STEM PB #13 - Ladybug LAUNCH

An amazing new picture book has just been released based on the true story of Chilean high school girls who convinced NASA to send ladybugs to space. It is co-written by Melissa Trempe, an educator with a passion for equality and a love of the outdoors, and Natalia Ojeda, a Chilean doctor whose experience in the ladybug project helped change the trajectory of her life.

I fell in love with the story which follows the wishes of a sweet little ladybug who dreams of being an astronaut mirrored with the dreams of a young Chilean girl who adores science. It is a meaningful and relevant story that ALL students will enjoy, but especially our girls who yearn for their place in the future of STEM.

The English and Spanish languages are expertly woven throughout the text, and the illustrations by Manuela Montoya are beautiful!

Featured Picture Book:
Ladybug LAUNCH - Inspired by a True Story of Chinitas in Space (2024)
By Melissa Trempe and Natalia Ojeda
Illustrated by Manuela Montoya

Summary (via Amazon):
Natalia is a chica, an ambitious girl with dreams of becoming a scientist. Luna is a chinita, an adventurous ladybug that dreams of visiting the stars. But neither dream is easy to reach. Ladybugs are meant to munch on garden pests. And no one from Natalia’s family has ever been to college. Still, both Natalia and Luna want más.

Then Natalia’s all-girl class designs an experiment. If astronauts want to live in outer space, they’ll need to grow food. Could chinitas go along to keep the pests away? The girls are eager to find out, and Luna is hungry to help. If their theory is correct, it’s a project worthy of NASA itself—and the stuff all dreams are made of.

This inspiring picture book is based on the real story of Chilean high school girls who convinced NASA to send ladybugs to space!

Related Themes and Standards:
Science:

• Space and Space Travel
• Insects
• Needs of living things
• Engineering Design Process

SEL:

• Perseverance
• Setting goals
• Being brave
• Overcoming challenges

STEM Ideas:
1. Students can research other insects and their needs, then create a book using Book Creator, Canva, or Seesaw.

2. Have students work through the Engineering Design Process and develop a presentation supporting something they believe NASA should include on a future mission.

3. Create classroom terrariums like the ones in the story and make observations over a period of time. HERE is an easy plan to follow.

4. Research and create green screen videos sharing important information about other important female astronauts like Eileen Collins.

5. Choose 10 important events in the story and summarize them on cards. Tape them to each team’s Beebot (or other robot) mat and have them program the bot to follow the correct sequence of events from the story.

Do you have other ideas for this story? Please share! #BetterTogether