English
Mary Jackson
Mary Jackson was an American mathematician and aerospace engineer at NASA…
Reads at Pre-K Listens at Pre-K–1
Print & create
Answer keys·No prep·Free with an account
28 worksheets · answer keys · full story · quiz · Ages 3-5 · CEFR A1
Plus adds 208,000+ more stories in 27 languages, audio for every one, and printables for all of them.
Just want Mary Jackson?
Hello! My name is Mary Jackson, and I always loved to learn. I was born a long time ago, on April 9th, 1921. When I was a little girl, I thought numbers were the best toys. I loved counting everything I could see and solving puzzles. I knew that with math and science, you could figure out how almost anything works!
When I grew up, I got a very important job at a place called NACA. Later, it was called NASA. That’s a place where people work on airplanes and spaceships! I started my job in 1951. At first, I was called a “human computer.” I didn’t have buttons or a screen. I used my brain to solve super tricky math problems. I wanted to be an engineer—someone who helps design and build things. I had to work very hard and go to a special school. In 1958, I did it! I became NASA’s very first Black woman engineer. It was my job to help make airplanes fly super, super fast!
After many years of working on amazing projects, I wanted to help other people follow their dreams, too. I worked to make sure that women and people of all colors had a chance to do important jobs at NASA. I lived a full and happy life for 83 years. People remember me for being brave and showing the world that anyone can be an engineer and reach for the stars if they believe in themselves.
Mary Jackson: A Mind for Numbers
Hello! My name is Mary Jackson, and I always loved to learn. I was born a long time ago, on April 9th, 1921. When I was a little girl, I thought numbers were the best toys. I loved counting everything I could see and solving puzzles. I knew that with math and science, you could figure out how almost anything works!
When I grew up, I got a very important job at a place called NACA. Later, it was called NASA. That’s a place where people work on airplanes and spaceships! I started my job in 1951. At first, I was called a “human computer.” I didn’t have buttons or a screen. I used my brain to solve super tricky math problems. I wanted to be an engineer—someone who helps design and build things. I had to work very hard and go to a special school. In 1958, I did it! I became NASA’s very first Black woman engineer. It was my job to help make airplanes fly super, super fast!
After many years of working on amazing projects, I wanted to help other people follow their dreams, too. I worked to make sure that women and people of all colors had a chance to do important jobs at NASA. I lived a full and happy life for 83 years. People remember me for being brave and showing the world that anyone can be an engineer and reach for the stars if they believe in themselves.
Wow facts
About
Mary Jackson was an American mathematician and aerospace engineer at NASA, who became the agency's first Black female engineer in 1958. She was a key figure among the African American women mathematicians known as 'human computers.'
Take a Quiz
Question 1 of 3
Who is this story about?
Explore next
Want to do even more?
Go beyond exploring. Unlock tools that turn every story into real learning.
Storypie Plus for families
Full stories, quizzes, and printables. Nights and car rides, sorted.
- Unlimited audio stories
- Create Mode: your child stars in the story
- Offline downloads
- Printable worksheets & coloring pages
Why Storypie for Schools
Students engaged. Prep in seconds. Evenings back to you.
- Worksheets & Quizzes
- Classroom Management
- Formative Assessment
- Custom Curriculum & Lesson Plans
- 27 Languages
Why Storypie for Homeschool
Curriculum done. They'll ask for more. Hours back in your day.
- Worksheet Generator
- First-Person Audio Stories
- Built-in Comprehension Quizzes
- Custom Curriculum & Lesson Plans
- Print & Go Activities
