All about Margaret Hamilton

Margaret Hamilton was a smart and brave woman who helped astronauts go to the moon. She loved studying math and science when she was a little girl, and she worked hard in school to learn everything she could. When she grew up, she became a computer scientist, which means she knew a lot about computers. Margaret was very important in making sure that the first astronauts who went to the moon in 1969 were safe. She wrote special programs for the computers that helped guide the spaceship to the moon and back to Earth.

Margaret was very brave because when there was a problem during the moon landing, she stayed calm and helped fix it. Her quick thinking and hard work saved the mission! Because of Margaret's dedication and intelligence, she became a role model for many people, especially girls who wanted to study science and technology. Margaret Hamilton showed that anyone, no matter their gender, can achieve great things with hard work and determination.

  1. What did Margaret Hamilton do to help astronauts go to the moon?
  2. What was Margaret's profession when she grew up?
  3. Why is Margaret Hamilton considered brave?
  4. How did Margaret Hamilton become a role model for many people?
  5. Why is it important to study hard and be determined, like Margaret Hamilton?

A Visit to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Hi, my name is Lily and I am 8 years old. Today, I want to share with you about my exciting visit to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)! MIT is a really cool place where smart scientists and engineers work on amazing things.

  1. First, I got to visit a place called the MIT Museum. It was super fun because I learned about Margaret Hamilton, a famous computer scientist who worked on the software for the Apollo space missions. I even saw a picture of her with the code she wrote!
  1. What is the name of the famous computer scientist I learned about at MIT?
  2. What did Margaret Hamilton work on for the Apollo space missions?
  3. Why was visiting the MIT Museum exciting for me?
  4. What did I see in the picture of Margaret Hamilton at the museum?
  5. Can you name another famous scientist or engineer who worked at MIT?

Margaret Hamilton Fact Finder

Year Born 
Place Born
Most famous for...
Is there anything named after them?
If deceased, year they died
Fun Fact

Your Turn...

After learning all about Margaret Hamilton, your job is to create a timeline of her life. You should add all the important events in her life but you can be inventive and add some interesting things that people might like to read about. You can make it as simply as you like with pen and paper or you can be very inventive and create a 3D diorama or hanging banner. The sky's the limit - go for it!
Slideshow - Margaret Hamilton
A full 6-week plan for teaching.