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Unit 3: Curiosity, Evidence & Discovery: Hidden Figures

California CCSS: Focus Standards

ELD Standards

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Unit Arc	Instructional Time	Essential Question	Key Milestones
Spark Lessons 1–3	3 lessons 50 minutes each	How do curiosity and collaboration lead to discovery, and why do some contributors remain hidden?	Lesson 3: Milestone—Intro to Essential Questions & Hidden Figure Concept
Investigation 1 Lessons 4–23	20 lessons 50 minutes each	How do curiosity, evidence, and collaboration lead to discovery?	Lesson 20: Academic Discussion Lesson 21: Investigation 1 Assessment Lessons 22–23: Responsive Flex Days
Investigation 2 Lessons 24–36	13 lessons 50 minutes each	Why do some innovators remain hidden, and why is it important to make their stories visible?	Lesson 32: Responsive Flex Day (Research Huddles) Lesson 33: Academic Discussion Lesson 34: Investigation 2 Assessment Lessons 35–36: Flex Days

Unit Arc

Instructional Time

Essential Question

Key Milestones

Spark
Lessons 1–3

3 lessons
50 minutes each

How do curiosity and collaboration lead to discovery, and why do some contributors remain hidden?

Lesson 3: Milestone—Intro to Essential Questions & Hidden Figure Concept

Investigation 1
Lessons 4–23

20 lessons
50 minutes each

How do curiosity, evidence, and collaboration lead to discovery?

Lesson 20: Academic Discussion
Lesson 21: Investigation 1 Assessment
Lessons 22–23: Responsive Flex Days

Investigation 2
Lessons 24–36

13 lessons
50 minutes each

Why do some innovators remain hidden, and why is it important to make their stories visible?

Lesson 32: Responsive Flex Day (Research Huddles)
Lesson 33: Academic Discussion
Lesson 34: Investigation 2 Assessment
Lessons 35–36: Flex Days

Unit Context

Knowledge Building Topic

The Space Race and Hidden Figures: How curiosity, evidence, and teamwork drive scientific discovery—and how research helps us recognize the contributions of overlooked innovators.

I'm Learning About

how curiosity, evidence, and teamwork help people make discoveries.
how research helps us recognize the many people who build knowledge.

Knowledge Goals

Analyze how scientists and engineers use questions, evidence, and collaboration to drive discovery and challenge assumptions.
Gather and synthesize information from multiple sources to explain a scientific innovator's contribution and impact.
Write an informative article about a scientific innovator using precise STEM vocabulary and organized text features.
Construct an argument paragraph that defends why a historical scientific contribution deserves recognition.

Knowledge-Building Questions

How do scientists and engineers use questions, evidence, and collaboration to drive discovery?
How did the women in Hidden Figures challenge assumptions about who could contribute to science?
How can research help us uncover contributions that were overlooked or forgotten?
What obstacles did scientists of this era face—and how does uncovering their stories change our understanding of history?

Essential Questions

Investigation 1: How do curiosity, evidence, and collaboration lead to discovery?
Investigation 2: How can research help us uncover lesser-known contributions and tell a more complete story?

Unit Texts