mathematics

Introduction

The students will learn the history of mathematics. They will get a better understanding of the history by completing a timeline of famous mathematicians. They will present their findings in front of the class with a PowerPoint presentation. From the timeline, the students will document what fraction of a mathematician's life was spent studying in different areas throughout their life. While learning fractions, students will also be learning about a mathematician's history. 

Task

By the end of this lesson:

The students will identify what fraction of a mathematician's life was spent in the mathematical field with 85% accuracy.

The students will identify what fraction of a mathematician's life was spent in other areas of study with 85% accuracy. 

The students will solve fractional problems with 100% accuracy.

Process

Timeline of a Mathematician                                                            Due on ___________

 

You will be researching a famous mathematician.  You will create and present a presentation on him/her and his/her contribution to mathematics and construct a timeline of that mathematician.

 

Start by picking a mathematician to research.  Each person must choose a different mathematician to work on (i.e.  Once Issac Newton is selected, no one else can choose him).  We will go to the computer lab so that you can begin your research together.

 

Your timeline should consist of the following information:

  1. Brief history of your mathematician (when he/she was born, when he/she died, what major contributions he/she contributed to math with a date attached to each, etc.)
  2. Interesting fact or facts about the mathematician’s life
  3. Explanation of how the he/she’s work is used today or how the work led to further mathematical or scientific discoveries
  4. Create or find a math problem that the solution to the problem is made easier or possible because of your mathematicians work or discoveries. 

Your presentation should meet the following criteria:

  1. All dated parts should be placed in a timeline.
  2. Interesting facts should be placed in a PowerPoint presentation with a minimum of 5 slides.
  3. The timeline should follow a clear and legible range.
  4. Be able to teach the class how to solve the problem.  Be able to explain what the mathematician did to contribute to the solution.

Evaluation

 

Advanced (4)

Proficient (3)

Basic (2)

Minimal (1)

Score/Level

Organization/Attractiveness

Each section is well organized.
Easy to follow.
Timeline is presented in an exceptional manner.
Formatted well above average.

Most sections are well organized.
Most sections are easy to follow.
Timeline is formatted well and displayed in an effective manner.
Formatting is good.

Few sections are well organized.
Few sections are easy to follow.
Timeline is either well formatted or displayed effectively, but not both.

Sections are present.
Unorganized.
Hard to follow.
Timeline is presented in an unattractive manner.
Formatting is not appropriate or inconsistent.

 

Accuracy

All the facts present on the timeline are accurate.

85% or more of the facts on the timeline are accurate.

70% or more of the facts on the timeline are accurate.

69% or less of the facts on the timeline are accurate.

 

Math Problem

The math problem the student created/found is appropriate for the material covered.
The student explained how the solution is made possible or easier by their mathematicians work.
The student presented the problem in an easy to understand manner.
The student presented the solution in a manner that explains how to solve the problem.

The math problem the student created/found is appropriate for the material covered.
The student presented the problem in an easy to understand manner.
The student presented the solution in an easy to understand manner.
The presentation lacked the reasoning for how it was made easier or possible to solve the problem by the mathematicians work.

The student created a math problem and presented the problem and the solution, but it was not easy to understand.

The student created or found a math problem.

 

Presentation/PowerPoint

PowerPoint includes at least 5 slides.
Presentation presents material in an exceptional manner.
Presentation is appropriate to the content being covered.
Presentation meets all requirements and exceeds requirements.

PowerPoint is at least 5 slides.
Presentation presents material in an effective manner.
Presentation is appropriate to the content being covered.
Presentation meets most of the requirements.

PowerPoint is present.
Presentation covers material.
Presentation meets some of the requirements.

Few of the requirements for the presentation/PowerPoint were met.

 

 

Conclusion

The students will have learned the history of a mathematician. They will be able to use the computer for research and search the history of their person. If the students want to learn more about mathematics they can search the following website:

http://www.storyofmathematics.com/