Parent Guide > Female WWII Pilots: The Original Fly Girls

This week in class, we’re reading "Female WWII Pilots: The Original Fly Girls" by Susan Stamberg.

This article is a production of National Public Radio (NPR), written by Susan Stamberg. During WWII, a shortage of male pilots in the United States led to the formation of a group called WASP — the Women Airforce Service Pilots. Stamberg reports on this relatively little-known group, and its struggle for national and military recognition.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Community, Gender Roles, and Honor & Courage as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

"How do we define the roles of men and women?", "What makes a hero?", and "How are communities formed?"

Ways to support your child:

• Ask your child about this informational text at home:
  • What was "Female WWII Pilots: The Original Fly Girls" about?
  • What did you learn about Community?
  • What did you learn about Gender Roles?
  • What did you learn about Honor & Courage?
• Watch the following clips with your child at home:
  • '“Gerda Lerner (1920-2013): Women and History”'
  • '“Audio Recording of the NPR Story” (Audio Recording)'