warm-Up. For grades 9-12, and adult/higher ed.
Learn more about teaching with The Crisis Scientists and get The Crisis Scientists Discussion Guide.
Teach about Women of STEM with Film: Lois O’Brien, Entomologist
Emmy-winning documentary short film The Love Bugs presents the extraordinary careers of Lois O’Brien and her husband Charles O’Brien, married scientists who have worked and lived together for 60 years.
The Love Bugs Curriculum Guide provides an exceptional opportunity for you and your students to become amateur entomologists and discover the wonder of small creatures. For grades 3-5.
Learn more about teaching with The Love Bugs and get The Love Bugs Curriculum Guide.
Teach about Women of STEM with Film: Women of Public Health
The Invisible Shield highlights the critical importance of the public health system and the unsung heroes who work in it to keep us safe. Using vivid character portraits, interviews, and archival elements, this award-winning documentary series shows that public health is a progressive and revolutionary movement, whose successes have traditionally come from a diverse, cross-disciplinary coalition of dedicated public servants, all working together to improve the conditions of society.
The ensemble cast features leaders of pubic health including Executive Vice President of Seattle Indian Health Board and Director of their data and research division (Urban Indian Health Institute) Abigail Echo-Hawk, former Director of the Ohio Department of Health Amy Acton, coronavirus researcher Crystal Watson, epidemiologists Caitlin M. Rivers & Dr. Kelly Henning, researcher and former dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Ellen J. MacKenzie, engineer Lauren Gardner, physician and researchers Dr. Mary T. Basset and Dr. Nana Adofo-Ansong, and public health experts Dr. Lauren Powell and Sonia Shah.
The Invisible Shield Learning Guide offers questions to encourage critical thinking, discussion, and expanded understanding of public health. This is a powerful tool to get students excited about careers in public health and STEM fields. For grades 7-12, and adult/higher ed.
Learn more about teaching with The Invisible Shield and get The Invisible Shield Learning Guide.
Teach about Women of STEM with Film: Women of Space & Earth Science
National Geographic series One Strange Rock tells the story of Earth’s history from a planetary perspective. Within our solar system, planet Earth is utterly unique among the planets, moons, and dwarf planets found there. Only Earth has a breathable atmosphere, the ability to “heal” itself following planetary bombardment in its early history and more recent “extinction events,” and large amounts of liquid water on its surface.
The series features footage of astronauts including Mae C. Jemison, Nicole Stott, and Peggy Whitson. The ensemble cast of scientists also includes microbiologist Professor Hazel Barton, glaciologist, Dr. Heidi Sevestre, environmentalist Karla Colmenero, and biogeochemist Professor Liane G. Benning. Plus there’s an inspiring appearance by Nichelle Nichols.
The classroom-ready lesson plans of the One Strange Rock Curriculum Guide are designed for teaching across the STEM curriculum. For grades 5-12.
Learn more about teaching with One Strange Rock and get the One Strange Rock Curriculum Guide.
Important Dates
Plan ahead to share these inspiring films with your students on the following dates:
- January 6 – National Technology Day
- February – Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month
- February 11 – International Day of Women and Girls in Science
- March – Women’s History Month
- April 27 – International Girls in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Day
- November 8 – National STEM / STEAM Day
- December – Computer Science Education Week
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