SCORE Mathematics

Historical Mathematicians Project Grades 5-12

By: Karla Orosco

Introduction:

• People throughout history have had a passion for mathematics.
• Small student groups will use the Internet and other traditional sources to research historically significant mathematicians, write a paper, and creatively present research in class.

Prior Knowledge:

• Research Skills
• Paper Writing Skills
• Word Processing Skills
• Internet Site Location Skills

Grade Level: 5-8 and 9-12.

NCTM 5-8 and NCTM 9-12: Mathematics as Communication

Task:

Student Project Guidelines

• This in an integrated cooperative learning project for grades 5-12 which allows students to research through Internet sites and traditional methods a historically significant mathematician.
• Students research the mathematician's personal background and upbringing, education, and their significant contribution to mathematics.
• Students gain a clearer understanding of a great mathematical discovery and the person behind it.
• The last component is a creative class presentation/lecture by each group.

Resources:

• Mathematicians: http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/
• Women: http://www.agnesscott.edu/lriddle/women/women.htm
• Math Facts and Fun: http://www.windham.k12.me.us/thirdgrd/math.htm
• Math Quotations: http://math.furman.edu/~mwoodard/mquot.html
• Math Forum: http://forum.swarthmore.edu
• WomenII: http://www.cs.yale.edu/HTML/YALE/CS/HyPlans/tap/past-women.html

Learning Advice:

1. As groups work in class, monitor how the groups are working together.
2. I suggest that a teacher schedule 1 or 2 short conferences with a groups to help keep the groups focused and on track.
3. If computer access is limited, I suggest that teachers assign groups a block of time to begin.
4. Teachers should also allow blocks of time in class for students to collaborate or go to the library.

Evaluation:

Each group member will fill out a peer evaluation form that allows each student to critique the effort and production of their peers. The teacher fills out an evaluation form on each student based on observations during class, comments from peers, research paper, and presentation. This final evaluation will determine the student grade.

Historical Mathematician Student Self/Peer Evaluation Form

Historical Mathematician Teacher Evaluation Form

Extensions:

1. Older students may want to continue to investigate and learn the mathematical concepts proven by their historical figure.
2. Students could then present their math lesson in addition to their project presentation.

Conclusion:

In my 7th and 8th grade classes, I name the cooperative groups after the mathematicians researched by my students. These mathematicians become old friends to my students, and their names roll off student's tongues. When we have visitors, they like to give a biography to guests who ask about their group names. For those teachers working with NCTM Standards, this is a wonderful portfolio project for the strand, Mathematical Communication.

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