Overview
Nicole Mann, First Native Woman in Space
Author(s) :
Cheryl Tuttle (Yurok/Karuk) Educator and Cultural Preservationist
Lesson Contributor/Editor/Format by Maggie Peters (Yurok/Karuk) NASMC Learning Specialists Humboldt County Office of Education
Grade(s) : 3
Suggested Amount of Time : 60 minutes
Curriculum Themes:
- Cultural Strengths
- Relationship to Place
- Cross Curricular Integration
Learning Goals
Describe Nicole Mann’s interests and achievements and how those prepare her to be an astronaut
Tell why Nicole Mann is important to the Native community?
Tell whether an astronaut has the attributes of a ‘hero.”
Lesson Overview
This lesson introduces students to Nicole Mann (Wailaki) a Round Valley Indian Tribal member from Northern California and the first Native American woman to travel to space. Through a guided Google Slides presentation, students learn about Nicole’s background, education, training, and accomplishments as a U.S. Marine Corps pilot, mechanical engineer, and NASA astronaut. The lesson highlights her bravery, determination, and the cultural pride she brings to her role.
Students will engage with essential vocabulary, explore Nicole’s life story, participate in structured Think-Pair-Share discussions, and reflect on what makes someone a hero. Visuals, maps, and videos help students connect with Nicole’s journey and consider how their own interests and strengths relate to hers.
To conclude the lesson, students will write a short reflection paragraph summarizing what they learned and explaining why Nicole Mann is considered a hero. This activity helps students develop writing and critical thinking skills while celebrating an inspiring Native American role model in STEM.
Teacher Background
When leading this lesson, it’s important to center respect, cultural awareness, and pride in the accomplishments of Native individuals—especially Native women who are often underrepresented in history and STEM education. Nicole Mann, a member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes and the first Native American woman in space, is a powerful example of resilience, leadership, and excellence. Her story allows students to see a contemporary Native woman as a hero—not only for her achievements as an astronaut and Marine Corps pilot, but also for the strength and responsibility she brings to her role.
Teachers should emphasize that Native cultures are living, diverse, and dynamic, and that uplifting Native voices in the classroom helps combat stereotypes and invisibility. As students learn about Nicole’s journey, guide discussions that highlight her identity, values, and service. This is an opportunity to broaden definitions of what a hero looks like and encourage all students—especially Native girls—to see themselves as capable of greatness.