Ada Lovelace Day - Women in STEM

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• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

Introduction

This lesson focusses on one of the lesser-known heroes in STEM, Ada Lovelace. your students will learn the story of this computing heroine and explore why focussing on women in STEM is an important area of focus for the developing gender norms for the UK. Ada Lovelace Day explores pioneering contributions across computer science while highlighting historical developments in algorithmic thinking. Students evaluate early technical achievements, examine female representation across technical disciplines, and connect key STEM skills to future careers. Interactive Highlights: Informative Slides: Introducing Ada Lovelace, female representation in technical disciplines, and core STEM definitions. Multiple Choice Question: Checking understanding of the individual disciplines within the STEM acronym. Video Slide: Contextualising Ada Lovelace's historical work on the Analytical Engine through visual media. Open Questions: Evaluating personal reflections on Lovelace's impact and mapping individual skills to specific industry sectors. Tailored for KS3, GCSE, and FE students during Computer Science lessons, STEM sessions, or dedicated Ada Lovelace Day events. Works effectively as a whole-class live interactive presentation or a guided small-group activity.

Instructions

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Ada Lovelace Day highlights pioneer contributions across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while examining historical computing developments. Focused tasks evaluate algorithmic principles, technical achievements, and modern career trajectories in the STEM workforce.

Who is Ada Lovelace?

Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace (1815–1852), was an English mathematician and writer widely regarded as the first computer programmer. She is primarily known for her work on Charles Babbage's ‘Analytical Engine’, where she wrote the first algorithm intended for processing by a machine.

Her visionary ideas laid the foundations for modern computing. Sadly, her contributions went largely unrecognised during her lifetime.

Contextualises Ada Lovelace's pioneering work on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine and her recognition as the creator of the first computer algorithm.

Stretch: Explain why Lovelace's realization that calculating machines could manipulate symbols rather than just numbers proved fundamental to modern computer science.

Device-Free: Ask pairs to summarise Lovelace's main historical contribution in 15 words or fewer on a mini-whiteboard.

Why the focus on women?

Focusing on women in STEM is vital because it closes the gender gap in fields critical for innovation and economic growth, leading to more equal societies and new, diverse perspectives in problem-solving.

This focus promotes gender equity by empowering women, increases overall workforce productivity and value, and provides essential diverse talent needed to tackle global challenges like the climate crisis.

What is STEM?

Each letter stands for a subject

you would learn in school.

Can you guess what they are?

Contextualises the foundational definition and interconnected disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Stretch: Challenge students to explain how two distinct STEM disciplines overlap to solve a specific real-world problem.

Device-Free: Direct pairs to write down the four STEM subjects on mini-whiteboards and list one technical career linked to each.

What does the 'S' stand for in STEM?

A

Science

B

Sports

C

School

D

Social Studies

Checks for common misconceptions regarding what individual letters in the STEM acronym represent and how these four distinct disciplines intersect.

Stretch: Ask students to identify a technical career path that requires all four disciplines and explain why cross-curricular skills are necessary.

Device-Free: Direct students to write the four correct STEM subject names on mini-whiteboards and hold them up simultaneously for quick visual verification.

What does the 'T' stand for in STEM?

A

Teaching

B

Tutoring

C

Technology

D

Training

Checks for common misconceptions regarding what individual letters in the STEM acronym represent and how these four distinct disciplines intersect.

Stretch: Ask students to identify a technical career path that requires all four disciplines and explain why cross-curricular skills are necessary.

Device-Free: Direct students to write the four correct STEM subject names on mini-whiteboards and hold them up simultaneously for quick visual verification.

What does the 'E' stand for in STEM?

A

English

B

Engineering

C

Early Years

D

Electrical

Checks for common misconceptions regarding what individual letters in the STEM acronym represent and how these four distinct disciplines intersect.

Stretch: Ask students to identify a technical career path that requires all four disciplines and explain why cross-curricular skills are necessary.

Device-Free: Direct students to write the four correct STEM subject names on mini-whiteboards and hold them up simultaneously for quick visual verification.

What does the 'M' stand for in STEM?

A

Memorising

B

Making

C

Mandibles

D

Mathematics

Checks for common misconceptions regarding what individual letters in the STEM acronym represent and how these four distinct disciplines intersect.

Stretch: Ask students to identify a technical career path that requires all four disciplines and explain why cross-curricular skills are necessary.

Device-Free: Direct students to write the four correct STEM subject names on mini-whiteboards and hold them up simultaneously for quick visual verification.

SCIENCE

Science lets us be curious about the world around us. We can explore our questions about how and why things happen through science.

TECHNOLOGY

Technology lets us use our knowledge to discover new tools and devices.

ENGINEERING

Engineers design and create everything from buildings to computer apps. They want to know how and why things work.

MATHEMATICS

Mathematics is the study of numbers, shapes, and logic. We use it every day, in activities such as baking.

Highlights how this video clip brings historical context to Ada Lovelace's work on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine and her legacy as the first programmer.

Stretch: Challenge students to identify two key principles of Lovelace's algorithm mentioned in the video and explain their connection to modern computing loops.

Device-Free: Direct pairs to note down two major contributions made by Lovelace on mini-whiteboards during a short teacher-led recap instead of viewing the clip.

How did the story of Ada's life make you feel? Why?

Directs students to reflect on and evaluate the personal and historical impact of Ada Lovelace's achievements rather than simply recalling biographical facts.

Stretch: Challenge students to explain how Lovelace's perseverance despite 19th-century barriers mirrors challenges faced by underrepresented groups in modern technical fields.

Device-Free: Direct pairs to write down two key adjectives describing Lovelace's impact on mini-whiteboards and justify their selection to each other.

If you could pick any area of work to get into, what would it be?

Encourages students to evaluate their personal interests and align them with various industry sectors rather than simply recalling basic job titles.

Stretch: Require students to identify one technical skill needed for their chosen area of work and explain how it applies to solving modern problems.

Device-Free: Have students write their preferred industry on a mini-whiteboard and discuss with a partner one key skill required for that role.

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